Prince William: It'd be 'absolutely fine by me' if one of my kids came out as gay
Prince William would be "absolutely fine" if one of his three children ended up coming out one day.
The Duke of Cambridge spoke candidly while visiting the Albert Kennedy Trust, a U.K.-based charity that works with at-risk LGBTQ youth, in London on Wednesday, June 26. The visit notably came during Pride month.
When William was asked about the potential of one of his kids -- Prince George, 5, Princess Charlotte, 4, and Prince Louis, 1 -- coming out, he said he'd welcome the prospect, but also expressed hesitancy about any "backlash" that he or she would receive after doing so.
The prince said: ‘It worries me, not because of them being gay, it worries me as to how everyone else will react and perceive it and then the pressure is on them’
— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) June 26, 2019
"Asked whether he would support his children if they identify as LGBT in the future, William said it would be ‘absolutely fine by me,'" Daily Mail reporter Rebecca English tweeted. "But he also candidly addressed his fears about any ‘backlash’ they night get because of their position."
See photos of Prince William and his family at Trooping the Colour:
"It worries me, not because of them being gay, it worries me as to how everyone else will react and perceive it and then the pressure is on them," William reportedly added. "I wish we lived in a world where it's really normal and cool, but particularly for my family, and the position that we are in, that's the bit I am nervous about."
"How many barriers you know, hateful words, persecution, all that and discrimination that might come, that's the bit that really troubles me," the future king elaborated. "But that's for all of us to try and help correct and make sure we can put that to the past and not come back to that sort of stuff."
As the BBC pointed out, William's "endorsement" of LGBTQ rights is "a big deal," especially considering that homosexual activity is still illegal in 35 of the 53 Commonwealth nations. His telling statements follow in the footsteps of his late mother, Princess Diana, who was an outspoken advocate of the LGBTQ community and a massive HIV/AIDS activist.
Last summer, Queen Elizabeth II's cousin, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, became the first royal to marry someone of the same sex when he wed partner James Coyle.
RELATED: See photos of Princess Diana and her sons together:
