Prince Harry writes foreword to book for children who have lost parents to COVID-19

The Duke of Sussex has reflected on the pain of his mother’s death in a foreword to a book for children of health workers who have died in the coronavirus pandemic.

Prince Harry wrote that the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997 when he was 12 had left “a huge hole inside” him but that it was eventually filled with “love and support”, The Guardian reports, citing The Times.

The book, Hospital by the Hill, tells the story of a young person whose mother dies working on the front line at a hospital during the COVID crisi.

Written by Chris Connaughton and illustrated by Fay Troote, the book is being given to similarly bereaved children as part of the National Day of Reflection next week, a government initiative to mark the anniversary of the start of lockdown in the UK.

“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 comfort in knowing that you’re not alone,” the duke wrote.