Prince William speaks about his grief for his mother Princess Diana

Kate Middleton and Prince William looked somber today as they visited the Glade of Light memorial in Manchester to honor terror attack victims. 

22 people died, including 6 children, and hundreds were injured, in the attack by suicide bomber Salman Abedi at the end of an Ariana Grande concert. 

The Duke, 39, and Duchess of Cambridge, 40, were pensive as they arrived at the structure, which is a white marble ‘halo’ bearing the names of those killed in the attack, alongside Manchester Cathedral.

Families of those who lost loved ones in the May 2017 atrocity have been able to make personalized memory capsules, containing mementos and messages embedded inside the halo of the ‘Glade of Light’ memorial. 

The Duke and Duchess attended the service taking place alongside the memorial where Prince William went on to make a short speech, in which he spoke of his own grief for his mother, Princess Diana. 

Prince William said: ‘As someone who lives with his own grief, I also know that what often matters most to the bereaved is that those we have lost are not forgotten. There is comfort in remembering. In acknowledging that, while taken horribly soon, they lived. They changed our lives. They were loved, and they are loved. It is why memorials such as the Glade of Light are so important. Why Catherine and I so wanted to be amongst you today.’ 

The royal couple then took a short walk around the memorial garden, where Kate lay a bouquet of white and blue flowers. 

Prince William and Kate went on to join a private reception inside Manchester Cathedral, where they spoke with some of the bereaved families and those involved in the response effort. 

The Duchess was elegant for the occasion, rewearing an old Michael Kors coat dress, which she paired with navy accessories. 

She first wore the coat dress during her first royal tour of Australia in 2014 but has since gone on to wear it on a number of occasions. 

The mother-of-three also opted for the outfit when she opened the Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace on May 4, 2016. Kate wore the outfit for a third time when she joined members of the Royal family including William, Harry, and the Queen to unveil a war memorial in Victoria Embankment Gardens in 2017.

The Duchess wore her long brunette locks down for the occasion, sweeping them behind her ear to reveal her poignant choice of earrings. Meanwhile she kept her makeup muted for the outing, pairing a sweep of eyeliner with a light lipstick. 

Meanwhile in a touching nod to the city, she also opted to wear a set of dangling earrings which featured a bee, the emblem of Manchester. 

The bee, which was added to Manchester’s coat of arms in the mid 19th century and represents the industrial heritage of the region, has been used as a symbol of strength following the Manchester Arena attack in May 2017. 

During a brief speech, the Duke remembered visiting Manchester in the weeks after the terror attack, recalling the ‘shock and grief’ of those whom he met 

In a book of condolence at the city’s cathedral, the Duke of Cambridge wrote during his visit: ‘Manchester’s strength and togetherness is an example to the world. My thoughts are with all those affected.’ 

Pictured: The Glade of Light memorial seen today ahead of William and Kate’s visit.