Why Princess Diana used to say she and Prince William ‘didn’t get on’

Prince William and Prince Harry look back with nothing but fondness and admiration for their late mother Diana, Princess of Wales. But according to royal author Ingrid Seward, who knew Diana personally, there were times when the boys were growing up that Diana did not see eye to eye with her firstborn.

“She would say to me, ‘William is William. Sometimes we don’t get on at all because he is so like me. But Harry is fine, he’ll never be a problem.’ She would say that William was the sensitive one and Harry would just skim through life.”

“But she cared,” Ingrid added. “They were her life and maybe she did sometimes smother them. But I think that’s totally understandable for someone in her situation, because that’s really all she had, her boys.”

Ingrid shared her insight and other anecdotes during a special recording of A Right Royal Podcast, which took place to celebrate the life and legacy of the late Princess, who would have turned 65 on 1 July.

The recording took place in front of an audience of 70 HELLO! readers, in the newly refurbished ballroom of Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences, London, the five-star luxury hotel that was visited by Diana herself, as well as the then-Prince Charles, the late Queen Elizabeth II, and the late Prince Philip.

During the wide-ranging interview, our podcast hosts Emily Nash and Andrea Caamano interviewed Ingrid alongside fashion designer Jacques Azagury, the mastermind behind Diana’s post-royal style evolution, and investigative journalist Andy Webb, author of Dianarama, to uncover the real Diana.

Our experts touched on the late Princess as a mother, with Ingrid saying: “As a mother, of course, she was absolutely fantastic. And as she always said, the boys were her life. She was criticised a lot. And she was called a ‘smother’ rather than a mother.”

Speaking more generally, Ingrid said: “I think she just adored children. They were her raison d’être. She always loved children. She was magical with them. Years and years ago, her school house mistress said to her that when you’re with old people or children, you must come to their level. If somebody old is in a hospital bed, you must sit on the bed and come to their level. And with children, you kneel and you look them in the face and you just chat away.

“And Diana was very young when she started this and she automatically did that. And I don’t remember any member of the royal family doing that before, especially the kneeling. And now you see Kate does it too, and as naturally as Diana did.”

© Getty Images

© Getty Images

During our exclusive event, many revelations were made – from Diana’s worst flight with Prince William to the reason why she started wearing black in her post-royal style.

Between recordings, our guests were treated to the hotel’s delectable Midsummer Night’s Dream afternoon tea, and had the chance to snap a selfie with one of Diana’s dresses on display, which was acquired by HELLO! magazine at auction.

Guests also left with a goodie bag packed with treats including Weleda Skin Food Original cream, Bronnley Lime soaps, ilapothecary Supreme Silk Face Cream, Dr. LEVY Switzerland skincare cream, and Michael Van Clarke haircare products.

How to watch the podcast episode

Watch the full episode of HELLO!’s special live A Right Royal Podcast episode below: