Losing his mother at just 15 left an indelible mark on Prince William, shaping the way he approaches both life and his royal duties.
Rather than shying away from his grief, he has channeled it into continuing Princess Diana’s work, supporting causes she was passionate about—particularly child bereavement and homelessness.
Close observers, including Gyles Brandreth, a friend of Prince Philip, have praised William as a royal who has not only lived up to his mother’s example but in some ways has outshone both Diana and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Everyday Kindness in Action
Royal author Tina Brown highlights William’s hands-on approach to charity in her book The Palace Papers.
One memorable example came at a charity dinner for East Anglia Children’s Hospices in 2016.
While most guests mingled in the main hall, William personally visited an elderly donor who was too unwell to attend.
According to Brown, William knocked on her door with a pot of tea and a plate of biscuits, showing a quiet empathy reminiscent of Diana.
“It was a classic Diana Spencer move—natural, gentle human kindness that had far more impact than a grand gesture,” wrote Brown.
Guests marveled at how effortlessly he made people feel at ease, echoing his mother’s famous warmth.
Following in Diana’s Footsteps
Brandreth has long observed William interacting with both royalty and everyday people.
“He shows concern and empathy, in the way Diana did, but without her moments of self-consciousness,” he wrote in Philip The Final Portrait.
This ability to connect with people stems in part from William’s own experiences of loss, which inspired him to become patron of Child Bereavement UK in 2009.
Royal biographer Katie Nicholl notes that, like Diana, William prefers to take meaningful action rather than simply be a figurehead.
When addressing the charity, he drew on his personal grief to resonate with others, saying, “Never being able to say the word ‘Mummy’ again in your life sounds like a small thing.
However, for many, it is now really just a word—hollow and evoking only memories.”
Commitment to Vulnerable Communities
William’s dedication mirrors Diana’s fearless approach to helping the vulnerable.
He has taken part in initiatives that go beyond ceremonial duties, such as spending nights on the streets of London in freezing temperatures to understand homelessness firsthand.
As he explained, “By deepening my understanding of the issue, I can help do my bit to help the most vulnerable people on our streets.”
Vivienne Parry, a longtime friend of Diana, emphasized the continuity: “Diana was always passionate about her work with homeless people, and William is the same.
It was amazing when he slept rough—it was quite extraordinary, and Diana would have loved it.”
The Human Touch of the Modern Royal
From comforting charity donors with a simple cup of tea to directly engaging with marginalized communities, William continues to show that empathy and compassion remain central to his royal role.
His efforts prove that even decades after Diana’s passing, her legacy of kindness, humanity, and service lives on in her eldest son.