“They were loved”: Prince William chokes up in memorial speech
Prince William has shown his emotional side while unveiling a new memorial to the victims of the Manchester arena attack, choking up while sharing his own grief from losing his mother, Princess Diana.
The royal unveiled the Glade of Light memorial on Tuesday to honour the 22 victims who died in the 2017 attack, per the NZ Herald.
The white marble halo-shaped memorial features the names of the victims, as well as personalised memory capsules where their families can place mementos and messages.
“For Catherine and I, it is very important that we are with you here, today,” William told the victims’ families who attended the unveiling, his hand placed on his chest.
“To remember the twenty two lives so brutally taken. To acknowledge the hundreds of lives that were irrevocably changed and to pay tribute to the resilience of this great City.”
It was when the prince later spoke about his experience grieving for his mother at 15 when he appeared to choke up.
“As someone who lives with his own grief, I also know that what often matters most to the bereaved is that those we have lost are not forgotten,” he said.
“There is comfort in remembering. In acknowledging that, while taken horribly soon, they lived. They changed our lives. They were loved, and they are loved. It is why memorials such as the Glade of Light are so important. Why Catherine and I so wanted to be amongst you today.
“Catherine and I know that the atrocity’s impact will last a lifetime and beyond, and that the healing process is still ongoing. We want to assure all of you who are struggling that you are very much in our thoughts.”
Both he and the Duchess of Cambridge then walked around the memorial garden, where Kate placed a bouquet of flowers.
The couple then shared part of William’s speech on Twitter, along with several photos from the ceremony.
It comes nearly a year after William and Prince Harry unveiled a bronze statue of Diana on what would have been her 60th birthday.
Image: @KensingtonRoyal (Twitter)