Amid the recent tension coming from Montecito, Prince William and the Royal Family have maintained a dignified silence, following the late Queen’s principle of ‘never complain, never explain’. 

This approach, ingrained in William’s upbringing, reflects the lessons he learned from his mother, Princess Diana, who emphasised the importance of remaining composed in the face of adversity.

When William and his brother Harry were growing up, Diana was determined that they experience the real world, beyond the walls of palaces and boarding schools. 

She believed this was especially important for William, who would eventually become king, once sharing: ‘Through learning what I do, and his father to a certain extent, he has got an insight into what’s coming his way. He’s not hidden upstairs with the governess.’

As Andrew Morton details in his book Diana: Her True Story, the princess ensured her sons had exposure to those less fortunate. 

She took them to visit hostels for the homeless and to meet seriously ill patients in hospitals, believing that understanding suffering firsthand was crucial. 

One of the most poignant moments was when she took William on a secret visit to The Passage day centre for the homeless in central London. 

Accompanied by the late Cardinal Basil Hume, she proudly introduced William to people society often overlooks. 

Princess Diana frequently took her children to hostels for the homeless and to meet seriously ill patients in hospitals, believing that understanding suffering firsthand was crucial

As she remarked in a speech about Aids: ‘I am only too aware of the temptation of avoiding harsh reality; not just for myself but for my own children too. Am I doing them a favour if I hide suffering and unpleasantness from them until the last possible minute? 

‘The late minutes which I choose for them may be too late. I can only face them with a choice based on what I know. The rest is up to them.’

Diana often spoke with pride about William’s maturity, saying: ‘He loves it and it really rattles people.’ 

Even the Archbishop of Canterbury thought he was ‘an extraordinary child’ with ‘such dignity at such a young age’. 

Mr Morton highlights that this approach to life helped William develop a strong sense of empathy, especially when interacting with children with special needs. 

At a Christmas party, Diana watched with joy as William engaged with the children. ‘I was so thrilled and proud. A lot of adults couldn’t handle it,’ she shared with friends.

On another occasion, the princess took her sons to the Refuge night shelter, where they also interacted with the homeless. 

William played chess while Harry joined a card game, and two hours later, they returned to Kensington Palace ‘a little older and wiser’. 

As Morton notes, Diana once said: ‘They have a knowledge. They may never use it, but the seed is there, and I hope it will grow because knowledge is power.

Princess Diana visits The Passage with Prince Harry and Prince William in 1993

According to Andrew Morton in his book Diana: Her True Story, the princess often spoke with pride about William’s maturity, saying: ‘He loves it and it really rattles people’

William enjoys a game of chess during his first visit to The Passage in 1993

William looks at ease as he joins a group discussion with his mother

William, pictured at The Passage in 2024, continuing his mother’s work 

Prince William solidifies his commitment to the causes that were close to Diana’s heart

‘I want them to have an understanding of people’s emotions, people’s insecurities, people’s distress and people’s hopes and dreams.’

Diana’s quiet but persistent efforts gradually changed the public’s perception of her, shifting her image from a controversial figure – once seen as a threat to the monarchy – to a woman deeply engaged with the causes she believed in. 

Her willingness to step away from royal glamour to mix with society’s most vulnerable not only earned her respect but also defied the expectations of those who had once doubted her.

Today Prince William continues his mother’s work, further solidifying his commitment to the causes that were close to Diana’s heart.