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LONDON, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Prince William honored mom Princess Diana in a moving speech Thursday. The 33-year-old Duke of Cambridge reflected on grief and his late mother at the Child Bereavement U.K. 21st Anniversary dinner in London. Princess Diana helped to launch the charity in 1994, and Prince William was made the organization's royal patron in 2000.
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"What my mother recognized back then -- and what I understand now -- is that grief is the most painful experience that any child or parent can endure," he shared. "But my mother was determined to help those in need and she would have been immensely proud -- as I am -- of all that Child Bereavement U.K. has achieved these last 21 years."
"Tonight we celebrate the enormous, positive difference this charity has made to bereaved families across the country," he said. "We celebrate the love, support and skills provided by the charity's staff, volunteers and supporters ... CBUK's humanity is simply unparalleled, and it is deeply moving. As a father to two young children myself, I now appreciate it all the more."
Prince William was 15 years old when Princess Diana was killed in a car crash in August 1997. He and wife Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, married in April 2011, and are parents to 2-year-old son George and 5-month-old daughter Charlotte. The prince described George as "lively" and Charlotte as "lady-like" during a visit to Cambridge University earlier in the day.
The Duchess of Cambridge officially returned to her royal duties in mid-September after welcoming Charlotte in early May. She and Prince William will take part in president of China Xi Jinping's state visit next week, during which the duchess is expected to attend her first state banquet.
