Prince William at bereavement charity dinner 21 years after Princess Diana attended its launch

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Prince William, 33, spoke at the dinner for Child Bereavement UK
His mother Princess Diana helped to launch it and he is now a patron
Gary Barlow also attended, after his daughter was stillborn in 2012

Published: 15:07 EST, 15 October 2015 | Updated: 15:36 EST, 15 October 2015

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Prince William revealed how his mother’s work with bereaved families had inspired his own public duties in an emotional speech tonight a the Banqueting Hall, London.

The second in line to the throne, 33, was speaking at a gala dinner to mark the 21st anniversary of Child Bereavement UK, which the late Princess Diana helped to launch and he is now patron of.

The organisation’s Founder Patron Julia Samuel was one of his mother’s best friends and is now godmother to William’s son, Prince George.

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Prince William spoke at the Child Bereavement dinner to mark the charity's 21st anniversary, pictured with singer Gary Barlow

The prince said: ‘Twenty one years ago last month, my mother attended the launch of the Child Bereavement Charity.

'Fifteen years later, I was honoured to be invited to become Patron of Child Bereavement UK to continue my mother's commitment to a charity which is very dear to me. ‘

Referring to the pain of his own mother’s death in 1997, he continued: ‘What my mother recognised back then – and what I understand now – is that grief is the most painful experience that any child or parent can endure.

'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 UK has achieved these last 21 years.

‘Tonight we celebrate the enormous, positive difference this charity has made to bereaved families across the country.

‘When many people slink away at the sight of a friend's bereavement, CBUK's staff embrace strangers at the darkest moment in their life.

The prince spoke about how his mother Princess Diana attended the launch of the charity 21 years ago

‘I have witnessed first-hand the difference CBUK has made – and continues to make – to the lives of bereaved families.

'CBUK works with military families, with the wrecked families of suicide victims, with little children whose lives are torn apart by the inexplicable death of a parent.

'And yet amid all this misery, CBUK – and I don't know how they do this – brings warmth, comfort, a guiding hand, a way through, even colour and joyfulness, and a renewed opportunity for love as a family reknits itself after tragedy.’

He added: ‘CBUK's humanity is simply unparalleled, and it is deeply moving.

‘As a father to two young children, I now appreciate it all the more.’

Princess Diana helped to launch the charity 21 years ago and Prince Williams is also a patron

Gary Barlow attended because it's a cause close to his heart and he and wife Dawn were devastated when their daughter, Poppy, was stillborn in 2012

The Prince and Gary shook hands at the gala dinner, to celebrate the impact the charity has had on grieving families around the country

Child Bereavement UK supports families and educates professionals when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement.

Every year it trains almost 7000 professionals, helping them to better understand and meet the needs of grieving families.

Among the charity’s supporters present tonight was Take That’s Gary Barlow.

He and his wife Dawn were left devastated when their baby daughter, Poppy, was stillborn in 2012.