PRINCESS Diana left an inimitable legacy following her tragic death 27 years ago.
Not only does her force-of-nature “Diana effect” live on through the charity work she did but Princess Kate keeps her memory alive in numerous ways, says royal legend Jennie Bond.
Prince William himself stated that “Catherine will carve her own destiny and make her own future”, but there are ways she keeps “Diana’s memory very much alive”, claims Jennie.
The former BBC royal correspondent told Fabulous: “I don’t think Catherine thinks every day, ‘I must emulate my mother-in-law.’
“Of course, she never knew Diana, but she has stated publicly that she is inspired by her, finding her an inspirational woman.
“I think we have to remember that both William and Catherine are keen to keep Diana’s memory very much alive, particularly for the children—the granny they never knew.”
Here are some of the ways that Princess Kate respectfully pays tribute to the powerhouse mother-in-law she never met…
1) £390K ENGAGEMENT RING
Jennie pointed out that Prince William was keen to pay tribute to his mother when he proposed to his university sweetheart in October 2010 in Kenya.
The royal prince popped the question with arguably the most iconic ring in the royal family– his mother’s 12-carat sapphire engagement ring.
He told ITV: “It’s my mother’s engagement ring and it’s very special to me, as Kate is very special to me now as well.
“It was only right the two were put together.
He continued: “It was my way of making sure mother didn’t miss out on today and the excitement and the fact that we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together.”
2) MIRRORED PARENTING
The royal expert claims there are “lots of similarities in the way that William and Catherine are bringing up their kids, similar to how Diana broke the mould.”
One of Princess Diana’s main focuses was on splitting “play days and work days” for William and Harry.
Jennie shared: “She [Diana] sat in a drawing room telling me how she wanted these royal princes to have an upbringing that was unlike any other royal princes before them.
“There would be play days and work days, she said.
“She loved to give them on their play days the opportunity to wear what they wanted—jeans, baseball caps, eat a burger smothered in ketchup, or go go-karting, just laugh about and have fun.
“ But she understood that they must learn as royal princes that they have to wear suits and ties and behave in that way on work days.
“I don’t think Catherine and William divide it like that, but I think they both have that idea that they want their children to enjoy something outside the strictures of royal life.”
Jennie pointed out how the Prince and Princess of Wales have “made their children the absolute priority”, even when they have been “criticised” for it.
She explained: “William has certainly taken quite a lot of criticism for putting his family before his perceived duty.
“I applaud him. I think it’s fantastic that he and Catherine want to bring up these children in a bubble of love and fun and laughter, while always acknowledging that their futures are going to be very different from most other kids on the block.”
3) KATE AND DI’S GOLDEN RULE
Kate’s golden rule for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis is about kindness.
According to HELLO! Online’s Royal Correspondent: “Based on observations of photographs of Princess Diana at the time, and the current Princess of Wales, they are both very affectionate with their children.
“Kate is often seen holding her children’s hands or picking them up for cuddles when they were smaller.
“There are often lots of comforting gestures, such as a pat on the back or stroking their hair.
“When interacting with other children on her public engagements, Kate often crouches down to their level to engage with them – something that Diana would often do.”
4) FASHION NODS
When Princess Kate presented Prince Louis to the world outside the Lindo Wing in 2018 in a red Jenny Packham dress, it was the spitting image of the frock Diana wore following the birth of Prince Harry in 1984.
And it’s not the first time she has taken style inspiration from Diana…
When Kate welcomed Prince George, in 2013, she wore a blue spotted Jenny Packham dress, which was very similar to the gown Diana wore as she presented newborn Prince William.
Meanwhile, in 2022, Kate wowed onlookers at Royal Ascot as she arrived in a stunning polka dot dress that was remarkably similar to one worn by Diana.
The Princess of Wales has regularly been pictured in Diana’s jewellery pieces – from necklaces to tiaras.
Who inherited Princess Diana's jewellery?
AFTER her death, Diana's sons Prince William and Prince Harry were left three-quarters of her £21 million estate — with the other quarter going to her 17 godchildren.
In a special “letter of wishes”, Diana explained that she was leaving her jewellery to her sons’ future wives.
The letter reads: “I would like you to allocate all my jewellery to the share to be held by my sons, so that their wives may, in due course, have it or use it.
“I leave the exact division of the jewellery to your discretion.”
Some of Diana’s most iconic gems were on loan from the royal collection, while others were not included in her estate.
5) MILESTONE EVENTS
Aside from subtle tributes, William and Harry ensure they keep Diana’s legacy going within their own families.
Royal fans were moved as Princess Charlotte and Princes George and Louis wrote touching Mothers’ Day cards to ‘Granny Diana’ in 2021, which were shared online.
In a heartbreaking note, written on green paper, Prince George wrote: “Dear Granny Diana. Happy Mother’s Day. I love you very much and think of you always.
“Sending lots of love from George.”
Meanwhile Princess Charlotte wrote in a pink card with a colourful heart drawn on the front: “Dear Granny Diana. I am thinking of you on Mother’s Day.
“I love you very much. Papa is missing you.
“Lots of love Charlotte. Xxx.”
6)CHRISTMAS CARDS
Last December, the Prince and Princess of Wales revealed their elegant family Christmas card and a royal whizz claimed it was a poignant nod to Diana.
The stylish black-and-white snap of Prince William, Kate Middleton and their three children showed the fashionable family in matching white shirts and dark trousers.
Royal fan @matta_of_fact was quick to point out a possible link to Princess Diana with the photo choice.
She claimed: “They are hearkening very strongly to the nineties in this photo, which, when you think of the royals and the nineties, where do you immediately go… Princess Diana.
“So many black and white photoshoots of Diana exist.”
The royal fan pointed out that Diana and her two boys, Prince William and Prince Harry, had dressed for photoshoots together in a “Ralph Lauren aesthetic” similar to the new Christmas card attire.
7) PRINCESS OF WALES LEGACY
Following the late Queen Elizabeth II’s death, King Charles bestowed a new title upon Kate – the ‘Princess of Wales’ honour.
Understandably, given Princess Diana had last held the title, Prince William’s wife thought “long and hard” before taking it on, claims Jennie.
In his new royal book, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, biographer Robert Jobson alleged that the “prospect of becoming the Princess of Wales held little appeal.”
He wrote of Kate’s views ahead of her 2011 royal wedding wedding: “She knew she’d inevitably be compared with Diana, whose untimely death had provoked such a tsunami of anger and grief.
“And she was right. The similarities and differences between the two women were dissected ad infinitum, and even discussed in the royal household.”
Jennie echoed those thoughts saying: “We talk about the Princess of Wales, and that was a title that was a very difficult one for Camilla to even consider taking on.
Everything you need to know about Princess Diana's final years
After years of separation, Prince Charles and Princess Diana divorced in 1996.
In 1997, Princess Diana spent her summer in the south of France and Italy. During August, she visited Sarajevo, Bosnia, to highlight the fight against landmines.
By the end of the month, the Princess of Wales and Dodi Al-Fayed travelled to Paris together.
It was revealed that Princess Diana stayed longer than planned in Paris due to a row over her land mine campaign.
Travelling in a black Mercedes Benz, Princess Diana was involved in a car crash in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel on August 31, 1997.
The Princess of Wales died at the age of 36.
Her funeral was held on September 6, 1997. As her coffin made the journey from Kensington Palace to Westminister Abbey, Prince William and Prince Harry walked behind their late mother.
Princess Diana’s mother, Frances Shand Kydd, and sisters, Jane Fellowes and Sarah McCorquodale, also attended the funeral.
The Princess of Wales was buried at her childhood home – Althorp House
If it wasn’t for her tragic death, Princess Diana would have been 62 today.
“I don’t think she did consider for a moment being called Princess of Wales, though she was entitled to do so.
“I think Catherine thought long and hard about it before taking the title Princess of Wales.
“I think Catherine was somewhat nervous about taking on the Princess of Wales title, and totally understandable.”
However, Jennie claims that Princess Kate has gone on to make “that role and title her own for the current generation.”
She added: “This is a new era, a new century, a new generation, and we have a new princess, a new Princess of Wales.
“Personally, I think she’s absolutely brilliant at the role. I’m sorry we haven’t seen much of her this year, for clear reasons.
“But for the younger generation, Princess of Wales is Catherine.”
