The Prince of Wales paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Rob Burrow as he inaugurated a center in the athlete’s name in Leeds.

Arriving at the new Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital, Prince William, 43, shared a poignant moment with Burrow’s wife, Lindsay, by exchanging a warm embrace. The facility is poised to become a global leader in the diagnosis, research, and care of motor neurone disease (MND).

Rob Burrow, the celebrated rugby league player, succumbed to motor neurone disease in June 2024, leaving behind a profound legacy.

During his visit filled with emotion, Prince William addressed Burrow’s children, Macy, Maya, and Jackson, encouraging them to feel proud of their father. He expressed it was an “absolute honor” to be present and recognized the enduring impact of Burrow’s legacy. “He really was an incredibly brave, very special man,” William remarked, underscoring the late athlete’s remarkable courage.

The connection between the royal and Burrow’s family dates back to January 2024, when William first met Lindsay while presenting Rob with his CBE, further cementing the bond between the Prince and the family.

William and mother-of-three Lindsay first met one another when the royal, 43, presented Rob with his CBE in January 2024.

He would later record a touching message for Rob’s widow to use as the foreword in her memoir, which was released earlier this year.

Born from Rob’s determination to create a place that treats patients as people, not conditions, the centre was designed with patients and families at its heart – providing a calm, welcoming, and fully accessible environment.

It is the first purpose-built centre dedicated entirely to MND care, research, education and holistic support in the UK, and stands as a trailblazer for other centres around the country. 

After touring the centre, the Prince said: ‘It’s my absolute honour and pleasure to be here today. I met the family and Kevin in January 2024 for the first time in a very sweaty, smelly Leeds rugby changing room.

‘It’s been my pleasure to get to know them and follow their journey and really be stood in one of the most incredible buildings that has been fundraised and supported by a few individuals who have gone above and beyond to make MND finally on the map and let us all understand what it is.

‘I’m honoured to be here today and see it up and running in just over a year. It’s been an incredible fundraising effort from a huge team of people.

‘None more so than Kevin, whose knees and hips have taken a battering, but has probably raised 40 per cent of this building’s fundraising total. I can’t commend enough people.

‘Rob’s legacy will live on. You guys should be so proud of your father. He really was an incredibly brave, very special man.

‘This is a world-leading centre and is going to save a lot of lives. You should be very proud, and everyone is very grateful for you letting us into your family life and understanding what you’ve been managing all together.

‘It’s my pleasure to be here and so many congratulations to all of you for getting to this point.’

The new centre has been made possible thanks to a £6.8million fundraising campaign, led by Leeds Hospitals Charity and Rob’s consultant Dr Agam Jung. 

The campaign was given considerable support by Kevin Sinfield CBE and the wider Leeds Rhinos and Leeds communities.

Before the Prince gave his speech, Jackson rang a bell that Kevin rang for each of his fundraising challenges.

Next month, he will be doing his sixth 7-7-7 challenge, where he attempts to complete seven marathons in seven days across seven regions in the UK and Ireland.

Earlier in the tour, William sat down with Rob’s wife and children in a room dedicated to families where they can make keepsakes, including memory boxes for their loved ones.

During his visit, His Royal Highness toured the new facility with Dr Jung and spent time with patients and families, as well as meeting those who have worked so hard to make it happen.

The centre also has a Ninja coffee machine personally gifted by the Prince after he previously asked them if there was anything they needed that the fundraising did not cover. 

The coffee machine William gave to the Centre was a Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier Series, which costs around £550.

In a note that came with it, he wrote: ‘Wishing everyone a well-deserved moment of pause. I hope this brings a little warmth to your day. Best wishes, William.’

William’s visit marked him fulfilling a promise he made to Rob when he awarded him his CBE and said that he would come to open the Centre.

The Prince gave Lindsey a hug when he arrived at the Centre, and joked that it was very cold.

She told him that it was ‘incredible’ that the Centre had opened.

Later, he met her with the children in a dedicated family room and joked they were ‘much smaller’ the last time he saw them

Jackson told the Prince he enjoys taking pictures, but when asked if he wants to be a photographer when he grows up, he humorously shook his head.

The Prince asked them if it had been nice to come to the centre, saying it must have been ‘difficult’ with their dad.

Macy later thanked him for writing to them and said ‘it’s given us a lot of comfort’, to which he replied: ‘Not at all. I’m so proud of you guys. You’ve done all the hard work.’

The room is designed so families can play and create special items like memory boxes for their loved ones.

The Prince was shown around by Dr Agam Jung, director of the Motor Neurone Disease Centre.

He also met Dr Stuart Currie and Dr Stefan William, both clinical research leads, who told him about the latest advances in research and treatment.

He met Richarch and Gill Hayes, and Martin and Carol Carthy, who donated considerably to the centre.

And he was introduced to patient and fundraiser Ian Flatt and his wife Rachel. Ian told the Prince how he went up Mount Snowdon as part of a challenge to scale seven peaks in honour of Rob.

The Prince, visibly impressed, joked he hoped he had a ‘four-wheel drive’.

Before the Prince arrived, Lindsey told reporters: ‘It’s such a special day for the family to be here, to have the Prince come. It’s a really special day.

‘He has kept his promise. We met Prince William when Rob and Kevin were awarded the CBEs and Rob asked him would you come and open the Centre?

‘He’s kept his word. To have him here today is a huge honour and privilege.

‘It shows his kindness and consideration. He wrote to us after we lost Rob. It was a really heartfelt message and that’s something that we take a lot of comfort from.

‘We’re just incredibly grateful to the Prince for the kindness and support he’s shown our family. It’s raising awareness of MND on a national level.’

Prince William has previously praised Lindsey’s resilience and strength. Asked where she gets it from, she said: ‘I think it was Rob. Rob inspired confidence. He showed us how to be brave, he showed us how to be courageous. 

‘He was always so positive, never felt sorry for himself, there was never any self-pity. He just wanted to make the most of each and every day and be here for as long as he possibly could.

‘When you see what Rob was going through and what he’d had taken away from him, it puts life into perspective.’

Kevin, asked if he ever thought Prince William would come for the opening, added: ‘I think he’s a man of his word. He’s been a massive supporter of the work we’ve done, the running we’ve done, the campaigning we’ve done.

‘There’s lots of dreams set out and you’re never quite sure if they’ll come true. The funding, the amount we needed at one stage jumped u[ considerably on the back of covid. It sent a shiver down my spine.

‘To see the kindness and generosity of people right across the UK, to see the fruits of that and what we’ve created is incredible.

‘Rob would be so proud of it. He’d have loved to have seen it today.’

Rob Burrow CBE died in 2024 at 41 years old, having lived with MND since his diagnosis in December 2019, just two years after retiring from a 17-season league career.

The Prince presented Rob and Kevin with their CBEs in January 2024 at Headingly Stadium, recognising their outstanding contributions to the fight against motor neurone disease. 

William met with Rob, Lindsey and their three children and told the sporting hero: ‘Thank you and congratulations – for all the inspirational work you’ve done, Rob. You’ve been amazing, you really have and everyone’s so proud of you.

‘We’ve all been following your case. You’ve changed so many people’s lives with MND with what you’ve done. We’re all so proud of you.’

William also recorded a touching message for Rob’s widow to use as the forward in her new memoir earlier this year.

Lindsey’s book ‘Take Care’ delved into her experience of caring for her late husband during his five-year battle with motor neurone disease.

Mother-of-three Lindsey was an unwavering presence at Rob’s side following his diagnosis and constantly cared for him as his condition worsened over the years.

Appearing on BBC Breakfast, she spoke of the ‘sweet’ message from the Prince and praised his ‘kindness and compassion’.

In an audio recording, the royal said: ‘Despite the advanced nature of Rob’s condition, I was struck by the incredible strength, positivity and incredible resilience of Lindsey. 

‘Rob told me she is far tougher than any of the men he has played with or against over the years. I know I am not alone in feeling great admiration for how she has kept going in the face of adversity.

‘This book tells Lindsey’s story of perseverance and love. By sharing her story, she is shining a light on those who are dealing with incredibly difficult situations, putting other’s needs before their own and making great personal sacrifices every day. 

‘I hope this book provides those going through their own challenges with some comfort and optimism and that it inspires us all to look out for one another.’

The royal couple were among the first to pay tribute to Rob following his tragic death in June 2024.

William and Kate shared a touching message on X as they expressed their condolences to the athlete’s family.

The Prince of Wales wrote: ‘A legend of Rugby League, Rob Burrow had a huge heart.

‘He taught us, ‘in a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream’. Catherine and I send our love to Lindsey, Jackson, Maya and Macy.’