Prince Harry has revealed how the death of his mother affected him in a powerful new statement featured in a UK children's book, Hospital on the Hill.
The Duke of Sussex says the death of his mother, Princess Diana, left a "huge hole" inside of him - and he wants those in the same position to know they're "not alone".
Hospital on the Hill follows the story of a young person coping with the death of their parent - a frontline worker in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It's almost been a year since the UK's first nationwide lockdown for a pandemic which has killed 126,000 people and Prince Harry's foreword hopes to help children overcome grief.
"If you are reading this book, it's because you've lost your parent or a loved one, and while I wish I was able to hug you right now, I hope this story is able to provide you with comfort in knowing that you're not alone," he writes.
"When I was a young boy I lost my mum. At the time I didn't want to believe it or accept it, and it left a huge hole inside of me. I know how you feel, and I want to assure you that over time that hole will be filled with so much love and support.
"We all cope with loss in a different way, but when a parent goes to heaven, I was told their spirit, their love and the memories of them do not. They are always with you and you can hold onto them forever. I find this to be true."
"And I will make a promise to you," he adds. "You will feel better and stronger once you are ready to talk about how it makes you feel."
The book, written by Chris Connaughton and illustrated by Fay Troote, is available for free in the UK for those who have lost a loved one.
Earlier this month, Prince Harry told Oprah Winfrey that he and his wife Meghan Markle decided to step back from their roles as senior royals because he feared history was "repeating itself".
Princess Diana died in a car crash while being chased by paparazzi on August 31 1997. He was twelve years old at the time.
While Princess Diana was considered a royal icon, the attention she received wasn't always positive - and Prince Harry was cautious of that.
In a 2017 BBC documentary, Prince Harry said her popularity was hard to come into terms with.
"I think the hardest thing to come to terms with is the fact that the people that chased her into the tunnel, were the same people taking photographs of her dying on the back seat of the car," he told the BBC.
