Prince William Honors Family Friend Who Turned Grief Into Lasting Legacy

The Prince of Wales handed out an MBE to Claire van Straubenzee in recognition of her non-profit in her son's name

Prince William is handing over a special honor from King Charles to a special family friend.

In the splendid surroundings of Windsor Castle on May 8, the mother of close pals of William and his brother Prince Harry was rewarded for the extraordinary success of a charity established in her late son’s name.

Claire van Straubenzee received an MBE for the Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund, an educational non-profit that has helped hundreds of thousands of children in Uganda since 2004. The charity is named after Claire and Alex van Straubenzee’s second son, Henry, who died in a car crash in 2002, just before he was due to go to the African country to work in a school.

Henry's brothers, Thomas and Charlie, are also very close friends of the princes and received their support for the charity, marking it as the only patronage they shared. The princes, along with Kate Middleton and her family, and in her first year of marriage in 2018, Meghan Markle, would join the van Straubenzees at their annual fundraising carol service, making it a notable event on London's social calendar.

Earlier this year, the van Straubenzees traveled to Uganda for the last time as trustees of the charity.

“We expected a rather subdued reception from the schools, but we were amazed by the number of schools putting on happy ceremonies on what could have been a sad occasion,” Claire tells PEOPLE of the farewell. “There were crowds of children meeting us at the school gates. So much joyful singing and dancing ever though they know we are not returning.”

“We have mixed emotions because we are saying goodbye to so many of our wonderful friends in Uganda and their schools, but at the same time, we realize that we have supported them fully with over 1800 projects since 2004 and never let them down," she continues.

The success had humble beginnings. After an initial donation in Henry’s name from friends, it became clear that the family could make a larger, long-term contribution to Ugandan schools while also addressing poverty. Since 2007, they have raised over $4.1 million (£3.3 million), benefiting an impressive 35,000 children annually across 51 nursery, elementary, and secondary schools.

Much of this achievement was made possible through the assistance of Princes William and Harry, who became patrons of the charity in 2009. Their polo games and appearances at the charity’s annual carol service, which alone raised more than $630,000, contributed significantly to the funds.

Prince William became friends with Thomas during their time at their prep school Ludgrove, while Harry was a contemporary of Henry. Throughout many of their long summer breaks as teenagers and young adults, both princes vacationed with the family in Cornwall, “surfing at Polzeath beach which everyone enjoyed,” Claire recalls. The family ties endure, with Thomas and Charlie serving as godparents to William's daughter, Princess Charlotte, and Harry's son, Archie, respectively.

“Henry’s death was felt deeply by the princes so, when we set up the charity, both were eager to become Patrons. Their fundraising was enormously helpful and a powerful draw for donors," she says, adding, “Their involvement in some of our annual carol services helped attract a large congregation.”

Today, she proudly says, “We are amazed at what we have managed to achieve but thrilled that Henry’s name has been kept alive 22 years after his death.”

The charity now ensures that each school it supports has separate latrines and washing facilities for boys and girls, whereas previously they were shared. Additionally, boreholes have been installed in each school, ensuring a consistent supply of clean water.

“The children can have lessons in classrooms sitting at a desk rather than under a tree sitting on the ground,” she adds.

The nonprofit's strategy has also ensured that each primary school feeds into one of its secondary schools, and that each primary school has a nursery school within its grounds. The head teacher at Bupadhengo Primary School, where her son Henry would have taught, has become the charity’s ambassador in the country, carrying on the legacy.

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Even as their relationship became strained, the royal brothers acknowledged the charity's impact in what is believed to be their last joint statement at the carol service in December 2022, when they wrote: “What Claire and Alex have achieved since 2009 ... is nothing short of extraordinary."

Noting the gradual winding down of the charity, which is currently underway, the letter added, "Henry's legacy will live on through the incredible achievements of what his mum and dad have accomplished over the years."

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