![\"Princess](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/2_JS124031679.jpg\")
Princess Diana and Prince William pictured together in 1991 (Image: Mirrorpix)<\/p>\nWhen Princess Diana and King Charles finalised their divorce 29 years ago today, a young Prince William made his mother a heart-wrenching promise after she was stripped of her royal titlePrincess Diana and Prince William pictured together in 1991 (Image: Mirrorpix)<\/p>\n
Today marks 29 years since Princess Diana<\/a> and the then Prince<\/a> Charles<\/a> finalised their divorce, after their ill-fated marriage lasted just 11 years. The royal couple tied the knot at St Paul\u2019s Cathedral, London, in 1981, before they decided to separate in 1992, with their divorce eventually finalised four years later in August 1996.<\/p>\n As part of Diana\u2019s settlement from the divorce, she reportedly received a whopping \u00a317 million lump sum and \u00a3350,000 a year to run her private office. However, one aspect of her divorce left her devastated, with a young Prince William<\/a> vowing to correct the mistake.<\/p>\n Diana was allowed to keep her apartments at Kensington Palace, and the pair agreed to share custody of their sons. However, one thing she was unable to keep was her HRH title.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Prince William’s ‘strategic reason’ for new house move revealed by royal butler<\/a>READ MORE: Meghan Markle takes swipe at ‘silly’ royal underwear rule she had to follow ‘all the time’<\/a> Diana became Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales<\/a>, on her wedding day in July 1981, but when her separation from Charles was finalised, she became known as Diana, Princess of Wales – leaving her distraught over the change.<\/p>\n Losing the HRH meant it was no longer necessary for friends or staff to bow or curtsy in Diana\u2019s presence. It also meant she would now have to curtsy to her husband, her two sons, and a whole host of minor royals.<\/p>\n Diana eventually lost her connection with the Royal Family<\/a>, with whom she was once so entangled, but remained a hands-on mother to her two young sons, William and Harry, throughout the divorce as she navigated life as a single parent.<\/p>\n After seeing her distress at losing her HRH title, a 14-year-old William is believed to have made her a touching promise. He told her: \u201cDon\u2019t worry Mummy, I will give it [HRH title] back to you one day when I am King.\u201d<\/p>\n According to her former butler, Paul Burrell<\/a>, the conversation left Diana in tears. Despite William\u2019s thoughtful remark, he never got to fulfil his promise, as just one year later, Princess Diana died.<\/p>\n Charles and Diana\u2019s marriage was notoriously turbulent. Charles even made a cutting comment <\/a>to his then wife as she struggled to fit in the Firm, unlike her sister-in-law, Sarah Ferguson<\/a>.<\/p>\n Given that both Sarah and Diana had a country upbringing and shared a fun-loving free spirit, many royal commentators at the time started to compare the two women. However, while they were alike in many ways, one major difference between them was how they adapted to royal life.<\/p>\n Aware of the differences between his wife and his brother Prince Andrew’s<\/a> other half, Charles reportedly asked Diana one day why she wasn’t more like Fergie, the Duchess of York.<\/p>\n Psychologist Jo Hemmings told Channel 5’s Fergie Vs Diana: Royal Wives at War documentary: “There was a point at which Charles said to Diana, ‘Why can’t you be more Fergie?’. For someone whose self-esteem is already pretty low, who is feeling very vulnerable. That wasn’t just a rebute. That would have been one of the most cutting, hurtful remarks that her husband could have made to her.”<\/p>\n Get the inside scoop on the monarchy with Mirror Royal<\/p>\n WHATSAPP GROUP: <\/strong>Be first to get the biggest royal bombshells and exclusives to your phone by joining our Royal WhatsApp here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Prince](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1_DOUNIAMAG-GBR-ROYALS-VJ-DAY.jpg\")
A young Prince William made a devastating promise to his mother after her divorce from Charles(Image: AFP Contributor, AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Charles](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1_Charles-And-Diana.jpg\")
Charles and Diana finalised their divorce 29 years ago today(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n