AN 11-year-old from Rhyl spoke with the Duchess of Cambridge about his father's military medals during a video call with families who lost loves ones serving their country.
Sonia Fleming and her son Charlton were among those invited to the video call with Duchess Kate Middleton to mark the start of Remembrance week on Monday.
Charlton's father, Royal Marine Michael Taylor, was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2010.
During the call the Duchess asked Charlton, who was dressed smartly in a blue blazer and tie, whether he was wearing his school uniform.
“You look very smart,” she said. “Have you put it on especially? Thank you very much.”
Kate then asked him about his dad’s medals that he was proudly wearing.
“Are those your daddy’s medals?” she said.
Charlton told her that the medals were from his father’s service in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“Wow, it’s very special that you’re wearing them,” replied the Duchess.
She asked the youngster if he would tell her about his father, to which he replied: “I think mum would explain it best, you take the floor, mum.”
Sonia then spoke of how her husband had died when Charlton was ten months old and her other sons were aged 11 and 13.
“Probably the hardest thing is doing it on your own,” Sonia said.
Charlton added that he enjoyed looking at photographs of his father and listening to “amazing” stories about him.
The family members of other soldiers who also had the chance to speak with Kate.
“I’m sure you spend your time every day remembering your loved ones but it’s so important that the nation comes together and really spends time thinking about those who have lost their lives and the families that have been impacted,” she said to them.
“It’s been a real honour to speak to all of you and I think I speak for the whole nation when I say just how proud you should be of your loved ones, and for the sacrifice and the bravery that they’ve shown.
“I’ll certainly be thinking of you this difficult week and will be for many years to come.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here