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Prince William and Prince Harry | Princess Diana | Prince William and Prince Harry | Source: Getty Images
Prince William and Prince Harry | Princess Diana | Prince William and Prince Harry | Source: Getty Images

Diana's Words to Beloved Son Would Have Prevented Brothers' Fallout as He Lacked True 'Ally,' Ex-bodyguard Says

Olawale Ogunjimi
Sep 25, 2022
08:00 A.M.

William and Harry shared an amazing relationship while growing up. Even after their mother, Princess Diana, died, the pair remained united in grief for years. But, their bond broke after Harry decided to leave royal life. Diana's bodyguard believes there would have been a way out for the brothers if their mother had been alive.

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Before her demise, Princess Diana was a role model to many young royals, seeing how she embraced her role as the Princess of Wales. However, there was more to Diana than her royal title and duties.

The late Princess of Wales was a loving mother to her two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. To Diana, motherhood was a very serious responsibility, and she tried to excel at it.

Diana, Princess of Wales, wearing a tartan dress designed by Caroline Charles and a black Tam o' shanter style hat, attends the Braemar Highland Games on September 05, 1981, in Braemar, Scotland. | Source: Getty Images

Diana, Princess of Wales, wearing a tartan dress designed by Caroline Charles and a black Tam o' shanter style hat, attends the Braemar Highland Games on September 05, 1981, in Braemar, Scotland. | Source: Getty Images

Although she was a Royal Family member, the mom of two raised William and Harry differently from royal standards. Her unique parenting style was visible to many, including her Bodyguard Ken Wharfe.

In his book "Diana - Remembering the Princess: Reflections on Her Life, Twenty-five Years on From Her Death", Wharfe opened up about Diana's amazing relationship with her sons, which he witnessed during the time he spent close to her.

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The author, whom William and Harry referred to as "Uncle Ken", revealed that despite everything happening in Diana's marriage, protecting her sons was her topmost priority.

British Royals Prince William and his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-1997), wearing a blue suit, attend William's first official engagement on St David's Day, both wearing daffodils, in Cardiff, Wales, March 1, 1991. | Source: Getty Images

British Royals Prince William and his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-1997), wearing a blue suit, attend William's first official engagement on St David's Day, both wearing daffodils, in Cardiff, Wales, March 1, 1991. | Source: Getty Images

According to Wharfe, the late Princess of Wales was always a unique hands-on royal mother. The bodyguard recalled seeing Diana spend so much time with her boys and go all out for them.

According to Wharfe, she would always throw many birthday parties for William and Harry. Raising her sons in the most normal way possible to the late Princess of Wales was of great importance.

Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-1997), wearing a yellow suit with a Jasper Conran blouse, and her sons Prince Harry and Prince William at the Guards Polo Club at Smiths Lawn, in Windsor Great Park, Windsor, Berkshire, England, May 31, 1987. | Source: Getty Images

Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-1997), wearing a yellow suit with a Jasper Conran blouse, and her sons Prince Harry and Prince William at the Guards Polo Club at Smiths Lawn, in Windsor Great Park, Windsor, Berkshire, England, May 31, 1987. | Source: Getty Images

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Diana often proved it by giving William and Harry ordinary treats, like getting them sausages from M&S at their request, despite having top chefs in the royal household.

Ultimately, Diana's love for her sons knew no bounds, which was one of the reasons the bodyguard noted that he admired and respected her. In his words:

"She had thrown herself into a different kind of mothering, too determined to raise her boys differently from the usual formal royal upbringing. I admired and respected her — for her energy and commitment to others, especially her devotion to her two boys."

The Princess of Wales (1961 - 1997) arrived at Aberdeen airport with her sons William and Harry on August 14, 1989. | Source: Getty Images

The Princess of Wales (1961 - 1997) arrived at Aberdeen airport with her sons William and Harry on August 14, 1989. | Source: Getty Images

Diana's intentionality towards her boys caused the trio to be inseparable. However, the bond was eventually broken after the late Princess of Wales lost her life in one of the most tragic ways.

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Princess Diana's Death/ William and Harry's Life After

On August 31, 1997, the world was thrown into a state of mourning after Diana died in a car crash in Paris. It was even more heartbreaking for William and Harry, who had to say goodbye to their mother at a young age.

The Duke of Sussex was only 12 years old, while the Prince of Wales was 15. Seven days after the tragic news, Diana was laid to rest.

Prince William and Prince Harry Gesture After They Arrived At Kensington Palace To View Some Of The Flowers And Mementos Left In Memory Of Their Mother Princess Diana In London, Friday, September 5, 1997. | Source: Getty Images

Prince William and Prince Harry Gesture After They Arrived At Kensington Palace To View Some Of The Flowers And Mementos Left In Memory Of Their Mother Princess Diana In London, Friday, September 5, 1997. | Source: Getty Images

Following the death and burial of the late Princess of Wales, William and Harry had it tough coping with their mother's absence. But thankfully, they had each other to lean on.

Following their chat sessions, many experts concluded that Harry's relationship with William and the Royal Family had reached a dead end, and no changes were expected in the near future.

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Dealing with the demise of their mother together as brothers eventually helped strengthen their bond. During an interview years later, William would reveal that he and Harry stayed closer than ever due to the circumstances they had faced.

Prince William and Prince Harry walk away after placing flowers amongst the floral and pictorial tributes to their late mother, Princess Diana. | Source: Getty Images

Prince William and Prince Harry walk away after placing flowers amongst the floral and pictorial tributes to their late mother, Princess Diana. | Source: Getty Images

The brothers remained united in grief for a long time, but later, William would explain to Harry the need to face their grief, talk about it, and overcome it, as it was detrimental to their mental health.

Inside William and Harry's Feud

After William and Harry became adults, many hoped that the brothers would maintain the bond they shared while growing up. However, their hopes were met with disappointment.

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Rumors of a severed relationship between the siblings began in 2018, after Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, decided to move from Nottingham Cottage to Frogmore Cottage, further away from William and Kate Middleton.

Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry arrive to attend the Christmas Day Church service at Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate on December 25, 2018 in King's Lynn, England. | Source: Getty Images

Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry arrive to attend the Christmas Day Church service at Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate on December 25, 2018 in King's Lynn, England. | Source: Getty Images

Then, the following year, reports claimed that William and Harry's rift had gotten wider after the latter and Markle split their royal charities from the Prince and Princess of Wales.

However, a possible feud between the brothers remained unconfirmed until 2020, when Harry and Markle announced their decision to step back from their duties as Senior working royals and leave the UK.

Prince William and Prince Harry arrive for the unveiling of a statue they commissioned of their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, on what would have been her 60th birthday on July 1, 2021, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

Prince William and Prince Harry arrive for the unveiling of a statue they commissioned of their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, on what would have been her 60th birthday on July 1, 2021, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

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In the months following their big announcement, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had interviews where they made shocking revelations about their time in the UK. In one of the interviews, Harry noted that he felt trapped. In his words:

"I was trapped, but I didn't know I was trapped."

Prince William and Prince Harry walk through a trench during the commemorations for the 100th anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge on April 9, 2017, in Lille, France. | Source: Getty Images

Prince William and Prince Harry walk through a trench during the commemorations for the 100th anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge on April 9, 2017, in Lille, France. | Source: Getty Images

Following their chat sessions, many experts concluded that Harry's relationship with William and the Royal Family had reached a dead end, and no changes were expected in the near future. According to author Omid Scobie:

"They are very different men. And I think William has certainly become someone who is living his life for the crown. Harry has gone completely in the opposite direction."

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Prince William, his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince Harry arrive to attend a Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in central London on March 14, 2016. | Source: Getty Images

Prince William, his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince Harry arrive to attend a Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in central London on March 14, 2016. | Source: Getty Images

Meanwhile, some believe that Diana's absence plays a part in William and Harry's rift.

Princess Diana Might Have Amended Her Sons' Rift

Diana's presence and unwavering love for her sons contributed to the brothers' close bond, which is why her bodyguard Wharfe believes that William and Harry's feud would not have gotten that far.

Princess Diana With Prince Harry & Prince William At A Parade To Commemorate The 50th Anniversary Of Vj Day Designer Of Diana's Suit. | Source: Getty Images

Princess Diana With Prince Harry & Prince William At A Parade To Commemorate The 50th Anniversary Of Vj Day Designer Of Diana's Suit. | Source: Getty Images

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According to Wharfe, the Duke of Sussex needed a family ally who could offer advice, and his mother would have been the best person for the role.

Wharfe further noted that Diana would have made Harry realize that leaving the UK might not have been the best option.

Diana, Princess of Wales, with Prince Harry on holiday in Majorca, Spain, on August 10, 1987. | Source: Getty Images

Diana, Princess of Wales, with Prince Harry on holiday in Majorca, Spain, on August 10, 1987. | Source: Getty Images

Relatively, the bodyguard was not the only one with such thoughts.

Royal Biographer Andrew Morton also believed that if the late Princess of Wales had been alive, she would have been angry about the brothers' split.

Prince William with Diana, Princess of Wales, and Prince Harry on the day he joined Eton in September 1995. | Source: Getty Images

Prince William with Diana, Princess of Wales, and Prince Harry on the day he joined Eton in September 1995. | Source: Getty Images

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According to Morton, Diana wanted Harry to be his brother's wingman and backup. Unfortunately, the Duke of Sussex and Prince of Wales do not have their mother to help them settle the feud.

Unfortunately, the Duke of Sussex and Prince of Wales do not have their mother to help them settle the feud. As a result, Morton believes that Harry and William's reconciliation lies in their hands.

Prince William and Prince Harry attend the opening of the Greenhouse Sports Centre on April 26, 2018, in London, United Kingdom. | Source: Getty Images

Prince William and Prince Harry attend the opening of the Greenhouse Sports Centre on April 26, 2018, in London, United Kingdom. | Source: Getty Images

Meanwhile, the brothers seem to be on the path of peace, as they have put up a united front since the Queen's demise. However, the public can only wait to see what happens in the months to come.

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