Duke thanks charity from ‘bottom of heart’

The Duke of Cambridge has thanked a bereavement charity from the “bottom of his heart” for helping youngsters from military families who have lost loved ones.

The Duke and the Duchess of Cambridge were guests of honour at a fundraising gala at St James’s Palace.

The philanthropic organisation 100 Women in Hedge Funds raised more than £675,000 by staging the black-tie event in support of the Child Bereavement Charity.

Since 2009, the duke has been patron of the body which educates professionals and supports families both when a child dies and when a child is bereaved.

The duke said in his address: “What you are both doing together to alleviate the suffering of children who have lost family members, and bereaved families who have experienced the tragedy of losing a child, is beyond praise. The Child Bereavement Charity has now directly helped thousands of families.”

He also spoke about the work it now did to help the children of servicemen and women.

“This year too, the charity has brought its compassion and experience to the aid of bereaved military families, whose children suffer so much – in a way, for all of our sakes. I thank you for doing this from the bottom of my heart.”