King Charles after Diana: A father’s journey through grief and duty

In the new documentary The Queen and Prince Charles: Mother and Son, royal commentator Lady Julie Montagu explains how Princess Diana’s tragic passing in 1997 reshaped then-Prince Charles’ approach to fatherhood.

Once known as the more reserved parent, Charles was suddenly thrust into a position where he had to become the emotional anchor for his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.

Here are the ways Princess Diana’s death forever changed Charles’ role as a father:

Diana Was The Hands-On Parent

According to Montagu, Princess Diana took the lead when it came to affection and closeness with her sons.

“We can see that in the hugging, the laughing, the cuddling that she did. After her death, it changes completely,” Montagu said.

Lady Diana’s parenting style was warm and full of affection. This set the standard for how William and Harry experienced love and security.

His Own Childhood Influenced His Approach

King Charles wasn’t used to hands-on parenting himself. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and father, Prince Philip, often traveled on royal duties, leaving Charles and his sister, Princess Anne, in the care of their grandparents, the Queen Mother and King George VI.

Charles later admitted just how significant his grandmother was in his life, “For me, she meant everything,” he said after the Queen Mother’s death.

According to the Daily Express, it may have been this early exposure to affectionate, supportive grandparents that inspired Charles to model a more nurturing parenting style for his own sons.

William and Harry Noticed His Effort

Charles made sure to be there for William and Harry during their toughest days. In the documentary Diana, 7 Days, Prince Harry reflected on the moment his father had to break the devastating news.

“One of the hardest things for a parent to have to do is to tell your children that your other parent has died,” Harry said.

Harry added that despite struggling with his own grief, Charles did his best to protect them:

“[Our dad] was there for us—he was the one out of two left, and he tried to do his best and to make sure that we were protected and looked after. But he was going through the same grieving process as well.”