Though Princess Diana never had the chance to meet any of her grandchildren, her presence still lingers — not only in the stories Prince William and Prince Harry share, but also in the little moments and expressions seen in their children. From the way Princess Charlotte glances upward through her lashes, to the way Prince William speaks to his children at bedtime, Diana’s legacy continues to find its way into the next generation.
Diana passed away in 1997, leaving her two teenage sons behind and the world in mourning. Decades later, the memory of the “people’s princess” remains vivid. Today, William and Kate’s children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis — live in the UK and have become familiar public faces. Meanwhile, Prince Harry’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are growing up in the U.S., away from the royal spotlight. Though none of them ever met their grandmother, she is still a central figure in their family story.
Among Diana’s grandchildren, it’s Princess Charlotte who seems to remind people most of her late grandmother. Social media users have often pointed out the way Charlotte looks up from beneath her lashes with a slight head tilt — a gaze Diana was known for and which fans have dubbed the “Spencer Stare.” At the coronation of King Charles, one photo of Charlotte captured this expression perfectly, leaving viewers both charmed and emotional.
Yet Diana’s legacy isn’t only carried through facial expressions or inherited features — it’s also in the values William and Harry try to pass down to their children. Prince William, in particular, has made it a point to keep Diana’s memory alive in his household. In a 2017 documentary, he shared that he often tells George and Charlotte stories about their grandmother during bedtime, and that photos of her hang around their home. “It’s important that they know who she was and that she existed,” he said.
On Mother’s Day in both 2021 and 2023, William and Kate shared touching letters their children had written to “Granny Diana.” In Charlotte’s card, she wrote, “Papa is missing you.” George added that he thinks of her “always.” These messages, created with colored paper, hearts, and hand-drawn animals, reflected a gentle yet powerful way of honoring a woman they never got to meet — but clearly feel close to.
William also follows in his mother’s footsteps when it comes to parenting philosophy. Diana famously wanted her sons to understand the world beyond palace gates. She took William and Harry to homeless shelters, hospital wards, and charity events. William has said he plans to do the same for his children when the time is right. On car rides, he often speaks with George, Charlotte, and Louis about people living on the streets. “Why are they there?” he’ll ask. “What’s going on?” He believes in starting those conversations early — “at the right stage, in the right dialogue” — so his children can grow up aware of the world outside their privileged lives.
Royal watchers have noted that this commitment to grounded parenting — to raising children who are both compassionate and aware — is one of the clearest ways William honors his mother’s legacy. As royal expert Katie Nicholl has explained, both Diana and Charles had hoped to give their sons a sense of life outside of protocol. William and Kate appear to be carrying that mission forward, gently shaping a new generation of royals who understand both privilege and responsibility.
While Diana may not be here to watch her grandchildren grow up, it’s clear she still plays a role in their lives. In bedtime stories, in hand-drawn cards, and in the values they’re learning from their parents, her influence quietly endures.
