Prince Harry has sent a personal message of condolence to the parents of a disabled teen.
The Duke of Sussex emailed the family of Holly Smallman, 18, to say he had been “fortunate” to meet their “special and happy girl”.
Holly had suffered from conditions such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy and chronic lung disease since birth.
The teenager met Harry in 2015 when he presented her sister Ruby with a Wellchild Award for being her carer.
After learning of Holly’s death, Harry messaged her parents, Hayley, 43, and Gary, 46, to send his “deepest and most heartfelt condolences”.
He added: “I imagine words cannot really hope to provide much comfort to you and your family at this most difficult of times, but I wanted you to know that you, your daughter Ruby and son Josh are in my thoughts and my prayers.”
Hayley said: “For Prince Harry to find the time to send this email, to know Holly made that impact on him and that he cares so much, even in all his private turmoil, just meant the world to us.”
Harry asked to meet Holly at the 2015 event, when he was only meant to meet Ruby, now 12, and her mum. Hayley, from Liverpool, said: “I told him she was visually impaired and got frightened of people talking over or down on her.
“When she came in, he got down on one knee, held her hand and had a full conversation with her, chatting away.
“He sent everyone else out of the room and just spent time with the two of them. It was an incredible moment.”
Because of the lockdown, only a handful of mourners could attend Holly’s funeral but the family asked supporters to wear pink instead.
Thousands joined in via social media – including Coleen Rooney, whose sister Rosie died in 2013 aged 14.
Coleen tweeted that Holly was “a special little angel” and said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Smallman family on this sad day.”
