The Prince of Wales joined Cressida Bonas' husband, Harry Wentworth-Stanley, for a very important cause close to his heart.
The future King, 43, paid a visit to James' Place, Birmingham, on Monday, to officially open the centre for referrals. The charity was set up by Harry's parents, Clare Milford Haven and Nick Wentworth-Stanley, in memory of their son and Harry's brother, James Wentworth-Stanley, who tragically died by suicide in 2006.
Documenting the royal visit on Instagram - Harry, who married Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend, Cressida Bonas, in 2020 - shared alongside photos alongside William, alongside the words: "It was a huge honour to welcome His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to James’ Place Birmingham on Monday, to officially open the centre for referrals. We aim to support around 500 men in suicidal crisis in the West Midlands each year from this new centre. We are so grateful for his ongoing support.
Harry continued: "I will be paying another visit to the centre later this month, arriving into Birmingham on a paddleboard and departing the following morning on foot, as part of Journey For James - the 400+ mile triathlon I am undertaking between the James’ Place centres.
"The challenge starts on 23rd May in Newcastle. I am aiming to raise £100k and, if current fundraising momentum persists, I hope to have raised 50% of that target before starting the challenge which is amazing! Many thanks to all the wonderful people who have supported so far, and for anyone who would like to, you can do so at the following link (or via link in my bio)."
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesWilliam's passion
Prince William has long been an advocate for men's mental health. Speaking at the event, the royal said how much the UK is in need of centres like the one in Birmingham.
"The team here are fantastic," William said. "I hope we can get more of you around the UK, because it is in need of it sadly."
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesWilliam added: "We need to talk more about suicide, talk more about preventing it and talk about getting it [help] to young men and women earlier, so we don't have to have these centres in the very long run. That is the aim."
William toured the new centre and met staff, partners and service users who had been supported by the charity.
In loving memory
Talking about the upcoming challenge, Harry told the Times that he sees it as a "spiritual journey" as he plans to visit meaningful places from Harry's life.
Harry told the publication, "I see it as a spiritual journey in some ways. I’m starting in Newcastle, where James was studying when he died. I’m connecting the James’ Place centres around the country and ending in London where we grew up as kids. It’s my chance to spend some time with him and reflect on the leaps we’ve made in his memory."
The real estate investment director's fundraiser comes ten years ago, after he and three friends rowed 3,000 miles across the Atlantic, from the Canary Islands to Antigua, and raised £650,000 for what became James’ Place.
"All those years ago, our aim was, 'If we can save one life in James' memory, it could help us start to make sense of losing him."
Harry continued: "We’ve lasted the journey and saved thousands of men in a suicidal crisis, and that’s extremely fulfilling for all of us. We don’t yet have full national coverage but I would love to think that in time any man contemplating suicide would be in easy reach of James’ Place."
If you are a man in suicidal crisis, you can access support from James’ Place at jamesplace.org.uk. For immediate support, go to your nearest A&E or walk-in centre, call 111, call Samaritans on 116 123 or text SHOUT to 85258.
