Prince Harry and Prince William Share This Parenting Conundrum as They Honor Princess Diana

The Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex have found themselves in similar situations recently.

Princess Diana wearing a blue dress posing with baby Prince Harry and toddler Prince William sitting a piano covered with framed family photos
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Prince William and Prince Harry are both fathers now, but once upon a time they were little boys growing up with one of the most famous mothers in the world. Princess Diana raised her sons with a strong sense of what it means to give back, and today, Harry and William have carried that tradition on to their children.

Even though the brothers have experienced a strained relationship over the years, they have one thing in common when it comes to their kids. Both the Duke of Sussex and Prince of Wales have found themselves having to explain difficult situations to their young children—and they've been able to tie their mother’s charity work into the conversations.

While attending the 2025 Invictus Games, Prince Harry recently made comments about Prince Archie showing an interest in landmines. In a clip shared on X, the Duke of Sussex—who shares Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, with wife Meghan Markle—discussed the “very interesting” conversation he had with his son.

Explaining that Archie had been curious about some of the Invictus Games competitors who had experienced injuries in combat, Prince Harry said, "Interestingly, he gave me a chance to talk about my mum, his grandma, which I didn't even really consider." Princess Diana was passionate about eliminating landmines, and the duke said Archie “then saw videos...he wanted to see videos and photographs of his grandma Diana out doing her thing for landmines all those years ago."

Prince William smiling with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in dark coats and ties on Christmas day

Prince William regularly speaks to his kids about topics such as homelessness.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Prince William has also opened up about the serious conversations he’s had with Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9 and Prince Louis, 6 on several occasions over the years.

After a Holocaust memorial event in January, the Prince of Wales shared (via Hello!), “George is getting to the age where he’s starting to understand things. So it’s getting interesting to talk to him about what happened.”

The Prince of Wales also discussed how he explains homelessness to his children on multiple occasions, including a 2023 interview with the Sunday Times. “When we were in London, driving backwards and forwards, we regularly used to see people sitting outside supermarkets, and we’d talk about it,” William shared.

Prince Harry and a man holding green shirts that say Archie and Lilibet at a basketball arena

Prince Harry received personalized jerseys for his kids during the 2025 Invictus Games.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

“I’d say to the children, ‘Why are they there? What’s going on?’ I think it’s in all our interests, it’s the right thing to do, to expose the children, at the right stage, in the right dialogue, so they have an understanding.”

In the latest episode of Hello! magazine’s “A Right Royal Podcast,” royal editor Emily Nash pointed out she found it “interesting how it's come full circle” in terms of William and Harry explaining these issues to their children, just like Diana did with them.

Co-host Emmy Griffiths added, "They're on different continents, but it's clearly something that has been drilled into them growing up, that it's so important to have their children aware. They're both honoring their mother in a really similar way."

Kristin Contino
Senior Royal and Celebrity Editor

Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.

Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.

Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.