*Featured image contains photo by Кристина Алексеевна
The loss of a loved one is devastating, no matter who you are; even royalty are not immune to life's difficulties.
When Prince Harry was 12 years old, his mother, Princess Diana, was killed in a car accident in Paris. Alongside the British Royal Family, the world mourned the wonderful woman who had been so philanthropic and generous. Yet, no one was quite as affected as Princess Diana's two sons, William and Harry.
I never really dealt with what had happened. It was a lot of buried emotion. For a huge part of my life I didn’t really want to think about it.
Prince Harry
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The prince’s wife, Meghan Markle, was able to see the huge affect Princess Diana had on her son.
“I think everything about Harry’s thoughtfulness is -- and the inclusion of that and obviously not being able to meet his mom it’s so important to me to -- to know that she’s a part of this with us,” Meghan said.
In the 24 years since his mother’s death, Harry has grown up, gotten married, and become a father. He is also a mental health advocate and philanthropist like his late mother, a testament to children everywhere growing up without a parent.
“All I want to do is make my mother incredibly proud,” Harry said.
Among the children who related to Harry was the now ten-year-old Otia Nante, who had been six years old when he first met Prince Harry.
While on a tour of New Zealand with Meghan, Harry walked along the Auckland Viaduct Harbor, greeting fans. That’s when the Duke of Sussex stopped to talk to Otia who was waiting to see the royals with his grandmother.
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Like Prince Harry, Otia lost his mother as a young boy.
Otia’s grandmother gave Harry a note handwritten by her grandson. While Harry stowed it away in his jacket pocket, Otia’s grandmother explained that Otia related to Harry because he, too, had lost his mother.
“He really looks up to you,” Otia’s grandmother said.
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The prince then continued to talk to the little boy and shared some words of wisdom. “Life will always be alright. You know that?” Harry told Otia. “I’ve made it to 34 years old, and life is great. I have a beautiful wife and a baby on the way. Your life is going to be sorted. Don’t you worry about that.”
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After the meaningful exchange, Harry did something out of royal family protocol: He posed for a photo with the boy.
Harry and Otia have a terrible thing in common: the loss of their mothers. But unlike Otia, Harry was grown up and could see that despite life's difficulties, it was survivable. Harry took the time to reassure the little boy that his life would still be okay despite this setback, ensuring that Otia could still have Harry to look up to.
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