I have a theory that the Duchess of Sussex is going to make an unannounced visit to New York in the next week, mostly to watch Serena Williams’ final professional match(es) at the US Open. I kind of wonder if Prince Harry might join her in New York, and maybe they’ll spend August 31st doing some kind of charity work there, to mark the 25th anniversary of Diana’s death. It’s just a theory, I have no idea if that will happen. Meanwhile, the Telegraph reported this weekend that Harry and Prince William are not going to make a point of issuing a joint statement on the anniversary. Obviously, they will not see each other on the anniversary.
The Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex will mark the 25th anniversary of the death of their mother privately and separately, having agreed to draw a line under their public commemorations. The brothers will each remember Diana, Princess of Wales, with their own wives and children, none of whom were able to meet her.
At the 20th anniversary of her death, they undertook major public commemorations in her name including creating a memorial garden at Kensington Palace, taking part in a documentary, loaning belongings to an official exhibition, and meeting wellwishers at the gates of their home. They also commissioned a statue of her, which was unveiled last summer in a joint photocall despite their by-then strained personal relationship.
The Telegraph understands both Dukes have made it clear that the 20th anniversary would be the last milestone anniversary they would mark in public for the foreseeable future. Having shared their memories of their mother and paid tribute to her legacy in person and on television, they will now continue to grieve privately on the anniversary each year.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children will have returned from their summer visit to the Queen at Balmoral, and be setting up their new lives at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor ready to start the new school year a week later. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and their children Archie and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor will be at their house in Montecito, California. The couple will fly to the UK on the week beginning September 5, when they stay at Frogmore Cottage just a short walk from the Cambridges but are not expected to spend time with them.
A source said the day was still a painful one for the late Princess’s sons. Friends of each brother separately emphasised that they would still mark it in their own ways, talking about “granny” with their young children.
A spokesman for Kensington Palace and spokeswoman for the Sussexes separately confirmed that this year’s anniversary on Wednesday would be spent privately.
There were some people theorizing that William would do some kind of photo-op at Kensington Palace, in the Sunken Garden, with Kate and the children by the Diana statue. That would be smart optics, which is why I think it will NOT happen. Plus, the unveiling of the Diana statue last year marked a huge shift in the Cambridges’ marriage. That was when, rather suddenly, Kate, the children and the Middletons were all not invited to the statue unveiling and Middleton HQ was in full meltdown mode about it. Kate even leaked a bunch of stuff about how poor, weak, incandescent William needed her at the unveiling. She was making a complete ass out of herself about it. That was right around the time that we first started hearing about Kate needing a home in Berkshire too. Ah, memories.
Anyway, of course Harry and William are going to spend the day apart and marking the somber anniversary differently. They’re not “boys” anymore, they’re grown men with significant disagreements and a lot of anger towards each other. Harry’s brief and breezy return for the statue unveiling last year was a carefully coordinated appearance and likely the last of its kind with William.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
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- The Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex arrive for the unveiling of a statue they commissioned of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, on what would have been her 60th birthday. Picture date: Thursday July 1, 2021. .,Image: 619024551, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- (left to right) Guy Monson, a member of the statue committee, the Duke of Sussex, the Duke of Cambridge and garden designer Pip Morrison, during the unveiling of a statue they commissioned of the Dukes’ mother Diana, Princess of Wales, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, on what would have been her 60th birthday. Picture date: Thursday July 1, 2021. .,Image: 619024558, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- (left to right) The Duke of Sussex, the Duke of Cambridge and garden designer Pip Morrison, during the unveiling of a statue they commissioned of the Dukes’ mother Diana, Princess of Wales, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, on what would have been her 60th birthday. Picture date: Thursday July 1, 2021. .,Image: 619024585, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- The Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex arrive for the unveiling of a statue they commissioned of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, on what would have been her 60th birthday. Picture date: Thursday July 1, 2021. .,Image: 619024761, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- The Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex arrive for the unveiling of a statue they commissioned of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, on what would have been her 60th birthday. Picture date: Thursday July 1, 2021. .,Image: 619024782, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- The Duke of Cambridge (left) and Duke of Sussex unveiling a statue they commissioned of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, on what would have been her 60th birthday. Picture date: Thursday July 1, 2021. .,Image: 619024903, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- The Duke of Cambridge (right) and the Duke of Sussex during the unveiling of a statue they commissioned of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, on what would have been her 60th birthday.,Image: 619146815, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Dominic Lipinski / Avalon
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- The Duke of Cambridge (right) and the Duke of Sussex during the unveiling of a statue they commissioned of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, on what would have been her 60th birthday. Picture date: Thursday July 1, 2021.,Image: 619146819, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- The Duke of Sussex during the unveiling of a statue commissioned of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, on what would have been her 60th birthday. Picture date: Thursday July 1, 2021.,Image: 619146822, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- The Duke of Sussex during the unveiling of a statue commissioned of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, on what would have been her 60th birthday.,Image: 619146823, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Dominic Lipinski / Avalon
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- The Duke of Cambridge (right) and Duke of Sussex ahead of the unveiling of a statue they commissioned of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, on what would have been her 60th birthday. Picture date: Thursday July 1, 2021.,Image: 619146837, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- 172960, James Franco attends The BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party. Los Angeles, California – Saturday January 6, 2018. Photograph: © PacificCoastNews. Los Angeles Office (PCN): +1 310.822.0419 UK Office (Avalon): +44 (0) 20 7421 6000,Image: 522866131, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – DIRECT SALES ONLY – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: PacificCoastNews / Avalon
All of this is sad.
why is it sad? this man sent his people to help a tabloid against his OWN brother’s wife! his OWN family! just for that, H should NEVER EVER speak to W again! W is definitely Charles’ son…he should embrace it!
He called his mother paranoid this year.
@Jan — that’s correct but not sure @ThatsNotOkay was referring to that….she/he only says that’s sad, hence my question
Based on the article, it seems @ThatsNotOkay meant it is sad H and TOB can jointly mark the anniversary; H lives in the UK, why should he do it with a man who called their mother paranoid?
Hoping H is ok….he continues to honor and try to do everything to make her proud!
Eh, William made it that with his actions of the past few years. Besides, it’s good that Harry doesn’t have to coordinate with a man who increasingly strays away from what their mother stood for.
I thought that exactly. What a gut wrenching anniversary, and they can’t or won’t be there for each other. Not even a supportive phone call? Harry will get support from his nuclear family; not so sure where William is getting his.
I have two boys 20 months apart (ages 20 and 22) and they are very supportive of each other. I know they can tell each other things their ‘rents wouldn’t get. It is truly a wonderful thing.
William and Harry never had a close brotherly bond and William always has been territorial and possessive about being more linked to Diana in the public eye. At least this way Harry can actually acknowledge it the way he wants in a meaningful sense- unlike when William blocked Meghan from attending a private memorial service with Harry in 2017.
William is striving to silence his mother the way his father has always wanted and he is responsible for Meghan’s suicidal ideation. If he spends this anniversary alone it is exactly what he deserves.
Not really. Even if they hadn’t fallen out with each other, they’re both middle-aged men with their own families now. There’s no need for them to constantly be together to mark any kind of anniversary about their mother. This 20th anniversary thing was done to placate the public that, as Harry once put it, “never met her.”
If anything here is sad, it’s the public still thinking that William and Harry owe the public one damn thing when it comes to their mother. They don’t and people need to stop acting like they do.
I don’t know about this…
It’s true in this case because the brothers never really had a true sibling relationship. But there is something about mourning a loved one with a person who actually knew the deceased that is different than it is with someone who didn’t. People who share a childhood have precious bonds and memories that cannot be replaced. As long as there is no abuse in that relationship, it ought to be treasured and supported.
(Just thought I’d pipe in because too many people are dismissive of any relationship that is not nuclear family. That outlook is limiting and it leads to more loneliness than love.)
@teecee
You said:
“(Just thought I’d pipe in because too many people are dismissive of any relationship that is not nuclear family. That outlook is limiting and it leads to more loneliness than love.)”
This is all well and good for the average human being. But I think we can all agree that the BRF is NOT average human beings, in terms of their family relationship dynamics.
Note Well:
the queen and her heirs’ PRIMARY. RAISON. D’ETRE is to ensure the SURVIVAL of the monarchy. And if that means SACRIFICING members of the family who are lower down on the totem pole, THEY WILL DO IT IN A HEARTBEAT. Which, of course, is something we have SEEN happen in living memory, as well as throughout their history.
I Repeat: the BRF family dynamics is NOT meant to be understood in the say way the average middle class family is.
Yes, my own interpretation is that this is a sad story, in general. From Diana and Charles’ marriage, to Diana’s death and the effect they had on the brothers – the way Will and Harry were brought up after Diana’s death – Will’s anger, Harry’s unhappiness – the RF’s inability to accept Meghan, which still continues. What keeps it from being a total tragedy is that Harry and Meghan are happy and free.
Thank goodness they will mourn privately now, for what is the first time ever really.
I hope Harry can finally start to find some peace surrounding his mothers death, having been denied that for 25 years.
William, I have to say I don’t care how he feels & what he does.
@ Kokiri, I agree with your sentiments regarding their mourning but I believe that Harry has worked hard to better deal with his grief and the sudden loss of his mother. The Other Brother on the other hand has clearly not sought out any form of professional help otherwise his constant anger issues would be in check, which they aren’t.
Thank you Kaiser for reminding me how completely frantic CopyKeen became after last years statue unveiling. She was certainly trying to control the narrative with the help of her coach CarolE. May she, and the Prince of Woodpegging, continue to feel the backlash of their evil actions.
Yeah, Kate was so comically desperate and it’s been getting worse and worse ever since. I really want to know the details.
It is really odd that Kate wasn’t invited to that unveiling! I get that she didn’t know Diana, but as William’s wife you’d think that would merit an invitation. If my In laws excluded me from a memorial service or a ceremony marking the anniversary of someone’s passing, I would be hurt even if I didn’t know the deceased.
I agree. Grief changes over time but expecting them to mark the anniversary of her sudden death for the benefit of the public doesn’t sit will. I also don’t expect the Queen or Charles to do so, either. And certainly not 25 years out.
Was it 2 year ago that Meghan and Harry visited a nursery school and planted flowers, including forget-me-nots? In honor of his mother.
The watering cans brought for the kids was a fun thing to do.
I vaguely remember that….hopefully someone remembers the time line.
They’re literally 11 hrs from each other by plane. Of course they are not going to mark the anniversary together. Even if they were super close, it wouldn’t be logistically feasible.
At this point I’m more interested in how TOB and co travelled back from Balmoral. Are we going to have any more ‘ordinary’ people communicating on who they saw and where? Also, where did they go back TO????? I mean, I think we all know but I’d love a whisper of reporting on it from the rats.
I wouldn’t be shocked if William made a “surprise” appearance or releasef a photo of him and his family at the statue. Harry and Meghan have been very visible the last few weeks and will be in town next week. William will feel like he has to do something to counter that.
Even if they did get along, I don’t think it would be emotionally healthy for anyone to make a big public deal out of it every 5 years for the rest of their lives. Let them have the day privately, however they wish to spend it.
Especially with the trauma of having to be so public when she died, I’m happy they don’t have to trot themselves out anymore. (Unless they so choose.)
But like @ThatsNotOkay said, it’s sad. I know there are a-holes involved who brought this on themselves, but they’re the only two people in the world who know what it was truly like to be her child. It’s just a bummer that it’s ended up like this.
ITA. There is too much emphasis in general on anniversaries. How terrible it has to be for families involved in these public tragedies to have the media swarming over the occasion like vultures every five years to get more clicks.
Harry is living the life his mother dreamed for him, he does all he can to keep her memory alive through charitable work….the other guy has gone public in calling his mother paranoid. OF COURSE they will mark the occasion separately
Given where they are in their lives and the fact they put a period/full stop on the public marking of her anniversary with the statue, it does seem relatively ordinary that there’ll be no formal joint statement.
However, I don’t think these two will ever do anything jointly again save for major family events such as QEII’s funeral.
yeah I am sure they won’t do anything together. And I totally understand.
I am estranged from my brothers. We are grown adults, all with kids, and we had such a spectacular falling out that I don’t know if those relationships will be repaired. On my end, I’m not ready to allow them access to info about my life. My mom has passed away, and my dad lives in assisted living. My mom has been gone 11 years, and I’d love to be able to share that grief and childhood memories with them, but we’ve been estranged for 5 years. I have tried therapy with one brother and it was a great sense of closure, while being incredibly difficult for me. I have to sit in meetings for my dad with my brothers once a year and thanks to the pandemic, it’s been by phone the last few years.
When my grandma passed away, we had a celebration of life and it was one of the most excruciating experiences of my life. Most of my family knows what happened with them and sides with me about it. The family that doesn’t know, still talks to them. Having to sit at a table with them and talk about life, and talk about my grandma (who they both caused immense grief her last two years of life) around other family members like everything was fine was awful. I do not plan to be in the same place as them again until my dad or aunt pass away. And I know that will be awful. Grief at a loss PLUS estrangement is so hard.
Long story but I really feel for Harry and totally get why he wants distance from William. I am cheering him on for health and happiness with the family he’s built with Meghan.