If Princess Diana Were Alive, She’d Surely Have “Sorted” the Ongoing Feud Between Brothers Prince William and Prince Harry, Her Butler Says
“She wouldn’t stand for this nonsense.”
Brothers Prince William and Prince Harry have been feuding for years—it’s a brother-on-brother battle that seems endless at this point—but, were their mother Princess Diana still alive, her butler Paul Burrell is confident she would have “sorted” the matter long ago. “She wouldn’t stand for this nonsense,” he said, per OK.
Even after the January 2023 publication of Harry’s memoir, Spare—which certainly didn’t help the already severely damaged relationship between Diana’s two sons—Diana would have forced a reconciliation, Burrell said.
Diana died at just 36 years old on August 31, 1997, as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident in Paris; William was 15, and Harry just 12 years old at the time of her passing.
“If Diana was here, they would be different because she wouldn’t stand for this nonsense, and she would have sorted it out long before now—but, unfortunately, there’s nobody here that can sort it out,” he said.
Harry now lives an ocean away from William, who is in the U.K., as Harry, his wife Meghan Markle, and their kids Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet now call Montecito, California home. Burrell said that, when it comes to mending fences, Harry “might be holding out hope for when William becomes King,” he said, adding that, in his opinion, by then, the opportunity would have been missed.
It’s not fully clear where relations are between Harry and the rest of the royal family at present, but it’s not believed that William and Harry are in any type of communication at the moment, and Harry and his father, King Charles, missed the chance to see one another when Harry was last in the U.K. back in May, celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Invictus Games, which were founded in 2014.
Stay In The Know
Select the newsletters you’d like to receive. Then, add your email to sign up.
Rachel Burchfield is a writer, editor, and podcaster whose primary interests are fashion and beauty, society and culture, and, most especially, the British Royal Family and other royal families around the world. She serves as Marie Claire’s Senior Celebrity and Royals Editor and has also contributed to publications like Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, People, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and W, among others. Before taking on her current role with Marie Claire, Rachel served as its Weekend Editor and later Royals Editor. She is the cohost of Podcast Royal, a show that was named a top five royal podcast by The New York Times. A voracious reader and lover of books, Rachel also hosts I’d Rather Be Reading, which spotlights the best current nonfiction books hitting the market and interviews the authors of them. Rachel frequently appears as a media commentator, and she or her work has appeared on outlets like NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, and more.
-
An International Day of the Girl Celebration Done Right
Inside ‘Marie Claire’ and Clé de Peau’s exclusive conversation about the impact of women in STEM.
By Samantha Holender Published
-
Katie Holmes Brings an Unexpected Summer Trend Into Fall
Her take is refreshingly affordable.
By Kelsey Stiegman Published
-
Sarah Jessica Parker Matches Her Teal Sweater to Her Tights
This is extremely Carrie-coded.
By Hanna Lustig Published
-
Teen Cancer Patient Says Princess Kate and Prince William Were "Filled With Humanity and Kindness" After "Shock" Meeting
The royal couple helped 16-year-old Liz Hatton tick an item off her bucket list.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince Harry Meets Up With Another Royal Family During His First Stop in Africa
The Duke of Sussex spent time with some old friends in Lesotho on Oct. 1.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Royal Expert Says Princess Diana "Would Have Giggled With Delight" at Prince Harry's Choice to Fight Back Against Palace
"Diana would, I'm sure, have been very supportive of the choices Harry has made.”
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince Harry Received the Sweetest Gift From a 10-Year-Old Girl to Use “If He Feels Down”
The Duke of Sussex called the present "a lovely gesture."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince William and David Beckham Team up for a Good Cause—and Send Fans Into a Frenzy
The bearded Brits celebrated the end of a helicopter fundraising appeal.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
James Middleton Reveals How Princess Kate and Prince William Dodged Paparazzi at His Wedding Dinner
"It is challenging because the restaurant where we eat is quite exposed."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Prince Harry Reveals the One Thing His Daughter Princess Lilibet Can't Live Without
"Every parent has a spare. I’ve got at least six spare."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Kate Middleton and Prince William’s College Relationship Was Outed in a Game of Never Have I Ever
Sounds like one royally juicy party.
By Kristin Contino Published