Few names in modern royal history stir as much emotion as Diana, Princess of Wales. Known as the People’s Princess, she was admired for her compassion, vulnerability, and devotion to her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. But behind the glamour and public adoration was a woman navigating the harsh realities of life inside the monarchy — and at times, making heartbreaking sacrifices in the process.
Summers Without Her Sons
According to Paul Burrell, Diana’s long-time butler and confidant, the Princess made the agonizing choice to “willingly give up” her boys during summer holidays. Every year, the young princes would spend extended periods at Balmoral Castle in Scotland with their father, Prince Charles, and the rest of the royal family.
Diana, post-divorce, was allotted only two weeks with William and Harry during these summers. While this arrangement left her yearning for more time with her sons, Diana believed it was essential for them to grow up surrounded by their royal relatives. Burrell recalled her words: “She said it’s important for them to grow up with their cousins, with the royal family at Balmoral… She realized they had to be integrated into the royal family because William one day will be King and Harry will be there to support him.”
The decision revealed her deep understanding of duty and foresight. Even when it broke her heart, Diana prioritized the long-term well-being of her boys and their roles in the monarchy.
Diana’s Last Summer
Tragically, the summer of 1997 would be Diana’s last with her sons. Just weeks before her death, Diana, William, and Harry shared a sun-drenched holiday in the South of France. They jet-skied, lounged by the water, and laughed as a family — rare moments of joy away from the watchful eyes of tradition and protocol.
Burrell recalled how much Diana cherished this time: “Summer was fun for her… she missed them when they left, but those days in France were some of her happiest.”
She ensured the boys returned to Balmoral in time to spend their required weeks with their father and grandparents. No one could have imagined that it would be the last time William and Harry saw their mother alive.
The Call They Never Forgot
When news broke of Diana’s car accident in Paris on August 31, 1997, William and Harry were at Balmoral with Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, and Prince Philip. In later years, both princes opened up about the final phone call they shared with their mother.
Harry, then just 12, said he regretted the brevity of that call: “I can’t really remember what I said, but I’ll probably regret for the rest of my life how short the phone call was.”
William, 15 at the time, echoed the sentiment: “Harry and I were in a desperate rush to say goodbye, you know, ‘see you later.’ If I’d known what was going to happen, I wouldn’t have been so blasé about it.”
These haunting words underline the fragility of time — and how Diana’s sacrifice for the institution cost her precious moments with her children.
A Legacy of Love and Loss
Diana’s choice to let William and Harry spend summers with the royal family was not a reflection of indifference, but of immense foresight. She knew their destiny required connection to tradition, even if it meant distancing herself during the moments she longed for most.
Her final summer remains etched in history as a bittersweet blend of joy and impending tragedy. Today, William and Harry carry those memories — of laughter on holiday, of fleeting conversations, and of a mother who, even in sacrifice, was always guided by love.
