London — Not even an event honoring the late Princess Diana could bring her estranged sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, back together this week. At the 25th annual Diana Legacy Awards, honoring young global change makers in London, the two brothers clearly kept their distance Thursday night — in both time, appearing hours apart, and in place, as they were half a world away from each other.
William, the Prince of Wales, attended in person and celebrated the 20 winners, whom he lauded as prime examples of "my mother's belief that young people can change the world."
"She taught me that everyone has the potential to give something back, that everyone in need deserves a supporting hand in life," William said of his late mother.
Hours later, long after his brother had departed the event, Harry congratulated this year's Diana Award recipients, via video from his home in California.
He said his mother would be "incredibly proud" of the humanitarian work the winners, who were from 13 nations including the U.K. and U.S., are doing.
"Thank you very much for inspiring so many others and, at the same time, protecting my mother's legacy. I really appreciate that," said Harry.
During September 2022, the last time the two brothers were spotted together, was just after the passing of their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. They were also present at the queen's funeral and their father's coronation in 2023, although not in close proximity.
"The ongoing rift persists. They operate independently in those matters," shared veteran journalist and royal commentator Roya Nikkhah with CBS News following the Diana Awards ceremony. "It's unfortunate that William and Harry couldn't come together in person for an event like that, but this has been ongoing for some time. No one anticipates a change."
The British monarchy has faced uncomfortable scrutiny in the recent week.
- Royal insider suggests Kate photo scandal reveals underlying issues
Prior to the award ceremony on Thursday, William casually mentioned his wife Kate, the Princess of Wales, at another event, just three days after she issued an apology for altering a family portrait that was shared on the couple's official social media accounts to commemorate Britain's Mother's Day.
"My wife has the artistic touch," William shared with children during an opening event for a youth charity center.
The Kate Middleton Photo Scandal
Recent events surrounding Kate Middleton have sparked controversy and speculation. Following the release of digitally altered photos of the princess, global news agencies issued "kill" orders to remove the images from their servers. This move led to doubts about the credibility of Kensington Palace as a news source, with some comparing the incident to tactics used by state-run media outlets in North Korea.
Kate Middleton has been out of the public eye since Christmas Day, reportedly undergoing abdominal surgery in mid-January. Kensington Palace has stated that she will not resume her public duties until after Easter, leaving room for speculation and rumors to circulate. The absence of the Duchess of Cambridge has left a void in the royal family's public presence, prompting questions and concerns about their stability.
As the royal family awaits Easter, they hope to move past this challenging period and regain public trust. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a sense of shared reality in a world where digital manipulation can distort the truth.
Overall, the Kate Middleton photo scandal has raised questions about the media's role in shaping public perception and the challenges of navigating a constantly evolving digital landscape.
