Princess Diana and Prince William: 7 Rarely Seen Photos of the Mother and Son
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge had 15 years with his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales before she tragically passed away in 1997. Today, William and his younger brother, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex continue to carry on their mother’s legacy.
They’ve opened up about their funniest memories of her and have said many kind words about what Diana would be like as a grandmother. While William and Harry don’t have their mother around today, they can reminisce on their times together. Ahead, check out TK rarely seen photos of William and Diana.
Princess Diana and Prince Charles welcomed Prince William in 1982
Diana and her husband, Charles, Prince of Wales became parents for the first time on June 21, 1982, when they welcomed William. Upon his birth, he became second in the line of succession to the throne behind his father.
He reportedly grew up wanting to be a police officer before Harry reminded him he’d grow up to be one day be the leader of the British royal family.
Prince William grew up going to polo matches with his mother
As a young boy, William went to polo matches with Diana. They were often seen together sitting on the sidelines cheering on Charles or walking around together. Here they are taking cover from the rain in May 1987 when they were photographed at a polo match at the Guards Polo Club.
And here there are again a year later in May 1988 at the same polo club. Wearing on her most iconic outfits, admirers of Diana’s fashion sense will remember this look but may not recall her walking alongside a young William.
Seeing as it’s a big pastime in the royal family, it’s no surprise William (and Harry) grew up to play polo. Today, William’s children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis — have all been seen at polo matches carrying on the tradition.
They laughed together
Having a fun lunch at Windsor Great Park in June 1991, William and Diana shared a moment of fun. As an adult, William said his mother’s humor is something that’s always stuck with him. During an interview for the documentary, Diana, Our Mother: Life and Legacy, William recalled his mother’s less serious moments.
“That’s lived with me forever about her loving and embarrassing and sort of, you know being — being the sort of the joker,” he said.
While William recalled an embarrassing moment when he invited supermodels over, Harry recalled his mother’s distinct “sort of crazy laugh.”
And had a close relationship
William grew up having a close relationship with his mom. As a baby, he could often be seen in Diana’s arms. Below, see a young William walking hand-in-hand with his mother as they disembarked from a plane in Australia at the end of a royal tour in 1983.
And here there are in 1985 leaving the Royal Yacht Britannia.
Prince William jokingly said his mother would be ‘a nightmare grandmother’
William grew up knowing Diana not as one of the most famous people in the world but as his mother. When they attended events together — see them in March 1991 during an official royal visit below — William saw his mother perform duties as a member of the royal family but he also knew when they got home she’d be much less serious.
Imagining what she’d be like as a grandmother, William said Diana would bring a certain level of fun chaos to his household.
“She’d be a nightmare grandmother, an absolute nightmare. She’d love the children to bits, but she’d be a nightmare,” he said jokingly. “She’d come and go and she’d come in, probably at bath time, cause an amazing amount of scene, bubbles everywhere, bathwater all over the place — and then leave.”
Sadly, William won’t be making any new memories with his mother but he certainly has plenty of fond moments to look back on.
