Duchess Kate paid tribute to her "brilliant" brother-in-law Prince Harry on Wednesday afternoon, for addressing his own struggles with mental health following the death of his mother, Princess Diana, in a recent interview with the Daily Telegraph. Kate had been chatting to primary school headteacher, Jamie Maloy, at a reception held at Kensington Palace to wish a group of London Marathon runners, who are supporting William, Kate and Harry's Heads Together mental health campaign, good luck during their training. During his conversation with the Duchess, Jamie brought up the subject of Harry’s brave admission, telling her: "What I love is your brother-in-law talking the other day, because it just ignited it.
STORY: Kate Middleton hosts London Marathon runners at Kensington Palace
© Photo: Getty ImagesKate hosted London Marathon runners at Kensignton Palace on Wednesday afternoon
"Everyone's talking about mental health now because someone who is so famous and so much in the public eye has actually turned around and said something hit me hard - the death of a close loved one. And I think people have gone 'good on you, because you could have never mentioned that,'" he continued.
Kate went on to praise the 32-year-old, responding: "We all felt there was very much a campaign to get everyone talking and have these conversations, (so) we've got to do the same, you know, do the same - so he's been brilliant." When the headteacher added that Harry was a 'real hero to a lot of people,' Kate agreed saying 'absolutely'".
Harry was just 12 years old when his mother Princess Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris. He admitted in the candid interview that he didn't process his grief until his late twenties, saying: "My way of dealing with it was sticking my head in the sand, refusing to ever think about my mum, because why would that help? (I thought) it's only going to make you sad, it's not going to bring her back. So from an emotional side, I was like 'right, don't ever let your emotions be part of anything.'"
© Photo: Getty ImagesHarry admitted to seeking help through counselling following the tragic death of his mum, Princess Diana
© Photo: Getty ImagesHarry officially opened this year's London Marathon expo with the help from five-year-old Melissa
STORY: Prince Harry gets a little help from a young friend as he opens London Marathon
Earlier in the day, Prince Harry officially opened this year's London Marathon expo, with the help of an adorable five-year-old girl. Delighting crowds, the British royal picked young Melissa Howse to help him cut the ribbon.
Her father Tony Howse told reporters: "I don't think she knew who he was, but she was very, very excited." Prince Harry, who is Patron of the London Marathon Charitable Trust, even handed out special Heads Together headbands.
The mental health campaign, which he leads with The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, has been named this year's charity of the year for the marathon. The royals are hoping that 2017's event will be recognised as "the mental health marathon" that gets the country talking about the issue.
