Prince William wrote a funeral tribute expressing his and Princess Kate's "deepest sympathies" for a pizza seller who died of cancer.
Peter Morris, 47, left behind a wife and two children when he passed away in May and his widow Tracey received a letter from the Prince of Wales on official Kensington Palace paper offering condolences.
William and Kate went to his Little Dragon Pizza Van to pick up an order for the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team during a visit to Dowlais Rugby Club, Merthyr Tydfil, in Wales, in April 2023.
The Prince of Wales' touching words came in May as Kate was undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, which she began in late February.
"I wanted to write to express how terribly sorry Catherine and I were to hear the very sad news about your husband, Pete, and to send you our deepest sympathies," William wrote.
"We can only begin to imagine what an immense hole he will leave in your life and my heart goes out to you and your family."
Morris was initially treated for esophageal cancer and was thought to be in the clear but doctors discovered the disease had spread to his adrenal gland and liver around four months after his meeting with William and Kate. He died in May.
"Catherine and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Pete," William continued. "We know that Pete was a hugely dedicated and highly valued member of the community which has been evident from the response to his passing.
"I did want you to know just how much you and your family are in our thoughts at this time."
After meeting the royals, Morris, was quoted in People saying: "The Princess asked if we make our own dough—and said that they love making pizzas with their children.
"Making pizza for the future king and queen is surreal."
Tracey, 40, his widow told The Sun newspaper: "It came as a massive surprise. I don't even know how they found out Pete had died. It may have hit a chord with them because Kate is going through treatment.
"He said how down to earth they were. We had so many letters from people who loved Pete but the one from William and Kate was very special."
Jack Royston is Newsweek's chief royal correspondent, based in London. You can find him on Twitter at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
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