Ahead of his late mother’s 25th death anniversary, Prince Harry is reflecting on Princess Diana’s legacy. The Duke of Sussex – who’s scheduled to return to Europe in September with wife Meghan Markle for a handful of charity events – paid tribute to Diana at the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup that took place on Aug. 25 in Aspen, CO. There, in support of his charity organisation Sentebale, Harry touched on his hopes for honouring his mother this year.
“I want it to be a day filled with memories of her incredible work and love for the way she did it.”
“In Sesotho, the language of the Basotho, the word Sentebale means ‘forget-me-not.’ Next week is the 25th anniversary of my mother’s death, and she most certainly will never be forgotten,” he said at the event, per Harper’s Bazaar. “I want it to be a day filled with memories of her incredible work and love for the way she did it. I want it to be a day to share the spirit of my mum with my family, with my children, who I wish could have met her.”
Diana was tragically killed in a car crash in Paris on Aug. 31, 1997. She left behind sons Prince William and Harry, who were 15 and 12 years old, respectively, at the time of her death. Diana was honoured with a public funeral on Sept. 6, 1997, and was laid to rest at her childhood home, Althorp in Northamptonshire.
Before her untimely death, Diana was involved with over 100 charities, and Harry’s Sentebale – an organization dedicated to supporting children and young people in Southern Africa affected by poverty, inequality, and HIV/AIDS, according to its website – is an extension of her life’s work. In his Sentebale address, Harry saluted his mother’s “tireless” efforts “to support and destigmatise those experiencing HIV/AIDS,” before noting his hopes for how her legacy will be celebrated.
“I hope we can remember my mother’s legacy by recommitting to those that we serve, whoever and wherever they may be. For Sentebale, our commitment is to ending HIV and providing meaningful care and support for the children and young people whose lives have been affected by this disease. Because they too will never be forgotten.”
