The Princess Diana Heirloom That Prince Harry And Prince William Share

An estimated 2.5 billion people worldwide tuned in to watch the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997 (per History). She was killed in a tragic car accident as her driver sped through a tunnel in Paris, attempting to lose the ever-present paparazzi. Diana was survived by two sons, William, Prince of Wales, and Harry, Duke of Sussex. The boys were 15 and 12, respectively, when she died. They took solace in each other in addition to sharing a precious heirloom from their late mother.

Princess Diana's death was shocking and unexpected, and the world plunged into mourning. BBC reported that Diana's companion, Dodi Al Fayed, was dead on arrival. But she had suffered a "concussion, a broken arm, and cuts to her thighs." However, it was later discovered that she'd also experienced fatal chest injuries, and Diana died in the early hours of August 31.

The grieving public flocked to the gates of Buckingham Palace in the hundreds of thousands. Within no time, a mountain of flowers, paintings, and tributes to the late Princess was stacked against the walls. But anguish turned to anger as Buckingham Palace's flag pole remained noticeably empty, and Queen Elizabeth II stayed at Balmoral, characteristically stoic. BBC notes that the royals' seeming lack of emotion nearly spelled their end. 

Meanwhile, fast-forward to 2022, and William and Harry are embroiled in a deep and nasty feud. So, what will happen to the Princess Diana heirloom they share?

Diana, Princess of Wales, had drawn up her will four years before she was killed in 1997. Reader's Digest reports that, not surprisingly, her sons inherited the vast majority of her estate. At the time of her death, Diana was worth $31.5 million — and the money was divided between several benefactors, with William, Prince of Wales, and Harry, Duke of Sussex, inheriting the vast majority. In addition, they received 75% of their mother's valuable jewelry collection. Prince William famously proposed to Kate Middleton with Princess Diana's iconic blue sapphire and diamond-encrusted engagement ring.

The boys also inherited an exceptional personal heirloom, their mother's infamous wedding dress with its record-breaking 25-foot train. David and Elizabeth Emanuel designed the billowing, over-the-top silk gown. It's a classic '80s style flouncy princess dress that inspired many a bride-to-be over the following years. The Los Angeles Times reports that in 2021, William and Harry loaned the dress to "a new temporary exhibit highlighting historic royal fashion statements and their designers."

"We'll be exploring how the partnership between each designer and client worked and revealing the process behind the creation of a number of the most important couture commissions in royal history," the exhibition's curator, Matthew Storey, announced. Fittingly, the collection was displayed at Kensington Palace, where Princess Diana resided after her marriage. The Palace was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic but was opened to the public again in the summer of 2021.

Queen Elizabeth II had stayed at Balmoral to protect William, Prince of Wales, and Harry, Duke of Sussex, as they grieved. In the documentary "Diana: 7 Days" (via ABC News), the princes said their father broke the tragic news to them. "One of the hardest things for a parent to have to do is to tell your children that your other parent has died," Harry said. He shared that his father was also grieving, but "tried to do his best and to make sure that we were protected and looked after."

William admitted he was confused by his mom's death and "completely numb, disorientated, dizzy." They acknowledged that their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, was stuck between a rock and a hard place, balancing caring for the grieving boys and her duties as monarch. However, as public anger grew, the queen broke public protocol after Princess Diana's death. She ordered Buckingham Palace's British flag to be flown at half-mast to honor "The People's Princess."

The monarch also returned to London after five days and addressed the nation. "I want to pay tribute to Diana myself; she was a gifted and exceptional human being," Queen Elizabeth II said. She praised Diana for her stellar parenting skills and for "inspiring others with her warmth and courage." People reported that 25 years after Princess Diana's death, William and Harry continue to honor their mother's memory. However, they do it separately, from thousands of miles apart now.