DOTING DIANA
While Diana didn’t want her sons spoilt in any way, they still ended up being showered with gifts. Singer Barry Manilow gave Harry a baby grand piano, and Jaguar presented William with a miniature car that he crashed into the garage wall.
The princess smothered her boys with love and was always hugging and kissing them.
“I want to bring them security,” she said. “I hug my children to death and get into bed with them at night. I always feed them love and affection – it’s so important.”
William and Harry were both aware there was severe tension between their parents. William became concerned that he might be responsible for his mother’s unhappiness. When she locked herself in the bathroom to cry uncontrollably, he tried to help by pushing tissues under the door.
Many holidays were spent without Charles. Security was essential, and police officers accompanied Diana and her sons on these private holidays. The locations visited were the resorts of the privileged: the island of Nevis, the Bahamas and Necker Island (owned by Sir Richard Branson). Wherever the location, Diana was determined her sons should have fun.
With a loving, energetic mother, how could they fail to? William and Harry were Diana’s priority, and they knew it.
“With the exception of unavoidable official public duties, I don’t recall Diana missing one school run,” Wharfe says.
“The opportunity to talk through their school day with Mummy on the short car journey was an invaluable time for the boys, and I felt very privileged to be part of it.
“Once at school, Diana would take her place in any queue of parents waiting to chat informally with the respective head teachers, something Diana relished. Both William and Harry loved this aspect of their mother’s involvement.”