The story behind Prince William’s emotional moment with Rhian Mannings Quickly bullying the people you need. She’s a military mom who survived the unthinkable double suicide of her husband and son. In Mannings’ kitchen in Wales, they sat down to the table. With the help of tea, coffee and cake, they heavily debated the deep effects suicide had made to their own lives. This was an appropriate meeting to remind and emphasize just how important mental health awareness is. It raised an important call to action to better support those affected by suicide.
In 2012, Rhian Mannings went on to establish UK bereavement charity 2Wish. She was moved to form this nonprofit after tragically losing her husband, Paul, and their one-year-old son, George, who died from pneumonia. The purpose of the charity is to alleviate the effects on families stricken by the impact of sudden bereavement. Mannings’ other surviving children, Hollie, 17, and Isaac, 16, were the Prince’s guests during his visit.
Mannings and Prince William first met at the London Marathon in 2017. For the duration of the race, she was an amazing ambassador for the Heads Together team. Their recent reunion came as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced the launch of a new National Suicide Prevention Network.
Over the course of their conversation, Mannings described how her husband committed suicide after the unbearable loss of their child. During her address, it was clear that Prince William was doing everything he could to keep himself from crying.
“I would just like to sit him down like this and just say ‘Why didn’t you come to me?’ Because he’s missed out on just so much joy, and we would have been OK,” – Rhian Mannings
The panel conversation underscored the emotional impact of suicide as well as the importance of honest conversation about the realities and stigma that often surround mental health needs. Prince William emphasized this necessity, stating, “The best way to prevent suicide is to talk about it. Talk about it early, talk about it with your loved ones, those you trust, your friends. So thank you for talking about it.”
Mannings expressed gratitude for the support her children have received and remarked on their resilience: “They’ve just grown up to be incredible kids and young adults.” She too recognized the sometimes cruel realities that life throws our way, emphasized happiness, hope, and the necessity of being able to speak freely.
“Life can throw you these awful curve balls, but by talking about it, you know, having hope you can continue,” – Rhian
As their meeting came to an end, Mannings wanted to know how Prince William was feeling and so she asked him, “Are you all right?” His simple reply, “No, it’s okay,” signaled the heaviness of their exchange. Just before leaving, he communicated encouragement and solidarity by hugging Mannings and touching her hand behind the glass of her confinement van. In a good-natured farewell moment as he exited, Mannings quipped that he had walked off with her Tupperware.
