Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are sending their deepest condolences to the Smallman family after the death of their 18-year-old daughter, Holly.
According to the Daily Mail, the teen died peacefully in her sleep on March 27. The outlet stated that Holly was “seriously ill from birth with a number of complex conditions; which included cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and chronic lung disease.”
Her lifelong battle with these conditions is how she and her family came to know the Royal. The Smallman’s first met the Duke of Sussex five years ago at the WellChild awards; when he presented Holly’s younger sister Ruby with a prize.
Prince Harry gave the family a moment they’ll always treasure by sending a personally written letter after her death; reflecting on the privilege he had in knowing Holly and the admiration he has for the Smallman family. He signed the letter, “Meghan and I send our deepest and most heartfelt condolences.”
Hayley said the note conveyed “such a sense of genuine caring” from the 35-year-old. She shared, “For Prince Harry to find the time to send this email, to know that Holly made that impact on him and that he cares so much; even in all this private turmoil he’s going through, just meant the world to us.”
The WellChild organization continues to be a cause that the Prince loves and dedicates his time to. Even with the coronavirus pandemic taking place, Harry has participated in conference calls with parents and members of the group.