Before her tragic death in a 1997 car accident, Princess Diana reportedly confided her biggest regret about her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. According to a close friend, Diana felt deep sorrow that her position and life within the royal family had limited her time with them, especially during their childhood years.
“I’ve missed too many moments with them. I just want to be there more,” she is said to have shared during one of her final conversations.
Those close to Diana described her as a highly devoted mother who sought to provide William and Harry with a sense of normalcy beyond palace walls. She frequently broke royal tradition by taking her sons on everyday outings — from amusement parks to fast-food restaurants — actions that highlighted her desire for them to experience an ordinary childhood.
Friends recalled that Diana’s constant conflict was between fulfilling royal duties and simply being “Mummy” to her boys. Her regret centered on the time lost to official responsibilities and the constraints of her public life.
Before her untimely passing, Diana reportedly expressed hope that her children would grow into compassionate, independent men who led fulfilling lives beyond the pressures of royalty. Observers often note that her influence remains evident in both William’s and Harry’s approaches to parenting and public service.
“All I ever wanted was for them to feel loved and free,” Diana once told a confidant not long before her death.
Princess Diana’s greatest sorrow before her death was not having more time with William and Harry, a regret born from the clash between royal duties and motherhood.