Twenty years after the tragic stabbing of his son Kiyan Prince, Mark Prince says he still feels the weight of grief every day. The 15-year-old Queens Park Rangers youth academy player was killed while trying to break up a fight outside his school in Edgware, London, on May 18, 2006.
A Father's Unending Grief
Mark, a former boxer and OBE recipient for his anti-knife crime work, told Metro: 'That day still weighs heavily on me. If you told me 20 years ago I would still be swimming through the same grieving process, I would have been shocked.' He added that if asked if he were happy, he would simply say 'no'.
Kiyan's mother, Tracy Cumberbatch, is often approached by strangers who remember her son fondly. Mark noted that each new stabbing in London reopens the wound: 'As soon as you hear of another murder, your heart just sinks. You immediately put yourself in the parents’ shoes.'
Supporting Other Families
Mark now offers support to families of knife crime victims, often sitting with them in silence or praying. 'Sometimes we just sit in silence or pray. Just me being present, knowing that I have been through the exact same experience, helps people,' he said. He finds himself supporting families monthly, as knife-carrying among teenagers remains common.
Knife Crime Statistics
In the year ending March 2025, there were 205 murders involving a knife or sharp instrument in England and Wales. Of these, 52 victims were under 25, and 14 were under 16.
The Kiyan Prince Foundation's 20-Point Plan
To mark the 20th anniversary, Mark created a 20-point blueprint to improve young people's lives. It calls for better pay and recognition for youth workers, long-term focus, and greater prominence for community voices. 'Teenagers are falling into criminality, county lines gangs, and hurting people because they do not have a focus,' he said.
The foundation is also launching The Champions' Club, a campaign urging investment in youth services. They aim to raise £400,000 to fund a new youth space dedicated to Kiyan's legacy.
