Prince William has left royal fans in tears after honouring a promise to a grieving schoolboy.
Deacon Glover, 11, confided in the Duke of Cambridge about how he had been struggling with his mum's death from a drugs overdose while at a charity event in Burnley, Lancs., three weeks ago.
William could be heard comforting Deacon as he said: "I lost my mum when I was 15. It's difficult, but it gets easier, I promise you."
Deacon was wearing a replica Burnley FC football shirt, belonging to the team's goalkeeper, Nick Pope during the occasion.
Later in the same conversation, the 39-year-old prince could be heard asking the young lad: "Would you like to see Nick Pope, yeah?" before adding, "We'll see what we can do."
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On Monday, the second-in-line, who is also president of the FA, honoured his word when Deacon met the footballing ace during a heart-warming encounter.
The pair chatted in the stands at Burnley's Turf Moor stadium before walking together on the pitch.
Deacon was also given a signed football shirt from the goalkeeper, who has also played for England.
Local pastor Mick Fleming, who helped facilitate the initial meeting with Prince William said the encounter would be "life-changing" for the lad.
He said: "This is going to be life-changing for Deacon. This will help him to break the cycle of life that's been around him.
"This was something so special, and I think what the prince has done has given him hope for the future.
"It's phenomenal, what he has done, as it's not just meeting a footballer, it's a lot, lot deeper - it will help him."
He added: "The prince has followed through with everything he said in the conversation that he had with him. He has honoured it, and that's amazing."
Deacon's great grandmother, Carole Ellis, said the moment moved her to tears.
She told the Burnley Express: "It was such a wonderful moment for Deacon and seeing his face when he met Nick Pope was just wonderful. I had a real lump in my throat.
"They had a good chat, Nick was absolutely lovely with him and really encouraging.
"Deacon said he feels rubbish if he lets a couple of goals in and Nick told him the same happened with him at school but he would let in nine or 10. He told Deacon to ignore people who called him and just carry on."
Mum Grace Taylor, 28, was found dead in January last year after taking an overdose of heroin and methadone, along with perception medication, by her partner Sean Hargreaves.
Coroner Richard Taylor told an earlier inquest at Accrington Town Hall, Lancs., that on the night of January 14, Grace had left her home on Pine Street in Burnley to go to the shop for some food.
He said: "It was about 9pm and her partner, Sean, said when she returned home, she told him the shop was closed but she had managed to buy some heroin for him.
"Sean said they would usually take drugs separately, and while Grace went upstairs he stayed downstairs.
"Later, he went up to the bedroom and found Grace sprawled across the bed. He says it was around 4am, although he couldn't properly recall whether it was day or night."
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Mr Taylor said Sean believed that Grace was asleep, but on the morning of January 15, he woke and was unable to rouse her.
He continued: "Sean tried to contact Grace's grandmother and went to her house for help, before returning home and calling 999."
A toxicology report revealed Grace had potentially fatal levels of heroin in her system as well as methadone, anti-depressant drug mirtazapine, anti-psychotic olanzapine, cocaine and amphetamine.
Although it was the heroin that had been taken in excess, a medical cause of death was offered as multi-drug toxicity.
Mr Taylor told the inquest that there was no evidence that she had intended to take her own life and recorded a conclusion of drug-related death.
Speaking after the inquest, Grace's grandmother, Carol said her granddaughter was a "smashing girl who would do anything for anyone".
She added: "She was very vivacious, very loving. Drugs are evil and I see more and more young people who are using them and it's shocking.
"She only started using when she was with Sean, and we just want her to rest in peace now."
