William and Harry moved me to tears
‘Death ends a life, but it does not end a relationship, which struggles on in the survivor’s mind.” The epigraph Eric Segal chose for Love Story came to mind while I was watching Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy.
Next year, William will be 36. The same age the princess was when she was killed in a crash. “I give thanks that I was lucky enough to be her son and that I got to know her for the 15 years that I did,” said William. “She prepared us well for life in the best way that she could.” I was in pieces by the end of that speech and the opening credits weren’t even over.
How proud she would be of these two gorgeous young men. They pored over her photos, detectives looking for clues, deriving strength from all the laughter and affection. “Hugging has no harmful side-effects,” Diana once said, and the princes were direct beneficiaries of that philosophy. Footage from her very first walkabout in Wales reminded you of the simple joy she took in people’s company, and they in hers.
Much has been made of Prince Charles’s absence. But I suspect he was left out as a mark of respect. She would have wanted her legacy to stand alone. Don’t forget, William has said that his first act as king will be to give Diana her royal title back.
The boys are her living monument, her protectors. She died too soon: the love lives on.