Prince William has been praised by fans after handling an interaction which could have been “awkward”. The future king made a trip to Ilminster, in Somerset, where he faced a unique situation.
Walkabout encounter with Diana fan
William was on a walkabout, shaking the hands of royal fans and taking pictures with them. One person who was in the crowd was a fan of Princess Diana - and she even had a handbag with the princess’s face on. In a clip shared online, the woman holds up her bag for Prince William to see.
He says: “Oh look, oh wow. Amazing, thank you.” He adds: “It's very nice to see you.” The prince then posed for a picture with the woman.
Fans divided over reaction
Princess Diana, William’s mother, died when he was just 15 years old in a tragic car crash that shocked the world. The princess was just 36 years old when she died in Paris on August 31, 1997.
Fans have reacted online to the moment, and they’re divided over the prince’s reaction. Some say the king could have been flattered by the moment, but others say he could have felt “confronted” by the image of his mother.
On Instagram, one person said: “Can you imagine having the most wonderful mother loved all over the world? Wow.” Another person penned: “He is just [a] gentleman and full of love towards everyone.” A third person said: “Bravo on your future King. He made her day even if it was a bit awkward,” reports Hello! Magazine.
However, one person said: “This is so odd, poor William.” Another added: “He was hit hard.” Another said: “Bit confronting.”
Anniversary approaching
Princess Diana was known as the “people’s princess” - she was hugely popular among members of the public. The 30th anniversary of the princess's death will be marked in 2027.
It is not yet known how the royals will mark the anniversary, with rumours that Prince Harry could be planning to take part in a documentary. Prince William could be set to mark the anniversary privately, likely spending the day with his wife, Princess Catherine, and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
