It wouldn’t be unreasonable for most of us to assume that we don’t have all that much in common with members of the royal family. They were either born or married into a family of wealth, power, and prestige, while most of us just spend our days trying to get by.
Of course, that also means that we don’t have to deal with a barrage of tweets from total strangers every time we rub our belly like Meghan Markle does, so there’s a bit of a trade off.
However, one young man found some unfortunate common ground with Prince Harry when he met him at a charity event.
On Friday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex paid a visit to Empire Fighting Chance.
This charity specializes in youth boxing programs and that’s a sport that Prince Harry has had a passionate history with.
But, as People reported , when 12-year-old Iestyn Jones got emotional when addressing the royal, it wasn’t because of a shared love of boxing.
The boy had mentioned the death of his father seven years ago, and this drew a special reaction out of Harry.
He asked everyone else to leave the room while he spent about 10 minutes talking to Iestyn and comforting him.
Prince Harry could speak with some authority, as he also knew what it was like to lose a parent.
In fact, he was the same age as the child when Princess Diana died. He reportedly told Iestyn “the same thing happened to me” and spoke about the process of coming to terms with grief.
As Iestyn told reporters, his conversation with the duke left him thoroughly impressed.
He said, “When we had a group picture at the end he made sure I was standing next to him. They were lovely people. I didn’t expect them to be like that. They were amazing people.”
Not only did the two share a similar tragedy, but they found a similar way to cope with it.
According to People , Prince Harry turned to boxing as an outlet for the aggression that built up as he was coping with his own grief, which is part of what Iestyn is trying to get out of it as well.
Indeed, helping troubled young people is exactly why Empire Fighting Chance started in the first place.
When boxing gym owners Martin Bisp and Jamie Sanigar noticed two kids selling drugs outside of their doors, they invited them in to start training.
They must’ve been persuasive because as Bisp told People , “Within six weeks we had 50 kids coming in twice a week.”
Today, the number of kids who stop by each week has ballooned up to 350 boys and girls.
They’re still committed to helping keep troubled youths from drifting towards crime and unemployment with non-contact boxing training, as well as therapy, numeracy classes, and other programs.
The goal is to build the kids’ sense of discipline and respect, but also to improve their self-confidence and their physical and mental health.
During their tour, Prince Harry discussed the link between mental health and physical activity at length:
“These days we know that mental health is so important and that it affects so many people. So how do we start to deal with that?” he asked Bristol Post
To the Prince, he likened the UK to a sports-forward region, “In the UK we have a great affinity with sport.”
“And I think boxing in particular — that can have a really positive impact.” he concluded. He isn’t wrong — research has consistently shown physical activity to be an effective (but neglected) intervention for mental health issues like depression and anxiety.
Prince Harry was quite insightful on the inhibitions people hold about seeking help for mental illnesses.
“The thought of sitting down in a chair, one-to-one, with a therapist, can be a real deterrent.” he said.
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“However, this is the sort of place that you don’t even realize you are being cured, but you are.”
He continued to discuss the merits of the boxing center, “Centres like this are so vital, but it’s a time where it seems like they are having to close their doors more and more.”
Prince Harry rounded out his comments with yet another positive note.
“What is being achieved here is so important, especially for our young people. It really is incredible to see.”
It’s easy to see what compelled Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to visit the gym that started it all, but now they have a keepsake for their trip.
Before they left, the charity presented the royals with his and hers boxing gloves that have their royal titles written on them.
Harry was reportedly excited by the gift, telling Meghan, “We can spar, we can train. That’s amazing.”
Along with this boxing initiative, Prince Harry has championed dozens of other charities that have bolstered his reputation as one of the most philanthropic and empathetic Royals.
He does, however, seem to take a liking to charities and organizations that put a focus on physical activity — like the Fit And Fed Activity Programme, among others.
h/t: People
