Prince William and Kate send letter about peace to seven-year-old named Harry

Harry had written to the couple about a mental wellbeing initiative at his school

Natasha Preskey
Monday 15 March 2021 07:08 EDT
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(Getty Images/SWNS)

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Prince William and Kate have written a letter about peace to a seven-year-old boy named Harry.

The couple wrote to Harry Rudden-Vine after he sent them a letter about a "peace garden" which had been created at his school in an effort to help the school’s mental wellbeing.

Harry’s mum said the year two pupil "wasn’t expecting an answer" when he wrote to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge but, in the couple’s response, they said they were "immensely touched" by his message.

Harry, who is from Kent, wrote to the couple:  "I am at the moment like most children having to do my school work from home which is challenging for most children.

"Mummy works in the NHS so at the moment my dad is my teacher - boy that can be challenging for both dad and me!

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"I really wanted to tell you about my school’s new peace garden in Shorne, Kent.

"It is so beautiful and us kids can go there and collect our thoughts which is great as it helps us to think and helps us if we are worried."

Harry’s letter to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
Harry’s letter to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (Clair Rudden-Vine / SWNS.COM)

Harry’s mum Clair Rudden-Vine said her son was "thrilled" when the Duke and Duchess’s letter arrived and that he and his classmates had been involved in designing the garden, and bringing items into school for the project.

She said: "Harry was amazed when he received a letter back from Kensington Palace, thanking him for telling them about this special and helpful project.

"He wasn’t expecting an answer and was thrilled when the letter turned up, he thought how lovely they both were to even consider spending the time to ensure a letter got back to him."

Speaking of his surprise at getting a reply to his letter, Harry said how kind it was for the couple to respond to "an ordinary schoolboy".

The letter Harry received was written on behalf of Prince William and Kate by their head of general correspondence Claudia Spens.

It read: "Their Royal Highnesses are most grateful to you for taking the trouble to write as you did, about being home-schooled during the coronavirus pandemic, and they thank you for sharing your feelings with them.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s response
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s response (Clair Rudden-Vine / SWNS.COM)

"The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were very interested to hear about your school’s Peace Garden, and how helpful it has been for the mental health and wellbeing of you and the other school children.

"Their Royal Highnesses are committed champions of issues related to children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing and they were heartened to hear that you, too, care passionately about the importance of good mental health.

"The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were immensely touched that you should take the trouble to write as you did.

"It really was most thoughtful of you and Their Royal Highnesses have asked me to send you their warmest thanks and best wishes."

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