Prince Harry has opened up about how he, Meghan Markle and their two children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, honored Princess Diana on her birthday and the anniversary of her death. The Duke of Sussex has unveiled a meaningful family tradition that keeps his mother’s memory alive for his household.According to People reports, Prince Harry attended Scotty’s Summer Festival at Maxstoke Castle in Warwickshire on Saturday, July 11, marking his last public outing amid his current tour of the United Kingdom. During a Q&A session with approximately 200 children and their family members at the charity event, a teenager named Sebastian asked if the Duke was doing anything special to celebrate the anniversary of his mother’s death on August 31 or his birthday on July 1.“Yes, we do lemon drizzle cake,” Harry told the 16-year-old, whose father served in the military and died in June 2010.
Prince Harry explains the importance of traditions
Prince Harry emphasized the importance of continuing family traditions as a way of honoring loved ones. “I think traditions are really, really important, especially when they’re sweet,” he explained to the teenager, emphasizing how the simple act of cooking together served as a meaningful way to remember his mother.
Speaking at Scotty’s Summer Festival, Prince Harry shared that family traditions, including cooking together, help keep Princess Diana’s memory alive for the next generation. Image credit (Instagram)
The Duke of Sussex is the Global Ambassador for a British charity that supports bereaved military children and other young individuals. The cause has particular meaning for Harry, a former army captain, whose mother died when he was 12 at the age of 36 after injuries sustained in a car accident in Paris in 1997.
Prince Harry’s wider reflection on grief
Prince Harry has spoken openly over the years about dealing with grief after his mother’s death. During a workplace mental health summit in Melbourne in April, when Harry served as a keynote speaker, he discussed the complexities of experiencing loss at a young age.“In my experience, loss is confusing at any age,” she said. “Grief does not go away because we ignore it. Experiencing that as a child while being in a goldfish bowl under constant surveillance, yes, that has its challenges. And without purpose, it destroys you,” he continued, reflecting on the unique difficulties of mourning in public.
The Duke of Sussex said meaningful traditions with Meghan Markle, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have become an important way to honor Princess Diana while teaching their children about her legacy. Image credit (Instagram)
Harry describes the emotional damage an individual can take over time. “There are many times when I feel overwhelmed. Times when I feel lost, betrayed or completely powerless. Times when the pressure – outside and inside – feels constant. And times when, despite everything that has happened, I still have to show up pretending that everything is okay, so as not to disappoint anyone,” he explained.Duke recognizes that processing such a large loss requires developing coping mechanisms over time. “For years I couldn’t help it, and maybe it’s easier​​​​​​​​, but I don’t have the tools to deal with it,” he says, describing how his understanding of grief has evolved as he matures.
The reunion of the royal family at Highgrove
Prince Harry, Meghan, 44, Archie and Lilibet will have a landmark reunion with the King and Queen this week, marking the first time the Duchess of Sussex and the children have seen the royal couple in person in four years. The King, 77, and the Queen, 78, hosted the Sussex family at a private country house in Gloucestershire on the afternoon of July 10.
Changes to UK family visit plans
Harry and Meghan had originally planned to visit the United Kingdom together as a family this week but changed their arrangements after a rare back-and-forth at the palace over security arrangements. Prince Harry ultimately continued the planned itinerary alone, while reports suggested the family may visit the late Princess’s childhood home, where she is buried.