The Princess of Wales has made a surprise visit to Everton’s stadium in Liverpool to support the launch of her husband’s suicide prevention toolkit.
Prince William was due to host the occasion solo before Kate decided to also attend, marking their first joint royal event since their summer break and the return of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to the UK.
To launch the initiative, the Prince of Wales was joined by representatives from across the sports world and well-known figures including presenter Gabby Logan, Dame Kelly Holmes, Campbell Hatton and Jill Scott at Hill Dickinson Stadium today.
Leaning on further star-power, the future king teamed up with famous faces including England captain Harry Kane, F1’s George Russell, footballer Alan Shearer and cycling stars Sir Jason and Dame Laura Kenny to create the new On Your Side ‘toolkit’.
The practical guide enables people to spot the warning signs better, as well as build knowledge and confidence to offer more timely support.
Kate matched William, who wore a navy suit and tie, in a light blue blazer and coordinating trousers from Edeline Lee, teamed with a white blouse to pay homage to Everton’s home colours. She also sported her £185 Laura Lombardi Portrait chain necklace.
Their outing comes after the King ruled out any role for Prince Harry and his wife Meghan within the Royal Family after they moved back to Britain from the US two weeks ago.
In a letter, the monarch told more than 100 ‘senior stakeholders’ across the country that his son and daughter-in-law are not working royals, with a reminder that their HRH titles remain on ice.
The Prince and Princess of Wales and Gabby Logan at the launch of a Suicide Prevention Toolkit on World Suicide Prevention Day at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool
William’s initiative is the result of a collaboration between his charitable arm, The Royal Foundation, the British Standards Institution and the charity Chasing the Stigma. Pictured, Kate and William, centre
The Princess of Wales has made a surprise visit to Everton’s stadium in Liverpool to support the launch of her husband’s suicide prevention toolkit
The Princess looked typically elegant in a blue ensemble, teamed with a gold chain necklace
The Princess’ hair was left in soft curls while she wore a smattering of glamourous makeup
Kate and William pose for a group photo during the launch of a Suicide Prevention Toolkit
Dame Kelly Holmes and boxer Tony Bellew speak with The Princess of Wales
A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess said they were ‘surprised’ by the King’s unprecedented letter in a statement issued to the media, claiming the couple had not been told about it in advance.
Palace sources told the Daily Mail that this is ‘incorrect’, insisting Harry and Meghan had received the letter before it was released publicly. However, they were not consulted on its contents.
The Palace made the point the letter was in full accordance with the Sussexes’ stated wish to remain ‘private citizens while in the UK’ and in keeping with the ‘Sandringham Summit’ agreement of 2020, after which the couple set up a new life in the US.
This prompted a jaw-dropping briefing to the Telegraph , which read: ‘The Duke is understood to have taken particular issue with the notion that the couple were to be treated as private citizens. If that were the case, it was claimed, such formal guidance would not be required.
‘The Sussexes prefer the term “public figures”, and would have liked an acknowledgement that, on a personal level, they remained members of the Royal Family, despite no longer receiving public funding.’ Buckingham Palace declined to comment, feeling the letter is sufficient.
Earlier this week, Kate and William, both 44, accompanied their eldest son on his first day of school at Eton College.
They travelled with their son the short distance from their home, Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park, to the renowned private school, which has educated a string of prime ministers and Hollywood stars.
George is following in the footsteps of his father and uncle, the Duke of Sussex, who both attended the college, located just across the River Thames from Windsor Castle in the town of Eton.
Kate was keen to show her support for William’s initiative
To launch the initiative, the Prince of Wales was joined by representatives from across the sports world and well-known figures including Dame Kelly Holmes, Gabby Logan, Campbell Hatton and Jill Scott at Hill Dickinson Stadium today
The Prince and Princess of Wales sat on the Gary Speed memorial bench with the late footballer’s mother, Carol
Prince William was due to host the occasion solo before Kate decided to also attend, marking their first joint royal event since their summer break and the return of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to the UK
In a speech at Everton football club today, on World Suicide Prevention Day, William (pictured at the event, with Kate) will say: ‘My hope is that every sporting organisation in the country will look at what is being launched today and ask a question: “What more can we do?”‘
Kate matched William, who wore a navy suit and tie, in a light blue blazer and coordinating trousers, teamed with a white blouse to pay homage to Everton’s home colours
The Princess of Wales during a visit to Everton FC’s Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, to meet leading figures from across sport
The Princess looked engaged as she chatted to Gary Speed’s mother Carol
The Prince and Princess of Wales in the Everton locker room during their visit today
The Prince and Princess of Wales pictured inside the Everton locker room
Presenter Gabby Logan appeared at the launch of the initiative alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales
Kelly Holmes, Tony Bellew, Dame Laura Kenny, Graeme Sharp, Kate Cross and Campbell Hatton speak with Kate
Dressed in a striking blue Edeline Lee trouser suit and, touchingly, a pair of ‘Issy Star’ earrings, sold for charity in memory of teenager Issy Phipps, who tragically took her life three years ago, Kate looked on proudly as Prince William gave a passionate speech about using the power of sport to reach out to those in need today.
She also joined him speaking to the mother of ex-professional footballer and Wales manager Gary Speed, who died by suicide in 2011 at the age of just 42.
The trio sat on a ‘talking bench’ at Everton football club which has been erected in his honour and is staffed by a mental health nurse on match days.
Mrs Speed spoke about the ‘stigma’ around her son’s sudden death and the need to speak more openly.
‘Before Gary passed it was a stigma, it wasn’t spoken about and since then it seems to have come out more, people are speaking about it more,’ she said.
The princess replied: ‘Sport is such a powerful vehicle to bring people together to shine a spotlight on really important issues.’
William added that it was difficult to ‘find the language’ to speak about the issue, particularly with men: ‘It applies to everyone but men are a particularly difficult community to get to speak more about it.
‘Gary’s legacy, do you think it was a bit of a turning point, a bit of a breakthrough moment on a national level, that helps more men open up? Have you noticed the conversation changing at all, because that’s really important? The most difficult thing is getting people to speak about it, particularly suicide, so many people find it very hard to find the language to talk about it.’
‘Definitely,’ Mrs Speed replied. Catherine added: ‘Just reaching out for support, and taking that first step, is so important.’
In a speech, William said that ‘one of the great things about sport’ is that it ‘brings people together, whatever colours we wear’.
The Prince and Princess of Wales wore matching blue colours in homage to Everton’s home colours
The Princess of Wales seemed to debut slightly brighter hair during the outing
The Princess of Wales appeared to concetrate deeply as she listened to Prince William talk
The Prince and The Royal Foundation are launching On Your Side: A Suicide Prevention Toolkit for People in Sport
The future king (pictured in the stadium) teamed up with stars including England captain Harry Kane, F1’s George Russell, footballer Alan Shearer and cycling stars Sir Jason and Dame Laura Kenny to create the new On Your Side ‘toolkit’.
The Prince and Princess of Wales arriving at Everton’s stadium in Liverpool
The future king (pictured) has written a foreword for the toolkit, in which he said: ‘Through my work on mental health, I have met people whose lives have been changed forever by suicide’
A spokesman for the Prince of Wales (pictured with the Princess) said it was well known that he has worked for many years to support changing the national conversation on mental health and this was a development of that
He continued: ‘Suicide remains one of the greatest challenges facing our society. Many people will have felt the impact of this personally. You will know families whose lives have been changed forever by loss. Today, we remember them. And we recommit ourselves to doing everything we can to prevent more families from experiencing that pain.
‘Sport reaches people in ways few other sectors can. Every week, hundreds of thousands of people walk through the gates of stadiums and arenas. Millions more gather in clubhouses, sports halls, gyms and community centres. They play together. Train together. Watch together. And support one another. Building relationships that can last a lifetime.
‘When somebody is struggling, often it is not a professional who first notices. It is a friend. A coach. A colleague. A teammate.
‘Someone who sees a change. Someone who asks if everything is alright. Someone who starts a conversation. And that conversation could make all the difference.’
The future king said research by his Royal Foundation charity arm had shown that the industry wants to do more to help and he hoped that the ‘toolkit’ their had produced would offer much-needed practical guidance on how to respond and support those in need.
‘The toolkit is designed to help people recognise warning signs. To build confidence in having difficult conversations. And to connect people with support before they reach crisis. Most importantly, it turns good intentions into action. So, today we want to start a movement across sport, ‘ the prince explained.
‘Sport has the ability to reach people who may never walk through the door of a mental healthcare service. People who may never seek support themselves and may be struggling in silence. The sporting community can help change that.
‘And for those watching, listening, or reading about today’s event, there is a role for you too. Whether you are an athlete, a coach, a parent, a volunteer, an official or a supporter: You may be the person who notices. The person who asks the question. The person who helps someone find the support they need.
‘Never underestimate the difference that you can make. It is also important for us all to remember that we do not always know what someone is going through. We do not always see what is happening behind closed doors, or understand the battles that may be taking place beneath the surface.
‘That is why kindness matters. Why checking in matters. And why simply asking someone how they are, can make more of a difference than we realise.
‘And if there is anyone listening today who is struggling, who feels overwhelmed, isolated, or without hope, please know this:
‘You are not alone. There are people who care about you, people who want to help, and support is available.
‘Reaching out is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of strength. Whether it is a friend, a family member, a teammate, a coach, or a professional service, please take that first step and reach out to someone you trust.’
Among those in the audience was boxer Campbell Hatton, whose late father, the professional boxer Ricky Hatton, died by hanging just a year ago, although a coroner recorded that he could not be certain the star intended to take his own life.
Campbell has himself suffered with alcohol and susbstance abuse, as well as mental health issues.
Campbell, who came back to boxing after stepping away from the sport for a while, said: ‘My nights ended very darkly and suicide was at the forefront of my mind. It took my Dad’s passing for my family to say ‘we’ve got to get a hold of him’.
‘My family saved my life. Boxing is a very macho, man-up sport. It takes a lot to say ‘I’m struggling’, it takes a lot more strength to say ‘I’m struggling’ than the opposite. Sport does bring people together, coming back to boxing has done me the world of good.’
Former Olympic athlete and medallist Dame Kelly Holmes admitted that ‘five years ago, I had to reach out for help at 1.30 in the morning and that saved my life, because of my suicidal tendencies.’
Addressing William and Catherine in the audience, she hailed their support, saying: ‘To have the prince and princess here is immense, to have your support and platform for this, I absolutely guarantee this will be saving people’s lives.’
She added: ‘Mental health has been normalised in the last six or seven years, Suicide hasn’t, it needs to be now.’
Alongside the new toolkit, the Royal Foundation has also produced a short film aimed at encouraging people to start a conversation about suicide featuring a host of sports stars.
In the film, William’s provides a voiceover saying: ‘You don’t need to be an expert to support someone who’s struggling. You just need to have the courage to have the conversation.’
William’s initiative is the result of a collaboration between his charitable arm, The Royal Foundation, the British Standards Institution and the charity Chasing the Stigma.
Suicide is the single biggest killer of men under the age of 50 in the UK – and while the campaign is designed to help both sexes, it is hoped that sport will provide a new way of reaching those men who traditionally find it difficult to talk about their emotions or reach out for help.
As well as the practical guide, which will be distributed to sporting organisations both grassroots and professional the length and breadth of the country, stars including Kane and Russell recorded a special film with the prince showcasing the power of having a conversation about suicide.
Leaders from major sports organisations will also announce details of their commitments to the initiative.
The Football Association, of which the prince is Patron, will commit to embedding the toolkit across its entire organisation, as well as its community and grassroots football network.
The Premier League and British Cycling will announce their commitment to prioritising suicide prevention across their organisations, and Team GB will use the resource with all athletes and staff.
In addition, over a dozen other sports organisations have signed up to become champions of the toolkit, committing to embedding practical, evidence-based suicide prevention techniques across their organisation, using the resource to strengthen their approach and help inspire wider action across all sports.
A video promoting the toolkit was screened for the first time earlier, featuring England captain Harry Kane and other leading competitors urging the sporting world to adopt the online resource.
Hazel Detsiny, Executive Director of The Royal Foundation, said: ‘This toolkit is the first of its kind, uniting the sector across all sports and at every level, with the aim of bringing about meaningful change.
‘Sport can be a powerful force for connection and support, and everyone engaged in sport has the power to make a difference to those at risk of suicide.
‘Research commissioned by The Royal Foundation shows that the sports sector has the potential to be a powerful platform for suicide prevention but is hampered by stigma – particularly among men and elite athletes – as well as gaps in skills, knowledge and resources.
‘The findings show strong goodwill and pockets of effective practice across sport, but that the sector’s scale and diversity mean activity is often siloed, inconsistent, and unevenly resourced. At grassroots level, many clubs lack clear guidance on how to recognise risk and respond appropriately.’
The toolkit explains how to create safe and supportive environments where people feel able to speak up and support others in distress, including outlining appropriate language and providing conversation starters.
It also hopes to make suicide prevention part of everyday practice, including policies and ways of working.
Footballer Alan Shearer suddenly lost his best friend and ex-Newcastle teammate, Gary Speed, in 2011.
The two men had seen each other just hours before his death and had been planning a holiday together when Wales manager Speed apparently took his own life at the age of just 42.
He said: ‘For me this is obviously very personal and it feels particularly poignant that it is being launched at Everton, a club that meant so much to Gary Speed.
‘We can’t all know when somebody is struggling but we can all be better at asking and listening and helping someone find the right support.
‘That’s what On Your Side is all about, giving people across sport practical advice to help start those conversations. Prince William has done a huge amount around mental health and support.
‘You don’t have to be an expert, you don’t have to have all the answers, but I hope that everyone in sport will use the toolkit. We can all be on the same side.’
A spokesman for the Prince of Wales said it was well known that he has worked for many years to support changing the national conversation on mental health and this was a development of that.
‘The prince is very passionate about sport and truly believes in its ability to bring people together,’ they said.
He has already invested £1 million of his charity’s funds to set up a national suicide prevention network.
For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
