Kate Middleton, Deacon Glover and Prince William.Photo: Danny Lawson - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Prince Williamkept his word.
DuringKate Middletonand Prince William’s visit last month to Church on the Street, a charity that lifts people out of poverty while providing a space for worship, theymet 11-year-old Deacon Glover. The young boy was grieving the death of his mother last year and shared a touching moment with Prince William, whose mom Princess Diana died when he was 15.
Deacon wore a green Nick Pope soccer jersey to meet the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. At one point during the visit,Prince Williamleaned over and asked him, “Would you like to see Nick Pope? Yeah? We’ll see what we can do.”
Prince Williamcame through on his promise — on Sunday, Deacon met with the goalie before Burnley’s match against Liverpool.
Kate Middleton and Prince William with Deacon Glover.Danny Lawson - WPA Pool/Getty Images
“It was such a wonderful moment for Deacon and seeing his face when he met Nick Pope was just wonderful,” Deacon’s great grandmother Carole Ellis told theBurnley Express.“I had a real lump in my throat.”
Pope presented Deacon with his goalie gloves and a jersey, signed with the words “Never Give Up.”
“They had a good chat, Nick was absolutely lovely with him and really encouraging,” Ellis said.
Deacon Glover and Nick Pope.Michael Fleming / SWNS
Then Deacon and his family got to watch the game from a special spot in the director’s box.
“Everyone was so welcoming to us, they really couldn’t do enough for us. It was a special day, one that we will always remember,” Ellis said. “We want to thank everyone at the club and alsoPrince Williamfor making this happen for Deacon.”
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Pastor Mick Fleming, a former drug dealer who is now known for his charitable efforts, startedChurch on the Streetin 2019 to help the homeless and people living in poverty in the town of Burnley, about 240 miles northwest of London.
Fleming told PEOPLE thatPrince William, 39, and Kate, 40, showed great empathy with Deacon during their meeting.
“They were amenable and down to earth and really engaged,” the pastor said. “They sat down with some of the guys who come in here and with myself. They used their own experience to talk to them. There was a young boy who has lost his mother and the prince talked to him about it and spoke about losing his own mother and passed on his experience.”
“He said, ‘Don’t stop talking about your mother,’ and gave him his own perspective. It was a very touching moment,” he added.
source: people.com
