The Prince of Wales has told victims of the 30-year Northern Ireland conflict he feels their pain as he spoke about the IRA murdering "the grandfather I never had".
Visiting the village where his great-uncle Lord Louis Mountbatten was assassinated, Charles said time had been a healer for him but his grief gave him a deep understanding of the hurt of others.
"In August 1979, my much-loved great-uncle, Lord Mountbatten, was killed alongside his young grandson and my godson, Nicholas, and his friend, Paul Maxwell, and Nicholas's grandmother, the Dowager Lady Brabourne.
"At the time I could not imagine how we would come to terms with the anguish of such a deep loss since, for me, Lord Mountbatten represented the grandfather I never had.
"So it seemed as if the foundations of all that we held dear in life had been torn apart irreparably."
Charles made the remarks at The Model arts centre in Sligo ahead of a peace and reconciliation prayer service in nearby Drumcliffe and a poignant visit to Mullaghmore where the assassination was carried out.
The earl, who enjoyed summer holidays at nearby Classiebawn Castle, was blown up onboard the pleasure boat after he set out from the harbour along the Atlantic coast to pick lobster pots and fish.
The other victims were Lady Doreen Brabourne, 83, the mother-in-law of Mountbatten's daughter, who died a day later; Nicholas Knatchbull, the earl's grandson,14; and his friend Paul Maxwell, 15, from Enniskillen.
Charles said: "Through this dreadful experience, though, I now understand in a profound way the agonies borne by so many others in these islands, of whatever faith, denomination or political tradition."
Lord Mountbatten was admiral of the fleet in the Second World War and the last viceroy of India.
On the same day, 18 British soldiers were blown up in an IRA ambush at Warrenpoint.
The Prince made his speech as he began the second day of a four-day trip to the island of Ireland with the Duchess of Cornwall.
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