Prince William recalls memories of his mother, Princess Diana, in a rare way… on “Mother’s Day”
In a poignant move, carrying many familial and symbolic connotations, Prince William invoked the memory of his late mother, Princess Diana, Princess of Wales, by publishing a rare photo, never before seen by the public, on the occasion of “Mother’s Day” in the United Kingdom. The photo received widespread interaction among those who follow British royal affairs, because of its human nature, reflecting an emotional side of the life of the royal family, far from official protocols.
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Prince William recalls memories of his mother, Princess Diana, in a rare way… on “Mother’s Day”
A photo from the private archive of the Royal Family:
The photo, which William posted via the official Kensington Palace accounts, was taken in 1984, in the gardens of the family’s country home in Highgrove, Gloucestershire. It shows Princess Diana sitting in a field of flowers next to her eldest son, William, who was only two years old at the time.
In the photo, the little prince appears surrounded by bright spring flowers, wearing a white striped shirt with striking red pants, while Diana sits next to him, sitting on the floor, wearing a pink jacket and simple jeans, smiling at the camera in a natural family moment, reflecting her image as a compassionate mother.
William accompanied the photo with a short, touching message, in which he said: “I remember my mother today and every day. I think of everyone who misses someone dear to them on this day. Happy Mother’s Day.” These words, despite their simplicity, carried a deeply human nature, as they were not limited to evoking the memory of his mother, but also included a message of sympathy for all those who lost their mothers.
Princess Diana’s legacy…an unmissable presence:
The character of Princess Diana is still strongly present in British and international collective memory, despite the passage of many years since her passing. She died in a tragic car accident in Paris on August 31, 1997, at the age of 36, an event that constituted one of the most influential moments in the modern history of the British royal family.
Diana would have turned sixty-five years old on July 1, which makes this year especially symbolic for her children and fans around the world. Followers have always described her as the “Princess of Hearts,” not only because of her human presence, but also because of her different style of dealing with her children, as she was keen to raise them in a way closer to normal life, far from strict royal restrictions.
Archive photos from Buckingham Palace:
In conjunction with Prince William’s initiative, Buckingham Palace published three more archive photos: In celebration of Mother’s Day, they reflect different aspects of the Royal Family’s history.
One of the photos is black and white, and shows the late Queen Elizabeth II, during her arrival at Westminster Abbey, accompanied by her mother, Queen Elizabeth the Mother. The two women appear in the picture holding their wide hats. To avoid them being blown away by the wind, in a shot that reflects the elegance of the royal era in the mid-twentieth century.
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The late Queen Elizabeth II arrives at Westminster Abbey accompanied by her mother, Queen Elizabeth the Mother
The second photo dates back to 1953, and shows Queen Elizabeth II sitting on a bench in the gardens of Balmoral Palace in Scotland, accompanied by her two eldest children at the time: King Charles III when he was a child, and his sister, Princess Anne. Behind them appears the famous corgi dog of the royal family. What is striking in the two photos is that Charles’s two younger brothers, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, had not been born at that time.
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Queen Elizabeth II with her two eldest children
As for the third photo, it shows Queen Camilla smiling next to her late mother, Rosalind Shand, in a rare family moment, documenting a personal aspect of the life of King Charles’ wife. These photos were accompanied by an official message, which said: “We wish all mothers around the world a peaceful and happy Eid, and we also remember everyone who misses their mother on this day.”
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Queen Camilla smiling alongside her late mother Rosalind Shand
A royal tradition on family occasions:
Sharing personal photos on family occasions has become a tradition followed by members of the royal family in recent years, especially on Mother’s Day, birthdays, and national occasions.
Usually, Prince William and his wife, Princess Catherine, Princess of Wales, are keen to publish family photos showing the princess with her three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. But this year has seen a marked change in this tradition.
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Prince William recalls memories of his mother, Princess Diana, in a rare way… on “Mother’s Day”
The absence of a picture of Catherine this year:
Last year, the royal family chose to celebrate Mother’s Day with a short video clip celebrating Mother Nature, in reference to the role nature played in Princess Catherine’s recovery during her illness. As for the year 2026, Kensington Palace decided not to publish a new photo of the princess and her children, a decision that came after the widespread controversy that accompanied the “Mother’s Day” photo in 2025. At that time, several international photo agencies withdrew the official photo; After it became clear that it had undergone digital modifications, which sparked a widespread media debate about transparency in publishing royal photos.
The next day, Princess Catherine issued a public apology, explaining that she had edited the photo herself before publishing it.
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