Royal | News - Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
A royal expert has previously spoken about Prince William and Prince Harry’s childhood and how they think the Prince of Wales recognises he had privileges that “weren’t available” to his younger brother, including family circumstances. The pair have not spent quality time together since Harry’s departure from the Royal Family in 2020 alongside his wife, Meghan Markle.
Historian and royal broadcaster, Tessa Dunlop told OK! Magazine about how William and Harry’s childhood differed. She explained: “Harry didn’t benefit from those extra three years with Diana, Princess of Wales being alive. There have been privileges in William’s life that weren’t available for Harry which made his journey harder to navigate – that’s the truth.”
The expert added: “To leave your parents at 11 rather than 14 or 15 years, it’s a very different loss.”
In August 1997, Diana died in a car crash in Paris, the incident led to public mourning and global media attention about the tragedy.
Prince Harry revealed that he cried only once after his mother died when he was just 12 years old. During his first interview about his memoir ‘Spare’ the Duke of Sussex said he felt guilty for not weeping publicly, revealing that he only cried at a private burial service.
During an interview, Harry said to ITV’s Tom Brady: “Everyone knows where they were and what they were doing the night my mother died.
“I cried once, at the burial, and you know I go into detail about how strange it was and how actually there was some guilt that I felt and I think William felt as well, by walking around the outside of Kensington Palace.”
Prince William has also spoken about the pain of grieving for his mother, over the years. On one occasion in 2015, he spoke to guests at an event for Child Bereavement UK at the Banqueting House in London.
The charity, founded as The Child Bereavement Trust by Jenni Thomas with founder patron Julia Samuel, supports families when a child dies or faces bereavement.
William said: “What my mother recognised back then – and what I understand now – is that grief is the most painful experience that any child or parent can endure. But my mother was determined to help those in need and she would have been immensely proud – as I am – of all that Child Bereavement UK has achieved these last 21 years.”
He added: “As a father to two young children, I now appreciate it all the more.”
Child Bereavement UK (CBUK), a charity supporting families dealing with the death of a child, launched in 1994 with the support of Diana, Princess of Wales.