Diana would have been ‘incredibly proud’ of her compassionate boys says friend astrologer Penny Thornton
SHE hoped she’d be known as the “Queen of Hearts” — but in the end, it would be her sons who the world would fall in love with.
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She hoped she’d be known as the “Queen of Hearts” — but in the end, it would be her sons who the world would fall in love with.
And while Diana confessed she dreamed her sons would grow up to be empathetic, in-touch royals, she never could have predicted 21 years after her death her legacy of love would come of age.
On the anniversary weekend of Diana, Princess of Wales’ death, it’s Prince William and Prince Harry who have shown they are the People’s Princes.
And close friend astrologer Penny Thornton says their mother would have been proud.
“Diana would have been incredibly proud of her boys. I believe she continues to be a living presence in their lives.”
Diana passed away 21 years ago on Friday and in that time her sons have modernised the monarchy more than she could have hoped and proven themselves to be compassionate, caring young men.
This week it was revealed William helped rebuild a boxing club destroyed by the Grenfell Tower fire in June last year.
The prince rolled up his sleeves for BBC home renovation show DIY SOS and spoke with emotion about the impact the tragedy had on the families of the 72 people who lost their lives and the wider community.
“I think everyone has been shocked at how brutal and horrendous it all was,” he said. “’It’s been one of the worst disasters in modern time I think in this country.
“…Everyone is trying to play catch up with how do you deal with such a truly horrendous situation.”
He was particularly empathetic to a 14-year-old boy who had lost his friend, urging him not to bottle up his emotions.
“I’m sorry to hear that. Have you found it quite difficult afterwards?” he asked. “It’s a horrible process to have to go through. You have got the right people around you and I hope you talk about it. You’ve got to talk about how much you miss your friends, that’s perfectly normal.”
Prince William and the Queen visited the site two days after the tragedy, where they were moved to tears by survivors’ stories and William hugged a sobbing woman. At the time he pledged to continue to help.
His brother, Harry, meanwhile hosted a special performance of the hit musical Hamilton in London on Wednesday for his charity Sentebale, where he charmed the audience by breaking into song.
Diana had been determined that her boys would grow up with a deep understanding of real life and took William and Harry on visits to hospices and charities as children.
“I want them to have an understanding of people’s emotions, people’s insecurities, people’s distress, and people’s hopes and dreams,” she told journalist Martin Bashir in 1995. She dreamt of a more in-touch monarchy. “I would like a monarchy that has more contact with its people … just having a more in-depth understanding.”
Two decades later, her sons have made that vision a reality.
“Her passionate commitment to help those who suffered has ingrained itself on their psyches. Her sons want the monarchy to be relevant, not an anachronism,” says Thornton.
“They have a knowledge — they may never use it, but the seed is there, and I hope it will grow because knowledge is power,” Diana said.
The tragedy is she never got to see what that seed grew into.