Already have an account?
Get back to the

Prince William Rushes to Help Elderly Lord After a Scary Fall

Ready with a helping hand. Prince William rushed to assist a 72-year-old Lord who fell while welcoming the couple to Essex during a royal engagement on Friday, September 16. Watch the moment in the video above.

Related: PHOTOS: Biggest Celebrity Wipeouts Ever: Stars Falling Down Pictures

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge looks on as Prince William, Duke of Cambridge helps up Jonathan Douglas-Hughes, vice Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Essex after his fall at Stewards Academy on September 16, 2016 in Harlow, England.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge looks on as Prince William, Duke of Cambridge helps up Jonathan Douglas-Hughes, vice Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Essex after his fall at Stewards Academy on September 16, 2016 in Harlow, England. Samir Hussein/WireImage

As the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived to Stewards Academy, the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Essex Jonathan Douglas-Hughes waited outside to greet them. Douglas-Hughes tripped over a post and fell backward, and William, 34, rushed to his aid and helped him to his feet.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge looks on as Prince William, Duke of Cambridge rushes to helpVice Lord Lieutenant of Essex Jonathon Douglas-Hughes who fell backwards over a bollard as they arrive at Steward's Academy on September 16, 2016 in Harlow, England.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, looks on as Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, rushes to help Vice Lord Lieutenant of Essex Jonathan Douglas-Hughes, who fell backward over a bollard as they arrived at Stewards Academy on Sept. 16, 2016 in Harlow, England. Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images

Douglas-Hughes, who seemed to be shaken by the tumble, said, “Sorry about that,” to which William replied, “No, it’s all right.” Duchess Kate, 34, who looked stylish in a blue and white polka-dot Altuzarra dress, was standing nearby during the incident. 

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge rushes to help Vice Lord Lieutenant of Essex Jonathon Douglas-Hughes who fell backwards over a bollard as they arrive at Steward's Academy on September 16, 2016 in Harlow, England.
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, rushes to help Vice Lord Lieutenant of Essex Jonathan Douglas-Hughes, who fell backward over a bollard as the prince arrived at Stewards Academy on Sept. 16, 2016, in Harlow, England. Danny Martindale/WireImage

Related: PHOTOS: 15 Charming Throwback Photos of the Royal Family

The royal couple, who are the parents of Prince George, 3, and Princess Charlotte, 16 months, were visiting the school to promote their Heads Together campaign to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge looks on as Prince William, Duke of Cambridge rushes to helpVice Lord Lieutenant of Essex Jonathon Douglas-Hughes who fell backwards over a bollard as they arrive at Steward's Academy on September 16, 2016 in Harlow, England.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, looks on as Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, rushes to help Vice Lord Lieutenant of Essex Jonathan Douglas-Hughes, who fell backward over a bollard as they arrived at Stewards Academy on Sept. 16, 2016, in Harlow, England. Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Prior to the visit, William wrote a blog post about encouraging parents to talk to their kids about the big changes happening in their lives. He even mentioned his two little ones. 

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge helped up Johnathen Douglas Hughes after he fell over during there visit at Stewards Academy on September 16, 2016 in Harlow, England.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, helped up Jonathan Douglas-Hughes after he fell over during a visit at Stewards Academy on Sept. 16, 2016, in Harlow, England. Danny Martindale/WireImage

Related: PHOTOS: Kate Middleton’s Recycled Outfits

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge chats with Vice Lord Lieutenant of Essex Jonathon Douglas-Hughes during the visit of Stewards Academy with HeadsTogether on September 16, 2016 in Harlow, England.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, chats with Vice Lord Lieutenant of Essex Jonathan Douglas-Hughes during a visit of Stewards Academy for their Heads Together program on Sept. 16, 2016, in Harlow, England. Karwai Tang/WireImage

“The truth is, for many young people, changing schools or starting a new academic year is really difficult to deal with,” he wrote. “Catherine and I have young children who will be going through this themselves in a short period of time and like all parents, we will want to make sure that our children are not just able to achieve their academic potential at school but are also happy and emotionally supported.”

He urged adults to have positive conservations about mental health and children’s feelings. “If we could end the old-fashioned idea that feeling down is something to be ashamed of, something that you shouldn’t burden others with, we would make our society a much happier and healthier place,” he continued. “By encouraging children to talk and to get support, we could stop these feelings developing into more serious problems that continue into adulthood.” 

In this article

Got a Tip form close button
Got a tip for US?
We're All Ears for Celebrity Buzz!