On Friday, a film featuring Prince Harry, Prince William, and Kate Middleton was released for their Heads Together campaign battling mental health stigmas. In this particular video, Prince William discusses his close relationship with Prince Harry. It's made quite clear, yes, they have a tight brotherly bond, but that's not just because they are blood-related. Their closeness comes from something much deeper — the death of their mother, Princess Diana.
Kate first recognizes in the video the fact that William and Harry have been able to remain strong after everything they've endured. She then also notes their incredible connection. The Duchess of Cambridge says, "But also the relationship that you've got, you're amazingly close ... some families are sadly not as lucky as you guys have been and being able to share things."
This is where William chimes in and explains his relationship with Harry. "But we have been brought closer because of the circumstances as well, that's the thing," the 34-year-old says. "You know, we are uniquely bonded because of what we've been through."
In 1997, William was 15 and Harry was 12 when their highly-adored mother was killed in a car accident in Paris alongside her boyfriend, Dodi Al-Fayed. To not only lose someone they both obviously loved dearly, but to have to deal with it in a publicized way, well, that's a lot to handle. That type of tragedy can either bring people closer together or push them apart. Clearly, it was the former for Harry and William.
Harry and William's relationship is something I understand completely. After losing my 16-year-old brother in a car accident in 1999, my older sister and I also formed a unique bond. We went (and still are) going through all of the ups and downs that come with the unexpected loss of a loved one. Losing a sibling isn't something many can relate to, but my sister does, which is why I can lean on her at all times.
Unless you've experienced it yourself, you don't know exactly what someone is feeling. Because of my brother's death, not only did I gain a stronger connection with my sister, but also a best friend. We can talk about anything and relate to each other on a level that many don't understand. Like Harry and William, our relationship is unbreakable.
Kate also makes a great point when she says not many people are as lucky as Harry and William to have a family member to talk to about their feelings, especially when it comes to death. I've also been fortunate to have not only my parents, but to have my sister to express how I'm feeling at all times. As devastating as the death of a sibling is, to walk away from it with a strong sisterly relationship is a beautiful thing. We could've easily gone in the opposite direction and pushed each other away, rather than forming a united front.
I truly admire William, Kate, and Harry creating the Heads Together campaign. It's such a worthy organization that is not only getting people to open up about issues that aren't easy to discuss, but also allowing individuals to relate to the Royal Family in huge ways. They may have vastly different lives than the average person, but these three royals are helping people, like myself, feel less alone.
