Prince William admits one thing he was ‘confused’ about in wake of Diana’s death

Prince William has opened up about his feelings following the death of his mother, Princess Diana, admitting he was “confused” by the public’s grief over someone they didn’t personally know. Princess Diana tragically died in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997. William, who was 15 at the time, and Harry, who was 12, were on holiday at Balmoral with their father, Charles, Queen Elizabeth, and other members of the Royal Family when they received the devastating news.

The news of Diana’s death led to an unprecedented outpouring of grief from the public. At her funeral, both William and Harry were seen walking behind her coffin, a moment that has been etched into the collective memory of those who witnessed it. Over the years, both princes have shared their struggles and coping mechanisms in the wake of their mother’s death.

In the 2017 ITV documentary, “Diana, Our Mother,” William shared his determination to live a life that would make Diana proud. He stated: “It’ll either make or break you. And I wouldn’t let it break me, I wanted it to make me. I wanted her to be proud of the person I’d become. I didn’t want her worried or her legacy to be, you know, that William and/or Harry were completely and utterly devastated by it.”

William also reflected on his experience of stepping outside Kensington Palace to meet the grieving public, who had left a sea of flowers and heartfelt messages in tribute to Diana. He recalled: “They were shouting, wailing, literally wailing at us, throwing flowers, and yelling, sobbing, breaking down, people fainted, collapsed. It was a very alien environment. I couldn’t understand why everyone wanted to cry as loud as they did and show such emotion as they did when they didn’t really know our mother. I did feel a bit protective at times about that. You didn’t even know her, why and how are you so upset? Now looking back, I have learnt to understand what it was she gave the world and what she gave a lot of people.”

William also spoke about his deep connection to Scotland, which he described as a place of both joy and sorrow for him. As Lord High Commissioner to the 2021 General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, he recounted being at Balmoral when he learned of Diana’s death: “Scotland is incredibly important to me and will always have a special place in my heart. I’ve been coming to Scotland since I was a small boy. In short, Scotland is the source of some of my happiest memories. But also, my saddest. I was in Balmoral when I was told that my mother had died. Still in shock, I found sanctuary in the service at Crathie Kirk that very morning. And in the dark days of grief that followed, I found comfort and solace in the Scottish outdoors.”

William also cherishes Scotland for being the place where he first met Catherine 20 years ago. He expressed how much Scotland means to him and his family: “And yet alongside this painful memory, is one of great joy. Because it was here in Scotland 20 years ago this year – that I first met Catherine. Needless to say, the town where you meet your future wife holds a very special place in your heart.”

He added that his children, George, Charlotte, and Louis, are also beginning to develop their own fond memories of Scotland, a place dear to both him and Catherine: “George, Charlotte and Louis already know how dear Scotland is to both of us, and they are starting to build their own happy memories here too. We have no doubt they will grow up sharing our love and connection to Scotland from the Highlands to the Central Belt, from the Islands to the Borders.”