When we dream of meeting celebrities, we normally fantasize about really getting to know them., The sad truth though? In real life, you often shake their hand, say a quick 'hello' and watch them be shuffled away by their management team.
However, this wasn't the case for one grieving widow when she recently met Prince Harry in Australia. In fact, when the soon-to-be-father was told to end his conversation, he had a reaction that warmed everyone's hearts.
Gwen Cherne, who recently lost her husband to suicide, was one of the members of the public who were invited to join the royal as he climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge to raise the flag for the Invictus Games.
During their descent, Harry listened closely as she told the story of her late husband, Australian special forces officer Peter J. Cafe, who died by suicide in February 2017 at the age of 48.
According to reports, the prince asked about her children – Emily, 6, Lachlan, 3, and stepson Tom, 19 – and enquired as to how the family was coping.
"Lachlan is the spitting image of my husband. Harry said something like the children must remind you of him, or live on in him. And I said my son is so much like him," the 41-year-old mother, who grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, told People. "It was comfortable and thoughtful."
She added that when they spoke about grief and loss, Harry, who lost his mother when he was just 12 years old, "understood what I meant" and made sure to check she was getting the support she needed from the Defense and ex-servicemen and veteran community.
However, their emotional chat looked like it was going to be suddenly cut short as the 34-year-old's entourage attempted to convince him to leave.
Harry had other ideas though. Gwen claimed the prince "stopped and said, ‘I’m in a middle of a conversation, and I’m not going to leave this.’"
She added: "We were talking about my story and mental health and how difficult it is still, in our society, to talk about grief and loss and suicide. And how important things like the Invictus Games are to shedding light on, and allowing people to start to have these conversations that are great to have."
The 41-year-old - who is an advisor for widows, veterans and families for the Australian Department of Veterans Affairs and an Invictus Games Ambassador 2018 - went on to praise the Duke of Sussex and his pregnant wife Meghan Markle for their hard work.
"[Harry and Meghan] are doing so much good with their place in the world, using their power and their privilege. Many of our leaders could learn from that," she said. "They are changing peoples’ lives because of it. They are changing the way we are looking at mental health globally because they care, they are paying attention to it, and flying that Invictus Games. That is changing – and saving – lives every single day."
If you or anyone you know is struggling with suicidal feelings, depression, or just loneliness and uncertainty, then please don't hesitate to contact either the Samaritans (116 123) or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255).