Princess Diana is still a powerful influence on her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, even though she died in 1997. Her former private secretary, Patrick Jephson, told PEOPLE that Diana continues to guide her children. “If William and Harry study her life, they will see many good examples to follow and some warnings to remember. Public love and the rewards of royalty must be earned through service and sacrifice,” he said.
Jephson added, “I’m sure they are grateful that every day she can still guide, comfort, and inspire them as they walk the difficult path they were born into.”
William and Harry were only 15 and 12 when their mother died in a car crash in Paris. They grew up sharing the unique life of being royal, but today they are divided by a long-running feud. The rift deepened when Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020.
In his memoir Spare, Harry described a 2019 fight where William criticized Meghan and allegedly grabbed Harry by the collar, knocking him down. Their relationship worsened after Harry and Meghan’s 2021 interview with Oprah, their Netflix series, and Harry’s book, all of which criticized members of the royal family. Historian Robert Lacey believes the rift will not end until Harry apologizes.
Even so, both brothers remain connected by their shared vow to honor Diana’s memory. She had taught them early on that being royal meant compassion, not just ceremony. She took them to amusement parks and fast food restaurants, but also to shelters for the unhoused and to see her charity work.
William has followed her example through his work with the homeless. Harry has carried on her AIDS activism and even retraced her famous walk through Angolan minefields with The HALO Trust.
Tessy Ojo, CEO of The Diana Award charity, said William and Harry are proud when they see young people inspired by their mother’s legacy. “There is a sense of immense pride: ‘Wow, my mother did that!’” she said.
Both William and Harry are also raising their families in ways that reflect Diana’s values. They want their children to have as normal and authentic an upbringing as possible , something Diana always tried to give them. Both honored her by giving their daughters, Princess Charlotte and Princess Lilibet, “Diana” as a middle name. Her photograph is also displayed in their homes, and they often speak of her to their children.
