With moving lines, Prince William announces the death of his longtime friend Mark Jenkins. The two had a special connection.
There aren’t many moments when members of the British royal family share their feelings with the public on social media. Now Prince William has made an exception. The 40-year-old published an emotional message on Twitter on Friday evening. “Yesterday I lost a friend,” writes William, adding, “Mark Jenkins and his son Peter died tragically.”
The ranger, who had “dedicated his life to protecting wildlife in some of East Africa’s best-known national parks,” crashed while on air patrol in Kenya. His thoughts are with Mark’s wife, family and colleagues, “who have sadly lost a man we all loved and admired,” William continued.
The love for Africa brought them together
Various organizations that Jenkins worked for also publicly mourn the ranger. The Frankfurt Zoological Society recalled his “determination, caring, energy, mischievous smile and deep love for wild animals” on Facebook. The latter also brought Jenkins together with Prince William.
The heir to the British throne has been traveling to Africa for years and is also increasingly committed to protecting wild animals there. This is how the friendship between the two men grew. Like his late mother, Diana, Prince William has a close personal connection to the continent and Kenya in particular. There he even proposed to Princess Kate in 2010.