Princess Diana to her eldest son, Prince William, has finally come to light. More than two decades after her untimely death, the handwritten note offers a deeply personal glimpse into the love, hopes, and fears of the "People’s Princess" as she looked to the future of her beloved sons.
The letter, believed to have been written in early 1997—just months before Diana’s tragic car crash in Paris—was recently discovered among the belongings of a close confidant of the princess. Carefully preserved and tucked away in a private collection, the letter was passed on to Prince William earlier this year with the blessing of the late confidant’s family, who believed the message rightfully belonged with Diana’s children.
Written on Kensington Palace stationery, the note is simple, but profoundly moving. Diana opens the letter by expressing how proud she is of the young man William is becoming, referring to him as “my brave boy with the kindest heart.” She goes on to reflect on her role as a mother, writing: “I may not always be beside you, but you will always feel my love around you. That’s a promise only a mother can make.”
She also touches on the pressures of royal life, warning her son not to lose himself in the expectations that come with his position. “You were born into a world that will expect much of you,” she writes. “But never forget to be kind, to laugh often, and to always listen to your heart. That is where your strength lies.”
Prince William, who has always carried his mother’s legacy with grace and quiet strength, was reportedly overcome with emotion upon reading the letter for the first time. Sources close to the royal family say he shared the letter during a private remembrance with his father, King Charles III, and his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales. The reading of the letter is said to have brought tears to the King’s eyes and served as a powerful moment of healing and reflection.
The timing of the letter’s discovery could not be more poignant, as the royal family continues to navigate significant changes, including ongoing discussions about modernizing the monarchy and reconnecting with the public in a more meaningful way—values Diana herself championed during her lifetime.
Though Diana’s voice was silenced far too soon, her words continue to echo through the lives of her sons, and now, through this remarkable letter, the world is reminded once again of the depth of her compassion and the enduring power of a mother’s love.