Mother’s Day holds a special significance for the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children. While the Princess of Wales, Kate, is undoubtedly the center of attention today, likely enjoying a day of well-deserved pampering, the young royals—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—may also be reflecting on other important women in their lives.
Beyond their mother, the children are likely to extend their gratitude to their maternal grandmother, Carole Middleton. Mrs. Middleton has been an instrumental figure in their upbringing, providing a crucial source of strength and support, particularly during the challenging period following Kate’s cancer diagnosis and ongoing chemotherapy treatments.
Furthermore, the young royals may also be thinking of their paternal grandmother, Prince William’s late mother, Princess Diana. Though she never had the opportunity to meet her grandchildren, Prince William has consistently shared his commitment to ensuring they know and remember her.
Tributes to a Beloved Grandmother
In past Mother’s Days, Prince William has shared touching glimpses into how his children honor Princess Diana’s memory. He has previously posted handmade cards created by George and Charlotte for their “Granny Diana.” These heartfelt gestures offer a poignant reminder of the enduring connection between the young royals and their grandmother.
Princess Charlotte’s card, a vibrant fuchsia creation adorned with a multi-colored heart, included a particularly touching message. She wrote: “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 xxxxxxxxx.” This sentiment underscores the profound impact Diana continues to have on the family, even in her absence.
Prince George’s tribute, penned in cursive on bright green cardstock, echoed similar sentiments: “Dear granny Diana, Happy happy Mother’s Day. I love you very much and think of you always, sending lots of love from George xxxxx.”
Even the youngest of the trio, Prince Louis, at just two years old at the time these cards were made, contributed his own unique tribute. He selected green cardstock for his Mother’s Day card, which featured a colorful heart surrounded by various animals, all carefully affixed to the paper.
These deeply personal and heartwarming tributes were shared by the Prince and Princess of Wales on their official social media accounts, accompanied by a heartfelt message and four accompanying images.
Keeping Diana’s Memory Alive
Prince William’s dedication to ensuring his children know their grandmother is a recurring theme. In the 2017 documentary “Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy,” he spoke candidly about his efforts. He expressed a strong desire for his children to “know who she was and that she existed.” William revealed that he “constantly” talks about “Granny Diana” with George and Charlotte during their bedtime routines, emphasizing the importance of them understanding that they have had “two grandmothers in their lives.”
The future king elaborated, stating, “We’ve got more photos up around the house now of her and we talk about her a bit.” He acknowledged the unique challenge, noting, “It’s hard because obviously Catherine didn’t know her so she cannot really provide that level of detail, so I regularly put George and Charlotte to bed, talk about her and just try to remind them that there are two grandmothers, there were two grandmothers in their lives. So it’s important that they know who she was and that she existed.”
A Legacy of Compassion and Action
Beyond personal remembrance, Prince William is actively carrying forward Princess Diana’s legacy through his own philanthropic endeavors, particularly his initiative to combat homelessness. He has openly stated that this cause was deeply inspired by his mother’s compassionate approach.
In a significant television documentary, William shared the profound impact his mother had on his understanding of social issues. “My mother introduced me to homelessness a long time ago,” he revealed. He further explained, “I have taken some inspiration and guidance from what my mother did, particularly with homelessness. That has grown more over the last few years. When I was very small my mother started talking about homelessness — much like I do now with my children on the school run.”
Demonstrating a tangible commitment to this cause, late last year, Prince William took his eldest son, Prince George, to visit The Passage, a prominent homelessness charity in London. During their visit, they actively participated in assembling care packages and decorating a Christmas tree, further instilling in George the values of empathy and social responsibility that defined his grandmother’s life and work.
