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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Jennifer Newton

How Prince William and Prince Harry are keeping Princess Diana's legacy alive

Princess Diana will be remembered by many on the 25th anniversary of her death - not least by her two sons.

Her greatest legacy has been Prince William and Prince Harry, who have come to embody her beliefs and values and have spoken about how their mother is still guiding them. Speaking just recently about Diana, Harry said: "There isn’t a day during the past two-and-a-half decades I haven’t thought about the mark she left not only on me and my brother but on all of our lives." And as time passes since her untimely death aged just 36, the two princes have been determined to keep her legacy and memory alive when it comes to both their public and family lives...

Prince William's work on homelessness

Princess Diana with Prince William and Prince Harry at The Passage homelessness charity (Collect Unknown)

During her time in the royal family, Diana championed causes that, at the time, were not fashionable.

And she made homelessness her first charitable priority after joining the Royal Family and was not afraid to meet those directly affected.

William previously revealed how his mum had taken him to The Passage, a homelessness charity when he was just 12 years old with Harry.

A picture taken in 1994 shows the young princes sitting with their mum and engaging with service users at The Passage.

William selling the Big Issue to benefit homeless and vulnerable people (The Big Issue)

And today, William is a royal patron of The Passage and speaks passionately about his desire to tackle homelessness - and how he hopes his own children will realise the work going on to help those who are vulnerable.

Speaking earlier this year, he said: "In the years ahead, I hope to bring George, Charlotte and Louis to see the fantastic organisations doing inspiring work to support those most in need – just as my mother did for me."

Meanwhile, it is not the only organisation to be supported by both mother and oldest son.

In 2007 he was appointed president of the Royal Marsden - a specialist cancer hospital - a position once held by Diana until her death.

Prince Harry's work highlighting HIV/AIDs

Prince Harry plays with an orphan in Lesotho in 2014 (Getty)

Diana brought the issue of HIV/AIDS to global attention in 1989 when she shook hands with a patient called Martin and kissed him on the cheek.

She made around 17 trips to Mildmay Hospital in East London, which treated AIDS patients, most of them under the radar.

In 2006, Harry teamed up with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to set up Sentebale, a charity that helps children in Africa affected by poverty, inequality, HIV/AIDS and recently Covid-19.

Princess Diana at the Mildmay Hospital in 1991. The hospital has been at the forefront of specialist HIV care since 1988 (PA)

Speaking last week, he said: "My dear friend Prince Seeiso and I founded Sentebale 16 years ago in honour of our mothers, with a mission to support many of the most vulnerable young people on the planet – and to give them care and help them thrive.

"In Sesotho, the language of the Basotho - the word Sentebale means 'forget me not'.

"Next week is the 25th anniversary of my mother’s death, and she most certainly will never be forgotten."

Daughters' middle names

Princess Charlotte's middle name is Diana (Getty Images)
Harry's daughter Lilibet has the middle name Diana (PA)

William is a dad to three children, including one daughter Princess Charlotte, while Harry also has a daughter called Lilibet.

And as a way of paying tribute to their grandmother, both girls have been given the middle name Diana.

Charlotte's full name is Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, while Lilibet's is Lilibet Diana - and both girls' names also pay tribute to their great grandmother the Queen.

Diana statue

William and Harry unveil a statue of their mother last year (Getty Images)

Keen for a permanent memorial for their late mother at Kensington Palace, both William and Harry worked together to create a statue of her.

The artwork, which is in the palace's sunken garden, shows the late royal standing with three children wearing a fashionable high-waisted skirt and statement belt.

I t was unveiled by the brothers last year on July 1, on what would have been her 60th birthday.

In a joint statement, William and Harry said: "Today, on what would have been our Mother’s 60th birthday, we remember her love, strength and character – qualities that made her a force for good around the world, changing countless lives for the better.

"Every day, we wish she were still with us, and our hope is that this statue will be seen forever as a symbol of her life and her legacy."

Jewellery collection

Kate wears Princess Diana's engagement ring (Getty)
Meghan wears Diana's Cartier watch during a YouTube appearance last year (Brightly Storytime)

Her untimely death 25 years ago meant that Diana never got to meet her sons wives - her two daughters-in-law both the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Sussex.

But both Kate and Meghan often pay tribute to their late mother-in-law by lovingly wearing some of the stunning pieces from her gorgeous jewellery collection at very special events and days.

Upon her death, Diana's jewellery collection was divided up between her sons, who often give their wives the privilege of wearing some of her earrings, rings and bracelets.

The most famous piece of jewellery worn by both Diana and Kate is their engagement ring.

While Meghan often wears Diana's beloved gold Cartier Tank Française watch she regularly wore for engagements in the 1990s.

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