Brenda Edwards broke down in tears during Thursday's Loose Women as she read out a letter King Charles III sent her,. following the sudden death of her son Jamal earlier this year.
After being off air for a week after the Queen's death, the lunchtime talk show returned to ITV for a special episode, with all of the panellists in the studio wearing black, as well as host Ruth Langsford. There was a more subdued tone to proceedings as each of the Loose Women shared their own memories of Her Majesty, including Kelly Holmes, who was making her debut, after being confirmed as a new panellist last week.
Former X Factor contestant turned West End leading lady Brenda was by Jamal's side when the social media star, entrepreneur and founder of SBTV passed away at home in February, at the age of just 31. Tributes flooded in from far and wide for Jamal, with mum Brenda showing great strength to sing the Greatest Love of All at an emotional memorial for him, close to the family's home in Acton.
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Jamal did a lot of work for the Prince's Trust and new monarch Charles, then still Prince of Wales, sent Brenda a letter to say how sad he was that he'd died, as well as heaping praise on him.
Taking it out and reading from it live on Loose Women, Brenda read: "Dear Ms Edwards, I particularly wanted to write and say how desperately sorry I was to hear the tragic news about your dear son, Jamal, and above all to send you my deepest sympathy.
"I can only begin to imagine what an immense and aching gap he will leave in your life and that of your daughter Tanisha, and my heart goes out to both of you, more than I can ever say.
"I shall never forget Jamal's support and dedication in helping with my Prince's Trust over the years. His commitment as an ambassador has made the most enormous difference to the Trust and has helped to change the lives of countless disadvantaged young people."
As she became overcome with emotion and tears started to roll, Brenda continued: ""I have such fond memories of the time I met him and can ill afford in this country to lose someone as exceptionally special as your dear son.
"I fear that this letter can only be hopelessly inadequate under such sole-destroying circumstances and will probably be of no comfort whatsoever in making your sense of anguish any easier to bear, but please know that you and your family are so very much in my thoughts and prayers at this saddest and most heartbreaking of times."
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