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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Jennifer Newton

Prince Harry received final gift from Princess Diana when he turned 30 - as requested in her will

Princess Diana's untimely and sudden death at the age of 36 shocked the world, but away from the cameras two little boys were also grieving their beloved mum.

The 'People's Princess' tragically died aged alongside her companion Dodi Fayed, 42, following a car crash in Paris in 1997.

Several years before Diana wrote her will, which stated what should be gifted to her sons in the event of her death.

She requested that almost all her possessions to be divided between Harry, who celebrates his 37th birthday today, and William - including her iconic wedding dress.

According to reports, Diana wanted the bulk of her estate to be placed in a trust, which she requested the boys had access to when they turned 25.

Princess Diana with her sons Prince William and Prince Harry in 1995 (Getty Images)

However, Diana’s mother and sister, co-executors and trustees, were allowed by the court to change a few details of her will after her death.

Instead of the princes getting their share at the age of 25, it was changed to when they both reached the age of 30.

The dress - made up of thousands of pearls, layers of silk and a 25ft train – was returned to her sons in 2014 after a global tour - the same year Harry turned 30.

Princess Diana on her wedding day in her iconic wedding dress (Getty Images)

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It had previously been looked after by her brother Earl Spencer and had been the centrepiece of an exhibition, which has raised money for the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.

The dress, by designers David and Elizabeth Emanuel, caused a sensation at the time when Diana wore it at her wedding to Prince Charles at St Paul's Cathedral.

Prince Harry with his late mum Princess Diana (Getty Images)

Mr Emanuel said in 2014: “That gown has earned its keep. It has been around the globe many, many times. I think more people abroad have seen it than British people.

“What’s extraordinary is, after so many years, people are still talking about it.”

It is currently on display at Kensington Palace as part of a royal fashion exhibition.

The princes have loaned the gown to Historic Royal Palaces and it forms the centrepiece of the Royal Style in the Making exhibition.

It will be on show until January 2022, alongside never-before-seen items from the archives of some of the most celebrated royal couturiers.

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