• Princess Diana brought immense empathy into the royal family, and wasn’t afraid to show her emotions in public.
  • A news presenter recalled on June 4 how the late Princess of Wales “went into a whole literal sob story” about, among other topics, her sons Prince William and Prince Harry.
  • Diana was apparently upset that her sons—who are now estranged—were away at boarding school.

Princess Diana was a woman in touch with her emotions—it’s what allowed her to shake up the royal playbook in the best way, the effects of which are still felt today in the monarchy’s more empathetic approach. 

The late Princess of Wales—who died at age 36 after a 1997 car accident—wasn’t afraid to shed tears when the moment allowed for it, and GB News presenter Eamonn Holmes, speaking on GBN Breakfast on June 4, remembered one such time when Diana displayed her caring nature, weeping openly about, among other topics, her sons Prince William and Prince Harry. In Holmes’ words, Diana “went into a whole literal sob story” (via Marie Claire).

Princess Diana crying while visiting the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital on January 7, 1992.

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“One day I remember I complimented her on her outfit that she was wearing,” he explained on Wednesday. The shade, per Marie Claire, was “Royal Ulster Constabulary green,” in case you were wondering—which also happens to be “the color of the police force in Northern Ireland at the time,” the outlet reported.

Diana said, “Yes, RUC green, what do you think?” Holmes said. “She started crying about a bomb explosion that had happened in Northern Ireland, and she was very, very close, very connected with all of that.” He added that the former Princess of Wales was “very knowledgeable” about The Troubles in Northern Ireland.

“She then went on to talk about William and Harry going to school and how that upset her,” he continued. “They went to boarding school or whatever it is, and so we talked about all those things.” (One can only wonder what Diana would think of the current issues between her sons, who she loved so fiercely.)

Princess Diana.

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Princess Diana, Prince Harry, and Prince William at Eton in September 1995.

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Holmes then went on to talk about Diana’s style, as the largest auction of her wardrobe and other items—around 300 pieces in total—is set to be up for sale later this month. “The designer of Diana’s wedding dress said it was just clothes or just a dress,” Holmes’ fellow GBN Breakfast panelist Ellie Costello said. “But then Diana wore it, and then it was something special and it became a part of history, and that’s exactly what happened.”

Princess Diana, Prince Harry, and Prince William.

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In 2023, Harry spoke of his mother’s empathy, saying that “In the midst of all that uncertainty, she led with empathy, finding the humanity in all around her and demonstrating the power of connection in the face of fear” (via People). As William prepares to be King someday, he too is leading with empathy—no doubt a skill set learned from his mother. Speaking in Cape Town, South Africa last November, the Prince of Wales said of his leadership style, “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, if you like. It’s more about impact, philanthropy, collaboration, convening, and helping people.”

“I’m also going to throw empathy in there as well, because I really care about what I do,” William continued. “It helps impact people’s lives. I think we could do with some more empathetic leadership around the world.”