Prince William warns the nation is making a critical mistake in daily life as he opens up on surviving ‘dreary days’ in a candid chat with a social media influencer
Prince William has issued a powerful warning to the nation, claiming modern life has left us so wrapped up in ourselves that we are missing a vital opportunity to save lives. The Prince of Wales opened up about what keeps him going during his own “dreary days” in a candid clip posted to Instagram by Liverpool social media sensation Ryan Hall, AKA Still Ryan.
In the viral video, filmed at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium to mark World Suicide Prevention Day, the royal sat down with the Croxteth-born influencer for a surprisingly relaxed chat about tea, cake and mental health.
Before getting into the deeper issues, Ryan kicked off by asking if the pair could grab a brew and a slice of Victoria sponge away from the madness.
“Definitely,” William said, asking who was baking before Ryan confessed they’d probably just buy it. The Prince then revealed a quiet lifestyle shift of his own when asked if he takes sugar with his tea: “I used to, not anymore.”
When Ryan asked what gives the future King hope on a “rainy, dreary day” when the weight of the world is on his shoulders, William urged people to stop looking inward.
“I think life’s so busy now, we forget to listen,” the Prince said. “We all want to talk about ourselves. We all get in our own little worlds too much, and sometimes lifting your eyes up to the horizon is really important as you kind of notice what’s around you.
“I see the power of the collective, of everyone together, being able to support one another, show kindness, show the fact that we have got time for each other, we can listen.”
The Prince was in Merseyside alongside his wife, the Princess of Wales, and sports icons, including double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes and Lioness legend Jill Scott, to launch a new mental health toolkit.
Called On Your Side, the new initiative calls on the entire sporting world, from grassroots Sunday league teams to Premier League giants, to incorporate suicide prevention directly into their “game plan.”
Developed by William’s Royal Foundation alongside charity Chasing the Stigma and the British Standards Institution, the project aims to help coaches, teammates and fans spot the early warning signs of a mental health crisis.
Writing in the foreword to the guidance, William said: “Through my work on mental health, I have met people whose lives have been changed forever by suicide. But I have also met people whose lives have been saved because someone stepped in to help.”
Voicing a new star-studded video promoting the toolkit, the royal added a final piece of advice for anyone worried about a friend or teammate: “You don’t need to be an expert to support someone who’s struggling. You just need to find the courage to have the conversation.”
Before wrapping up their stadium catch-up, local legend Ryan, who has previously spoken openly about going to therapy for his mental health, couldn’t resist asking the royal for a quick photo.
“Yeah, of course we can get a selfie,” William said, posing alongside the content creator in what Ryan dubbed “the best selfie I’ve ever got.”
When life is difficult, Samaritans are available day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org.