Kate Middleton once heard an emotional confession from Ant McPartlin when they met at a charity event.
The Duchess of Cambridge was launching new charity initiative Taking Action on Addiction in London in October 2021.
She was due to do a quick handshake with presenting duo Ant and Dec.
But it turned into an emotional conversation.
What did Ant McPartlin say to Kate Middleton?
Ant has spoken before about his addiction to painkillers.
By the time I asked for help it was bad.
Dec told Kate the biggest first step was “actually taking action”.
He said: “A lot of people don’t know where to turn or what to do… they get lost.”
Kate told him: “The more you speak to everybody… and hearing some of their stories today… once you start sharing your story there are so many people who have experienced it themselves, or have known someone.”
And Ant replied: “I felt that myself. By the time I asked for help it was bad.
“But as soon as you open up to people the problems start to disappear. It gets better.”
Ant struggled with an addiction to strong painkillers when he was recovering from a knee operation in 2015.
He later checked into rehab.
But in 2018 he crashed his car and a breathalyser test showed he was twice over the alcohol limit.
What did Kate Middleton talk about during the event?
Dec had guests in giggles when he introduced Kate to the stage calling her ‘Her Majesty’.
“Yet it’s all too rarely discussed as a serious mental health condition.
“And seldom do we take the time to uncover and fully understand its fundamental root causes.
“The journey towards addiction is often multi-layered and complex. But, by recognising what lies beneath addiction, we can help remove the taboo and shame that sadly surrounds it.”
Read more: Ant McPartlin gets new tattoo as a ‘tribute to wife Anne-Marie’
‘Devastating’
She added that the global pandemic had a “devastating impact” on addiction rates.
“Families and children are having to cope with addiction in greater numbers than ever before,” she said.
“Around two million individuals who were identified as being in recovery may have experienced a relapse over the past 18 months.”
She said that nearly a million young people and children are showing an increase in their addictive behaviour since lockdown began.
If you are affected by any of these issues visit www.actiononaddiction.co.uk
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