Princess Diana’s death on August 31, 1997, deeply impacted her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. In the years that followed, they honored her together, but now, 28 years later, they pay tribute separately. With their ongoing estrangement, how long has it been since they last commemorated her side by side?
Harry and William last jointly honored their mother in July 2021, at the unveiling of a statue in her honor to celebrate Diana’s 60th birthday. The event was held in the Sunken Garden of Kensington Palace, per CNN.
Together, the brothers uncovered the bronze likeness of the late Princess of Wales with her hands atop the shoulders of two children. They subsequently shared a joint statement about their mother via Kensington Palace.
It read, “Today, on what would have been our Mother’s 60th birthday, we remember her love, strength, and character – qualities that made her a force for good around the world, changing countless lives for the better. Every day, we wish she were still with us, and our hope is that this statue will be seen forever as a symbol of her life and her legacy.”
The last time Harry and William marked their mother’s death anniversary jointly was for the 2017 HBO documentary, Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy. The siblings looked back on the life of the late royal, her royal work, and the legacy she left behind.
Since that time, the brothers have marked milestone moments regarding Diana separately. They have been estranged since Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, announced their decision to leave their roles as senior royals for a new life in America.
Per Marie Claire, in 2024, the siblings honored their mother individually during the Diana Awards held at the London Science Museum. William attended the event while Harry called via video chat from his California home after his brother left.
The brothers typically mark their mother’s death anniversary privately with their families. In 2022, PEOPLE Magazine revealed how Harry spoke of how he would mark the 25th anniversary of Diana’s passing.
“I want it to be a day to share the spirit of my mum with my family, with my children, who I wish could have met her. Every day, I hope to do her proud,” Harry said.
The rift between Harry and William persists. While they have appeared at the same royal gatherings since Harry stepped away from royal duties, such as the funerals of Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth, and Robert Fellowes, and King Charles’ coronation, they have not engaged with each other one-on-one in public.
In remarks made to the BBC in May 2025, Harry maintained he wanted a “reconciliation” with the royal family. He said, “I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point continuing to fight anymore; life is precious.” William has not publicly commented on his estrangement from his only sibling.
