Prince William Gave Deborah James’ Children Advice on Losing a Parent, Her Husband Says: His Words Will ‘Stay With Them’

usmagazine.com:

Sharing words of wisdom. Prince William gave the children of late BBC presenter Deborah James advice on how to cope with losing a parent when he visited the family earlier this year.“He’s obviously been through similar grief with the loss of his mother, [Princess Diana], so he gave powerful advice to the children that will stay with them forever,” James’ husband, Sebastian Bowen, told the UK newspaper The Times in a story published on Monday, August 15. “He felt like a friend, but he was the future king.

That was bizarre. He was so relaxed; he came and sat down in the garden and had champagne with the family.”The Duke of Cambridge, 40, visited James and her family at their home in May to award her with a damehood, just one month before she died at the age of 40 after a lengthy battle with cancer.“Prince William actually came to our family house today,” the journalist, who was in hospice care at the time, wrote via Instagram after their afternoon together. “I am utterly honoured that he joined us for afternoon tea and champagne, where he not only spent a generous amount of time talking to my whole family but also honoured me with my Damehood.

It’s quite surreal having a royal pop in at home, and yes you can imagine the cleaning antics and preparation went off the scale – but it was all irrelevant because William was so kind and he put us all at ease.”James’ post continued: “It was such a special day for my whole family, making memories to last a life time.

He’s welcome back any time!”In the wake of her death, William and Duchess Kate released a rare personal statement expressing their grief and sharing their condolences with James’ family. “We are so sad to hear the heartbreaking news about Dame Deborah,” the royals said