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Although Princess Diana has not had the opportunity to meet her grandchildren, the woman continues to influence them and guide them on a personal level. Specifically, the example that she set for her sons continues to have a positive effect on the way they raise their own children. Over twenty-five years after her passing, the lessons she taught them are reflected in how they teach their own children.
Both William and Harry have expressed that her guidance continued to live on in everything they did, including their parenting skills. In fact, her son William has mentioned in an interview that he is extremely grateful that his mother had the chance to teach him and his brother before passing, while still lamenting the fact that she was never able to meet his wife and children. He has often recited stories about “Granny Diana” to his kids, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Harry feels the same way, stating that even now he is always aware of his mother’s presence when caring for his children, Archie and Lilibet.
Teaching Her Sons About Others
A major lesson Princess Diana tried to teach her sons was to be aware of others and their needs. In fact, in her 1995 Panorama interview, she mentioned that she often took them out to hospitals and homeless shelters so that they could see what other people’s lives were like. She reasoned that it was important for them to gain a bigger view of the world outside their privileged existence so that they could better understand the struggles of others.
She firmly believed that instilling such views in her sons would prepare them for the kind of responsibility that came with being a member of the royal family, and subsequently, the country’s leadership. According to her, such knowledge was indeed “power”. As a father himself, William has spoken very fondly of his mother’s teachings, stating she indeed prepared him and Harry for their lives ahead.
However, the prince added that she was unable to fully understand how much she would be needed by the public in the coming years, which is why her assassination in 1997 was such a great tragedy. She was able to give her sons the basic tools necessary for leading a functional life, and William always remembers that she did everything she could to prepare them, given the circumstances.
A Childhood Full of Normal Fun
Although raising her sons was undoubtedly a privilege for her, she always strived to give them as normal a childhood as possible. William and Harry both remember their mother’s insistence on taking them out to do simple things other parents would do with their kids. Whether it was going to the cinema or the park, dining at a local restaurant, or getting takeaway food, she loved spending time with her boys and giving them a sense of freedom despite her status and the constant media coverage.
In fact, both brothers remember their mother frequently as one of the “naughtiest” parents they knew, as she always wanted to do things “just for fun”. Harry has mentioned multiple times how his mother balanced her busy schedule while still managing to set aside quality time for them, and that she was determined to give them the kind of childhood she felt was being robbed from them.
Such a childhood became the foundation of William and Harry’s attitudes toward the public, the world, and even their own lives as adults. Harry has expressed that he was especially inspired by his mother’s philosophy, which later motivated him to lead a “normal” life while still wanting to pursue his duty as a royal.
The Same Parenting Style
To this day, William and Harry continue to honor their mother’s legacy in their own way. Namely, they both adhere to the main principles of parenting Diana practiced with them. Prince William has said that both him and Catherine make all efforts to be role models for their children. The prince is thrilled to take his children to the parks and the sports centers to have fun, help them with their homework, and have family dinners.
He considers it important to create an atmosphere of joy around him to let his children spread this joy to the world. Harry has been quite vocal about how his and Meghan’s parenting style is very similar to his parents’, although he feels that his mother’s presence is the driving force behind his own beliefs. He was able to realize, with the help of William, that Diana would accept his decision to “lead a different kind of life” as a father, which inspired him to honor her legacy in his own way.
Since her passing, William and Harry have done their best to honor their mother’s legacy in various ways. It was in July 2021 that the two brothers unveiled a statue in Kensington Palace in honor of their mother on what would have been her 60th birthday. Both William and Harry paid tribute to her, calling Diana inspirational and stating that her legacy continues to live on in all of those whose lives she touched.
Her Life Was Spent Trying to Help Others
Both brothers have continued the philanthropic work their mother started and have dedicated substantial parts of their lives to trying to help those in need. William has been heavily involved in the welfare of homeless people, families in need, and those who have lost a child. Harry has also been quite vocal about the importance of continuing his mother’s legacy in terms of HIV/AIDS awareness and landmine clearance. The brothers often speak about their mother with their children.
William has mentioned that he often tells George, Charlotte, and Louis about “Granny Diana”. Harry has also recalled one of his own memories, saying that one of the first words spoken by Archie was “grandma” after he saw a picture of Diana. William and Harry both made sure to incorporate Diana’s legacy into their family traditions in unique ways. For instance, both princes included their mother’s name when naming their daughters. Harry and Meghan’s daughter is named Lilibet Diana, whereas Charlotte’s full name also includes Diana.
To this day, William and Harry continue to teach their children about their grandmother, who was such an important part of their lives. Her legacy lives on not only through the lives she touched, but through the lives of her own children and grandchildren that she inspired. This has largely been achieved through the brothers’ continuous efforts to spread Diana’s legacy both through her charitable work, as well as her parenting philosophies. Her presence and influence in the lives of her sons and grandsons serve to remind everyone of the incredible woman she was.
