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ECHOES OF DIANA AS WILLS COMFORTS A GRIEVING SON

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17 MAY 2006

Just weeks after Prince Harry launched a charity to help Aids orphans, his brother William has been proving he's also inherited some of Diana's famous compassion. The young royal delayed presenting the FA cup to Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard so he could comfort a fan whose father collapsed and died during the game.



West Ham supporter Gary Luckhurst and his 50-year-old dad David travelled to watch the match on Saturday, but 20 minutes into play Mr Luckhurst, a warehouse manager, passed out and was pronounced dead soon afterwards.

After learning of the tragedy the Prince, newly appointed to his role as president of the Football Association, visited Gary in the medical centre at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. During their ten-minute talk William squeezed him on the shoulder and offered to help in any way he could.

"He was such a nice fellow, very considerate and understanding," said 32-year-old father-of-two. "It was amazing. He said, 'I'm very sorry to hear about your father passing away. It must have come as a real shock for you'."

Gary, who said the Prince seemed genuinely upset, described Wills' support as a "godsend". After a while bodyguards motioned the second-in-line to the throne away, leaving the grieving son overwhelmed by the day's events. "I burst into tears the minute he left. It was such an emotional moment."