Prince William has spoken of the “emptiness” he feels on Mother’s Day following the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, 12 years ago.

The Prince made a moving speech as he became patron of the Child Bereavement Charity, with which his mother was associated.

He told the launch of the charity’s Mother’s Day campaign in London: “My mother Diana was present at your launch 15 years ago, and I am incredibly proud to be able to continue her support for your fantastic charity, by becoming your royal patron.

“What my mother recognised then - and what I understand now - is that losing a close family member is one of the hardest experiences that anyone can ever endure.

"Never being able to say the word ’Mummy’ again in your life sounds like a small thing. However, for many, including me, it’s now really just a word - hollow and evoking only memories.

“I can therefore wholeheartedly relate to the Mother’s Day campaign as I too have felt - and still feel - the emptiness on such a day as Mother’s Day.”

The charity’s campaign is aimed at raising awareness of the problems of mothers bereaved of a child - or children bereaved of their mothers - on Mother’s Day and every day. Mother’s Day this year is on March 22.

The charity, based in Buckinghamshire, educates professionals and supports families both when a child dies and when a child is bereaved. The Prince met families who have suffered a bereavement, including the Mays, from Lane End, near High Wycombe, Bucks.

Lilli May, 47, told reporters how her son Benny, 12, accidentally hanged himself in a looped kitchen towel in 2007. “He was a great fiddler, he was always fiddling and messing around with that towel. He was on his own at home and went too far,” she said.

The Prince chatted to her and her other children Joe, 18, Eddie, 16, Anna, 12 and Jacob, 8.

“I had a book of photos which I showed the Prince,” she added. “He’s lost his mother, he was saying you can’t ignore it, there comes a point when you have to address issues, and find time to do that.

“The charity has been fantastic to us, encouraging the children to talk about their feelings - they’ve been very helpful.”

Writing in the Daily Mail, William added that he had become a patron of the charity because he understood what it was like to “lose someone you love so much”.

He wrote: “Losing a child or being a child when your parent dies is the awful reality for over 23,000 families in Britain every year. “Initially there is a sense of profound shock and disbelief that this could ever happen to you. Real grief often does not hit home until much later. For many it is a grief never entirely lost.

“Life is altered as you know it, and not a day goes past without you thinking about the one you have lost.”

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