Prince William marked Mother's Day by sharing a previously unseen photograph of his late mother, Princess Diana, posting the intimate family image from 1984 to social media as part of a heartfelt tribute.

A Personal Remembrance

The photo shows two-year-old William with Diana among poppies and other flowers at Highgrove in Gloucestershire. He posted the picture on X with a simple caption. It's the first time the family's released this photo publicly.

“Remembering my mother, today and every day,” he wrote. He also added, “Thinking of all those who are remembering someone they love today. Happy Mother’s Day.” The photo bears a striking resemblance to a 1994 Christmas card image featuring King Charles, then Prince Charles, with his sons William and Harry in a similar poppy field at Highgrove. Diana, Princess of Wales, died at 36 in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, when William was just 15 years old. She would have marked her 65th birthday on July 1 this year.

Children's Tributes to "Granny Diana"

William has often spoken about ensuring his own children remember their grandmother, whom they affectionately call "Granny Diana." Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis annually create cards to honor her on Mother's Day. And in 2021, Kensington Palace shared some of these deeply personal, handwritten cards, offering a glimpse into the family's private remembrance.

Princess Charlotte, then five years old, penned a touching message to her grandmother. “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,” she wrote. Her older brother, Prince George, who was seven at the time, also wrote a card. His message read: “Dear Granny Diana, Happy, happy mothers day. I love you very much and think of you always, Sending lots of love from George xxxxx.” The youngest, Prince Louis, then three, contributed a colorful drawing, painting a big heart adorned with animal stickers to commemorate his grandmother. The kids make these cards every year—a way to keep Diana's memory alive even though they never knew her.

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Wider Royal Family Homages

The rest of the royal family posted old photos on X for Mother's Day too. The photos honored various royal mothers, including the late Queen and her mother. One black and white photo from 1953 captured the late Queen Elizabeth II sitting on a garden bench with her eldest children, Charles, then a prince, and Princess Anne, at Balmoral, Scotland.

The Queen's corgi Sue appears in the background.

This picture was taken years before the births of her younger sons, Andrew and Edward. Another image featured the late Queen Elizabeth II alongside her own mother, Queen Elizabeth, known as the Queen Mother. A third photograph depicted Queen Camilla with her late mother, Rosalind Shand. The collective caption for these posts conveyed a broad message of remembrance and well-wishes: “Wishing Mothers everywhere, and those who might be missing their Mums today, a restful Mothering Sunday.” The photos show how the royals carry their losses across generations, especially on Mother's Day.

Diana's lasting impact

Nearly 27 years after her death, Diana's influence on the monarchy and public life is still felt. She changed how royals do charity work and spoke openly about royal life—and her death shocked the world. When William and his kids honor her each year, it's both private grief and public recognition of what she meant.

William's choice to share a private family photo shows the deeply personal nature of his grief and his continued connection to his mother. To many, Diana symbolizes compassion and modernizing the monarchy. She pushed landmine bans and fought HIV stigma—work that earned worldwide respect. By sharing the childhood photo and the kids' cards, William's keeping Diana's memory alive—both privately and publicly. These tributes show how the royals blend private grief with their public duties.

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Together, they reveal how the royal family remembers its mothers—dead and alive—on Mother's Day.

This article was created with AI assistance.