Prince Harry and Prince William have once again refused to come together to congratulate the winners of the Diana Award, a charity set up in memory of their mother.
The Prince of Wales, 42, has written a letter praising the winners, while the Duke of Sussex, 40, has recorded a video message which will be played during Thursday afternoon’s award ceremony.
The brothers are determined to keep supporting the Diana Awards, but instead of pulling together they now favour marking the annual event separately.
William’s letter was posted on Wednesday and saw the heir praise the “extraordinary” recipients for their “kindness and compassion”, and tell them: “My mother… would be immensely proud of you.”
He described how the “world can feel an uncertain and unfamiliar place”, and he praises the winners for overcoming barriers to “make positive change”.
Harry has prerecorded a message, which will see him tell recipients how Diana’s view of the world still inspires him as he outlines the challenges the world faces including “systemic injustices”.
He, like William, will reference the charity’s mission of inspiring young people to make “positive change”.
Harry will say: “My mother’s belief in the power of young people to drive positive change continues to inspire me.
“No matter the challenges we face, whether it’s climate change, mental health or systemic injustices, her legacy and the efforts of young people to inspire further action in the world fill me with hope.”
The Diana Award said the charity, which is marking 25 years since it was set up in honour of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, “has the support of both her sons, HRH The Prince of Wales and Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex”.
Last year for the 25th anniversary event it was not possible for them to even be in the same room together. William attended the ceremony in person where he delivered a speech, while Harry joined a video call from California – after his brother had left the venue.
And in 2022 the brothers congratulated the recipients in separate video messages.
The brothers used to attend the awards evening together, but this all changed after Harry decided to step down as a senior working royal and move to the US.
William and Harry are not understood to be on speaking terms, with their relationship having deteriorated significantly following the Duke’s repeated public attacks against the Royal Family.
In his bombshell memoir Spare, which was recently released in paperback, Harry accused his brother of pushing him to the floor during an argument over the Duke’s marriage to Meghan Markle.
But tensions between the brothers originated before Megxit, with a row between Meghan and Kate over bridesmaids’ dresses.
Harry is keen to repair his relationship with his family, and declared in a TV interview earlier this year that “I love my family”. He added that he was “grateful” to be able to spend around 45 minutes with his father after he made his cancer diagnosis public.
But when he returned to the UK months later, the King’s busy diary didn’t allow for a meeting between father and son.
The Diana Awards was set up two years after the royal’s shock death to honour young people who have improved the lives of others.
The prize marks one of the most prestigious accolades a young person aged 9-25 can receive for their social action work.
