Prince William has hired Princess Diana’s former divorce lawyer—but don’t worry, it’s not what you might think.

From all accounts, the nearly 14-year-old marriage of Prince William and wife Kate Middleton is just fine. But the Prince of Wales has appointed Mishcon de Reya—who represented the late Princess of Wales in her divorce from Prince Charles, which was finalized in 1996—to handle legal matters for himself and his family, The Daily Mail’s Richard Eden reported.

Prince William on September 10, 2024.

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Hello! called William’s decision “a clear departure” from utilizing King Charles’ “long-standing legal team” of Harbottle & Lewis—and in particular attorney Gerrard Tyrrell. Though Harbottle & Lewis has been the firm of choice for the royal family for decades, William’s choice is another example of his commitment to going his own way and his desire to “strike out on his own” and “be his own man,” according to Eden.

The appointment of Mishcon de Reya ushers in a new chapter for William’s legal affairs while harkening back to the past: the firm’s deputy chairman Anthony Julius was personally chosen by Diana to represent her during her often-contentious divorce from Charles, which was finalized just one year before she died in an August 31, 1997 Paris car crash. The former Prince and Princess of Wales separated in 1992, and their divorce took nearly four years to finalize.

Princess Diana in her famous “Revenge Dress” on November 20, 1994.

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Princess Diana and Prince Charles in October 1991.

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Upon their December 1992 separation, then-U.K. Prime Minister John Major confirmed Charles and Diana’s separation, saying at the House of Commons, “This decision has been reached amicably, and they will both continue to participate fully in the upbringing of their children” Prince William, who was then 10 years old, and Prince Harry, 8.

Following Diana’s controversial 1995 Panorama interview with Martin Bashir, Queen Elizabeth permitted Charles and Diana’s divorce to be finalized, which it ultimately was nine months later on August 28, 1996.

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“After considering the present situation, the Queen wrote to both the Prince and Princess earlier this week and gave them her view, supported by the Duke of Edinburgh [Prince Philip], that an early divorce is desirable,” a statement read at the time.

“The Prince of Wales also takes this view and has made this known to the Princess of Wales since the letter,” it continued. “The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will continue to do all they can to help and support the Prince and Princess of Wales, and most particularly their children, in this difficult period.”

The divorce was finalized just 368 days before Diana’s death at just 36 years old.

Princess Diana on June 27, 1995.

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As for William’s commitment to doing it his own way, he said late last year while in Cape Town, South Africa for the Earthshot Prize Awards, “I can only describe what I’m trying to do, and that’s I’m trying to do it differently and I’m trying to do it for my generation. And to give you more of an understanding around it, I’m doing it with maybe a smaller ‘r’ in the royal, if you like. That’s maybe a better way of saying it.”

Kate Middleton and Prince William in Wales on February 26, 2025.

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“So it’s more about impact, philanthropy, collaboration, convening, and helping people,” he added. “And I’m also going to throw empathy in there as well, because I really care about what I do. It helps impact people’s lives. And I think we could do with some more empathetic leadership around the world. So that’s what I’m trying to bring. That’s what Catherine is trying to bring as well.”