Dr Alex George labels Prince William and Kate Middleton ‘warm, kind and hand-on’ as he praises the royals’ ability to ‘put everyone at ease’ after hosting panel for World Mental Health Day

• The star, 32, was chosen by the couple to host a panel in Birmingham last month 
• Read More:  Wills-mania returns! Future King is a hit in Singapore and the royal has won his way into fans’ hearts across the globe in first year as Prince of Wales

Dr Alex George has labelled the Prince and Princess of Wales ‘warm, kind and hands-on’ after he was chosen by the couple to host a panel for World Mental Health Day.

The former Love Island star, 32, praised Prince William and Kate Middleton’s ability to ‘put everyone at ease’ as he reflected on the event in Birmingham last month.

Speaking to Hello!, the ex-reality star said he was extremely nervous ahead of the panel but was reassured by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

He explained: ‘I stumbled on the first few words, but they were just so welcoming, so warm and kind – the loveliest people.’ 

After being introduced to the couple, the star said he was pleasantly surprised by the amount of time they spent speaking to young people at the event.

The star (pictured at the Edinburgh TV Festival in August), 32, was chosen by the couple to host a panel in Birmingham last month

He added: ‘Meeting them, I didn’t feel like they were like, “We’re the Royal Family,”

‘They were active listeners, responding, putting everyone at ease.’

What’s more, Dr Alex said he was told by senior members of the Royal Foundation that the Prince and Princess of Wales are ‘really hands-on’ and check in daily. 

During the event, Their Royal Highnesses joined young people as they participated in a series of workshops being run in partnership with The Mix, a leading youth mental health charity. 

On Instagram, Dr Alex revealed how he was asked to usher the Prince and Princess of Wales to their seats that day – joking that he’d ‘never overthought a walk more in =[his] life’. 

He added in the caption: ‘This genuinely was one of the biggest honours of my life and I was incredibly nervous. 

‘I have so much respect for the work the Prince and Princess of Wales do for young people’s mental health, I couldn’t believe that I was asked to be involved in this way, on World Mental Health Day. 

‘I will treasure this day as long as I live.’

Pictured: the Prince and Princess of Wales pose for photos with young people at the World Mental Health Day event in Birmingham last month

Dr Alex George (left) seen hosting the Royal Foundation panel last month. The star said he was pleasantly surprised by the amount of time they spent speaking to young people at the event

The panel, which was hosted by the couple’s Royal Foundation, shone a spotlight on a cause close to Dr Alex’s heart – as the star tragically lost his younger brother Llyr to suicide during the pandemic.

In a rare public speech at the event, the princess spoke of how ‘deeply’ she and William cared about the cause. 

In 2016, the couple launched Heads Together, a campaign that helped break the stigma around mental health, and encouraged more people to have everyday conversations about it.

Kate, who was personally keen to speak at the event, told her audience: ‘Alongside the efforts of many others, we have seen real change. Today, more people feel empowered to talk about their mental health than ever before. This is a major step forward.

‘William and I continue to be inspired to see young people, like you all here today, leading this charge – being particularly brave in having some of those conversations yourselves.

Pictured: the Prince and Princess of Wales and Prince Harry seen promoting the Heads Together campaign in 2016

Dr Alex George announced he had lost his brother Llyr following mental health battle during the pandemic

‘As a generation, you value and talk more about your mental health than any before you – something we truly admire and applaud.

‘It is important, however, to remind ourselves of the big picture as we meet here today. What are we trying to improve by focusing our efforts on mental health? Ultimately, we are working to build a happier, healthier world.

‘We want to shape fairer, safer, kinder, more equal societies – societies that seek the common good and a better future together.

‘For just as we need to restore, protect, and invest in our planet, so we must also restore, protect, and invest in the communities, relationships and people living on it.’

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123 or visit: www.samaritans.org 

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