Prince Harry and Prince William honor late Princess Diana as telling details reveal ongoing rift

Separate messages to award recipients

The brothers each wrote to congratulate recipients of The Diana Award, according to People. The charity was established in honor of their mother and is supported by both men, but their messages were sent separately.

This year’s Honor Roll recognized 198 young people from 44 countries for social action and efforts to improve their communities. The organization said the recipients had shown they could inspire others and create lasting change.

The charity aims to help young people make a difference through opportunities and initiatives. Chief executive Dr. Tessy Ojo CBE said the honorees showed that the desire to contribute was universal and were building on Diana’s legacy nearly 30 years later.

A shared tribute, not reconciliation

The award messages marked a rare shared tribute to Diana, who died in a Paris car crash on Aug. 31, 1997. They have not appeared to signal a change in the brothers’ strained relationship.

Tensions rose after Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down as senior working royals in 2020 and moved to Southern California. The couple returned to the UK in August, reportedly hoping to help their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, form closer family ties, but the brothers have not publicly reconciled.

Harry says he wants to mend ties

Harry recently told GQ that he wanted to repair the relationship. “I want it to work out. Of course I do,” he said, while acknowledging that some people did not want that outcome.

He also said reconciliation was important and described the estrangement as relatable, pointing to family conflicts experienced by people he speaks with. Harry said that past issues affecting someone every day can be harder to let go of.