How Princess Diana ‘would fly into fits of crying at the drop of a hat’

Diana’s emotional candor is credited with reshaping the tone of royal involvement.

Harry later reflected on her approach in 2023, saying, “Amid all that uncertainty, she led with empathy, found humanity all around her and demonstrated the power of connection in the face of fear.”

William has echoed similar sentiments about leadership. Speaking in Cape Town in November, he said: “I’m trying to do it differently, and I’m trying to do it for my generation. I’m doing it with maybe a smaller ‘r’ in the royal family, if you like. It’s more about impact, philanthropy, collaboration, coming together and helping people.”

William, a father of three, added: “I’m also going to throw in empathy because I really care about what I do. It impacts people’s lives. I think we could use some more empathetic leadership around the world.”

Another royal insider said Diana’s willingness to cry both privately and publicly marked a turning point.

“She absorbed the pain of others – whether it was terrorism in Northern Ireland or her own fear that her boys were growing up too fast,” the source said. “That willingness to feel openly is part of her lasting legacy.”