The Princess of Wales’ touching encounter with grieving mother

Content Warning: this article deals with mental health and may be triggering for some readers.

It was an emotional day at the Maidenhead Rugby Club as Catherine, Princess of Wales, met with grieving mother Sarah Renton.

Renton’s world was shattered when her beloved 17-year-old daughter, Issy Phipps, tragically took her own life at the end of April, succumbing to the relentless grip of depression.

During Catherine’s visit to the rugby club as part of her new Shaping Us campaign, the two mothers, each with three children of their own, shared a poignant moment that will forever remain etched in their hearts.

As a heartfelt gesture of remembrance, Renton presented the Princess with a pair of exquisite earrings handcrafted by her cousin, serving as a tribute to the cherished memory of Issy.

Randon applauded the Princess for making a visit to the rugby club and leading the important discussion of early childhood development, adding that it’s clear Catherine is “passionate about what she does”.

During her latest rugby visit, Catherine once again showed off her sporty side as she took part in numerous rugby drills.

After taking part in drills, Catherine was joined by former England rugby professional and Shaping Us spokesperson Ugo Monye and founder of the mental health charity Brave Mind, Si Trower to speak about improving their approach to supporting mental health for children.

Catherine launched her Shaping Us campaign earlier in January 2023. Her new campaign focuses on the significance of early childhood in shaping both individuals and society at large.

At the time of its launch, the Princess said: “The way we develop, through our experiences, relationships and surroundings during our early childhood, fundamentally shapes our whole lives.

“It affects everything from our ability to form relationships and thrive at work, to our mental and physical well-being as adults and the way we parent our own children.

“These are the most preventative years. By focusing our collective time, energy and resources to build a supportive, nurturing world around the youngest members of our society and those caring for them, we can make a huge difference to the health and happiness of generations to come.”

Catherine has dedicated the majority of her work to early childhood development and pregnancy. She is a patron of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and has launched The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Learning which focuses on providing the best care from pregnancy to five years old.