Prince Harry has offered a rare glimpse into how Princess Diana is remembered inside his California home. During a public appearance in the U.K., the Duke of Sussex said he, Meghan Markle and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, mark both Diana’s birthday and the anniversary of her death with a simple family ritual. According to People Magazine, Harry spoke about the tradition during a Q&A at Scotty’s Summer Festival at Maxstoke Castle, where he met bereaved military children and their families.
Prince Harry Shares Diana Birthday Tradition
The moment came when a teenager at the gathering asked whether Harry does anything special on Aug. 31, the date Diana died, or on July 1, her birthday. Harry answered with a detail that was both personal and easy to picture at home: "Yes, we do lemon drizzle cake," said Prince Harry according to People Magazine. The cake tradition links memory with family life, and it also gives Archie and Lilibet a direct way to take part in remembering the grandmother they never met.
Meghan Markle and the Children Join In
Harry said the ritual matters because it keeps remembrance active rather than distant. "I think traditions are really, really important," said Prince Harry according to People Magazine. He then added, "Especially when they’re sweet." Meghan and the children are part of that custom, turning two difficult dates into moments of connection. The family’s choice of a homemade dessert also fits Harry’s broader comments over the years about creating steady routines and meaningful practices for children while carrying grief forward in a manageable way.
Scotty’s Little Soldiers Visit Had Personal Meaning
The outing carried added weight because Harry was speaking to children who have also experienced deep loss. He attended the festival as global ambassador for Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a charity that supports bereaved military children. Harry, a former British Army captain, has long connected with young people facing grief after losing a parent. Diana died in 1997 when he was 12, and that experience continues to shape his public work. The event gave him space to speak plainly, without grand language, about memory, family and healing.
King Charles Reunion Framed the U.K. Trip
The comments came at the end of a significant U.K. visit for Harry. Earlier in the week, he, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet met King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire for a private family gathering. It marked Meghan and the children’s first in-person meeting with the royal couple in four years, as reported by People Magazine. No photos were released, and few details emerged. Even so, Harry’s remarks about Diana added another personal thread to a trip centered on family ties, remembrance and long-standing royal history.
