Prince William is reportedly considering a campaign to posthumously restore Princess Diana's royal title as the 30th anniversary of her death approaches next year. The move could spark tension with King Charles, according to a Royal source quoted by Radar Online.
Diana was stripped of her Her Royal Highness (HRH) status following her divorce from then-Prince Charles in 1996. Now, as the 30th anniversary of her death approaches, the Prince of Wales is said to be weighing up a push to finally return the honour to her.
Friction behind palace doors
The prospect of dragging the painful history of the 1990s back into the public eye is reportedly causing friction behind palace doors. A Royal source told Radar Online: "William knows this is an incredibly sensitive subject for his father, who is enraged at these rumours; he is thinking of campaigning to have Diana's royal title posthumously restored. Anything involving Diana's title inevitably reopens one of the most painful periods in the family's history, and Charles would rather not have those decisions relitigated publicly."
Despite the King's alleged frustrations, insiders insist the heir to the throne's motivations are purely rooted in love for his mother, rather than any desire to undermine the monarch. "But for William this isn't about attacking his father," the Royal source told Radar Online. "He remembers how much losing the HRH hurt his mother, and there is an enormous emotional pull in finally putting that right."
A promise made at 15
The reports touch upon a long-standing rumour that a young Prince William, then aged just 14, promised his mother he would give her title back to her when he became King. Another royal insider told the publication that this story continues to weigh heavily on the Prince.
"That alleged promise has followed William for decades," the insider claimed. "Whether every word was remembered precisely or not, the story has enormous symbolic power. The 30th anniversary of Diana's death presents an obvious moment to consider it, but William also understands the implications. This couldn't simply be treated as a sentimental family gesture."
Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997. The 30th anniversary of her passing will be marked in 2027. Buckingham Palace has not commented on the claims.
