William and Harry follow in mother’s footsteps in support of HIV charity

THE Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry have followed in the footsteps of their mother, the late Princess of Wales, by voicing support for one of the country’s leading HIV charities.

The brothers sent a letter congratulating the Terrence Higgins Trust on its 30th anniversary and praised the charity’s work in supporting people with the virus.

They called on a generation to “pick up the sword and continue the fight” against HIV and said many sufferers were still blighted by a stigma attached to the illness.

It follows Diana’s close association with charities tackling HIV which saw her open the first specialist Aids hospital ward in England at Middlesex Hospital.

“Our generation has never known a world without HIV. We have grown up knowing of the devastating impact this virus has on lives, on families, on communities,” William and Harry wrote. “We know, too, that HIV can be treated and the lives of sufferers extended by many years. However, there is still a stigma which blights sufferers of the disease, even today.

“Terrence Higgins Trust, founded 30 years ago by friends of Terrence Higgins, one of the first people in the United Kingdom to die of Aids, has been the other constant in this story of our generation.

“Every day, its inspirational staff and volunteers work ceaselessly to turn the lives of HIV sufferers around. They have prevented countless new infections, supported thousands of people to live healthy lives with HIV, and campaigned tirelessly to gain a greater public understanding of the impact of HIV.”