William and Harry remember Princess Diana privately as admirers leave flowers at Kensington Palace

Prince William and Prince Harry marked the 29th anniversary of their mother Princess Diana’s death privately on August 31, while admirers gathered at Kensington Palace to leave flowers and handwritten messages in her memory.

The brothers, who remain estranged, chose to observe the solemn anniversary away from the public eye, according to sources close to them. Their private tributes came as Diana continued to be remembered by visitors at the former royal residence where she lived before her death in 1997.

Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, aged 36. Her death prompted an enormous public outpouring of grief, and her memory remains closely associated with both Kensington Palace and the Spencer family estate at Althorp.

Fans leave tributes at Kensington Palace

Flowers and messages were placed outside Kensington Palace, where Diana made her home before her death.

William and Harry have previously come together publicly to honour their mother. In July 2021, the brothers stood side by side in Kensington Palace’s Sunken Garden to unveil a bronze statue of Diana on what would have been her 60th birthday.

The statue remains one of the most prominent memorials to Diana at the palace, depicting her with three children and surrounded by the garden’s reflecting pool and landscaped grounds.

Despite the brothers’ continuing estrangement, both have maintained their own connections to their mother’s memory and legacy.

Harry and Meghan visited Althorp in July

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan visited Althorp House in Northamptonshire in July, where Diana grew up and where she is buried.

During that visit, the couple laid flowers at Diana’s grave on the estate’s Oval Lake.

It was not clear whether Harry and Meghan returned to Althorp on August 31 or whether they saw Harry’s uncle, Charles Spencer, again.

Diana’s brother marked the anniversary at the family estate by sharing photographs of Althorp, with the flag flying at half-mast.

Alongside the images, the Earl of Spencer wrote simply: “31 August. My least favourite day.” His tribute reflected the continuing significance of the date for the Spencer family.

Charles Spencer prepares his own account of Diana

The anniversary also comes just weeks before the publication of Charles Spencer’s book about his sister, which is due to be released on September 22.

The Earl has said he was prompted to write the book after repeatedly receiving requests for interviews about Diana, particularly with the 30th anniversary of her death approaching.

He explained that he wanted to record his own memories rather than continue reading accounts of his sister that he believes contain inaccuracies.

“This has convinced me to write down my own thoughts and memories, once and for all, rather than having the discomfort of again reading the opinions of others, many of which are based on untruths that have become accepted over time.”

Spencer said the book’s purpose was to present Diana through the eyes of her brother, continuing the approach he took when he spoke at her funeral in 1997.

“The aim of this book is to tell the truth about Diana from her brother’s perspective, just as I attempted to do when speaking at her funeral.”

His decision to publish the book comes as public interest in Diana remains strong nearly three decades after her death. Spencer has continued to mark the anniversary at Althorp, where Diana’s grave has become an enduring place of remembrance.

For William and Harry, however, this year’s anniversary was observed quietly and separately, away from the cameras, as admirers gathered at Kensington Palace to remember the princess they lost 29 years ago.