Royal Expert Says Princess Diana "Would Have Giggled With Delight" at Prince Harry's Choice to Fight Back Against Palace
"Diana would, I'm sure, have been very supportive of the choices Harry has made.\201d


Prince Harry has been carrying out a whirlwind of engagements in September and October, traveling everywhere from New York to London to Lesotho on behalf of some of the causes closest to his heart. Amid his recent charity work, one royal expert has shared her thoughts on what Princess Diana might think about her son's new life.
Speaking to OK!, Jennie Bond—who served as the BBC's royal correspondent for 14 years—said she thought the late princess would have been in favor of the Duke of Sussex carving his own path after leaving the U.K. for a new start in Montecito, Calif. in 2020.
"Diana would, I'm sure, have been very supportive of the choices Harry has made," she told the magazine. "I think she would have been proud of him for having the courage to leave a life in which he was so unhappy."
The late Princess of Wales certainly wasn't one to stick to royal convention herself, and Bond added that Diana "probably would have giggled with delight at some of the barbs he had fired at palace courtiers, the 'grey men' who she felt made her life such a misery."
It was widely reported that Diana was also keen to forge a new beginning in America after her divorce from Prince Charles, and her brother, Earl Spencer, even referenced her desire to leave London during the eulogy he gave at her 1997 funeral.
Princess Diana, seen here with Prince Harry at a U.K. theme park, shared a love of fun with sons William and Harry.
It seems fitting that the prince would want to keep his mother's legacy alive, a passion he spoke about during an event for The HALO Trust, the landmine clearance charity Diana supported leading up to her death.
"As you know, The HALO Trust work in Angola meant a great deal to my mother. Carrying on her legacy is a responsibility that I take incredibly seriously," the Duke of Sussex said at the event.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
Harry has been speaking out on topics like online safety, climate change and mental health recently, and Bond praised the prince for being "brilliant with the people he meets."
"I think it shows the family back home that he is still determined to continue his kind of service without all the royal trappings," the former BBC reporter said. "If he wants to use his platform to do good, then we should applaud him for it."
Prince Harry is currently visiting Lesotho and South Africa along with his longtime friend Prince Seeiso of Lesotho.
Although he's faced some criticism for wanting to carry out duties without being a working royal, Bond said she doesn't "think he's trying to put noses out of joint" with his appearances.
"I think he's just following his instincts, as well as his mother's example," she continued. "It's no coincidence that he has taken up several of the causes she espoused. I think he feels a real vocation to carry on her work."
The Duke of Sussex is currently visiting Lesotho and South Africa to promote the youth empowerment programs carried out by Sentebale, the charity he co-founded with Lesotho's Prince Seeiso in 2006. And earlier this week, Harry met young people facing serious illnesses at the WellChild Awards in London after a trip to NYC for UN Climate Week.
Bond said she found it "perfectly normal" that Harry and wife Meghan Markle would "sometimes carry out solo engagements, leaving one parent at home to look after the children."
"It strikes me that they have a very equal partnership which allows them both to stand out," she said. "And the truth is, Harry still shines brilliantly on his own."
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.
-
Prince Harry Wasn't Informed About King Charles's Hospitalization
"It looks like the duke only found out about his father's latest health update through the media."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Jennifer Lawrence Styles a $7,500 Outfit With $100 Sneakers
The actress paired Prada and Celine with her $100 footwear.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Meghan Markle and Her Makeup Artist Confirmed All Her Royal Wedding Beauty Products
And yes, you can shop them all here.
By Kayleigh Roberts Published
-
Prince Harry Wasn't Informed About King Charles's Hospitalization as Palace Didn't Want to "Cause Unnecessary Alarm"
"It looks like the duke only found out about his father's latest health update through the media."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Why Prince Harry Is So "Torn Apart" Over Resigning From His Charity
The Duke of Sussex co-founded Sentebale in honor of his mother in 2006.
By Lia Beck Published
-
New Prince Archie Photo Proves He Takes After Dad Prince Harry in Two Very Important Ways
Father and son have much more in common than their vibrant red hair.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Meghan Markle Shared a Rare Video Filmed by Prince Harry on Instagram
And she used her nickname for him in the shoutout she wrote in the video's caption.
By Kayleigh Roberts Published
-
Prince Harry’s Ex, Cressida Bonas, Is Launching a Podcast and Princess Eugenie Is Already Lined Up as a Guest
Other famous faces in the podcast's launch announcement video include Kate Winslet, Mary Berry, and Camilla Alves McConaughey.
By Kayleigh Roberts Published
-
Princess Diana's Wedding Gown Was Inspired by a Supermodel's "Fairytale" Dress—And the Original Is Now on eBay
You'll never believe the price.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince Charles Found One Aspect of Marriage With "Mercurial" Princess Diana "Difficult to Cope With"
A former royal journalist opened up about her encounters with the late royal.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Princess Diana Saw Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's Divorce as a "Roadmap of How to Mess It Up"
The late princess used her brother-in-law and sister-in-law's split as a learning opportunity for her own breakup.
By Kristin Contino Published