Prince Williamoffered “powerful advice” about losing a parent to the two children of Deborah James ahead of her death this summer.
James' husband Sebastien Bowen recently toldThe Timesin the U.K. that the Duke of Cambridge “felt like a friend” when hevisited the family for tea in May.
“There was the time I opened the door toPrince William, who had come to give Deborah a damehood,” Bowen recalled. “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.”
Prince William, who lost his motherPrincess Dianawhen he was just 15, also shared some insight with James' two children, 14-year-old son Hugo and 12-year-old daughter Eloise.
“He’s obviously been through similar grief with the loss of his mother, so he gave powerful advice to the children that will stay with them forever,” Bowen said.
Prince William, 40, also kept things lighthearted, joking that James, also 40, was “triple parked” with three different drinks.
“Deborah had a glass of champagne, a glass of wine and a glass of sherry in front of her,” Bowen said. “She hadn’t been allowed a drink for months and the first thing William said was, ‘I’m glad to see you are triple parked.’ That was an immediate ice-breaker.”
James shared photos ofPrince William’s visit to her Instagram page, including showing off her damehood honor.
“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,” she wrote.
Prince Williamalsovisited the Royal Marsden Hospitalin London to meet with nurses and staff who helped care for James. William became president of the hospital in 2007, following in the footsteps of his late motherPrincess Diana, who alsosupported the facility and frequently made visits.
“I loved meeting her, she was fantastic — her legacy is massive,” William told Lorraine Kimber, a patient who is currently undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer.
Prince William at the Royal Marsden Hospital.Frank Augstein - WPA Pool/Getty Images
“We are so sad to hear the heartbreaking news about Dame Deborah,” William and Kateposted on Twitter.
Signing off with their initials, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge added, “Our thoughts are with her children, her family and her loved ones. Deborah was an inspirational and unfalteringly brave woman whose legacy will live on. W & C.”
source: people.com
