Prince Harry sees Diana's legacy in his children

'My mother instilled in me, and in all of us, a drive to speak up and fight for a better world,' Duke of Sussex says

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (L), and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, at the statue they commissioned of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales, at Kensington Palace in London. Getty Images

Prince Harry sees his mother's “legacy” when he looks at his children, he said on Friday as he hailed the recipients of an award given in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales.

The Duke of Sussex launched the virtual Diana Award ceremony by telling young “change-makers” that their positive actions kept the princess's voice “alive” and that they were the solution to the “disagreement, conflict and anger” seen around the globe.

In a written tribute to the award winners, Prince William also praised the group of more than 180 from around the world and echoed his brother's words by saying they were the “personification of my mother's legacy”.

The two brothers are at the centre of a family rift that has caused Prince Harry move to the US and retire from royal life.

Speaking at the start of the awards ceremony Prince Harry said: “There isn't a day during the past two and a half decades I haven't thought about the mark she left not only on me and my brother but on all of our lives.

“I see her legacy in all of you, I see her legacy in a Diana Award community that spans multiple generations.

Ten-year-old Lady Diana Spencer during a summer holiday in Itchenor, West Sussex, in 1971. Here 'The National' takes a look back through Princess Diana's life in pictures. Getty

Lady Diana Spencer, 19 at the time, responds to the press while getting into a car in London, in 1980. Getty

The Prince and Princess of Wales on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day, on July 29, 1981. Getty

Princess Diana smiling as she prepares to embrace a woman in the crowd, on the streets of Carmarthen, Wales, in 1981. Getty

Princess Diana and Prince Charles with their son, Prince William, in December 1983. Getty Images

Princess Diana wearing the Spencer family tiara at state dinner in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, in 1983. PA

Princess Diana And Prince Charles watch an official event during their first royal Australian tour in 1983. Getty

Princess Diana and Prince Charles with newborn Prince Harry, leave St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London, in 1984. Getty

Princess Diana meets members of the public during a visit to a community centre in north London in 1985. Getty

Princess Diana arrives at a dinner during a visit to Australia in 1985. AFP

Princess Diana sits on a step at her home, Highgrove House, in Doughton, Gloucestershire, in 1986. Getty

Prince Charles and Princess Diana and their sons, Princes William and Harry, on a cycle ride around the island of Tresco, Italy, in 1989. AP

Princess Diana stoops down to pick up a walking stick after a woman she dropped it over the crowd barrier, during a walkabout in Hong Kong in 1989. Reuters

Princess Diana waves on her way to visit US first lady Barbara Bush at the White House in Washington, in 1990. AFP

Princess Diana and her sons onboard the 'Maid of Mist' ship as they take a close look at the Niagara Falls, Canada, in 1991. PA

Princess Diana poses alone at the Taj Mahal during her visit to India in 1992. Getty

Princess Diana holds the hands of Mother Teresa during their first meeting at the Missionary Sisters of Charity residence in Rome, Italy, in 1992. Reuters

Princess Diana with her sons outside St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in 1992. PA

Princess Diana listens to a young boy during her visit to a home for children in Paris, France, in 1992. AFP

Princes William and Harry applaud alongside their mother, Princess Diana, during a Five Nations rugby match between Wales and France in 1992. AFP

Princess Diana speaks to Nepali children while touring a Red Cross project in the Himalayan foothills in 1993. AFP

Princess Diana, Prince Harry and Prince William carrying their skis during a skiing holiday in Lech am Arlberg, Austria, in 1994. Getty

Princess Diana, Prince Harry, Prince William and Prince Charles outside Manor House, on Prince William's first day at Eton College in 1995. Getty

Martin Bashir speaking to Princess Diana in Kensington Palace during the infamous 'Panorama' interview that was aired by the BBC in 1995. Getty

Prince Charles, Princess Diana and their children watch the march past on the mall as part of the commemorations of VJ Day in London in 1995. AFP

Princess Diana meets with John Collins, a 51-year-old lung cancer patient, while visiting Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Hospice in 1996. AFP

Princess Diana during a visit to Leicester, to formally open The Richard Attenborough Centre for Disability and Arts, in May 1997. Getty

Princess Diana, wearing protective body armour, visits a minefield being cleared by the charity, Halo, in Huambo, Angola, in 1997. Getty

South African President Nelson Mandela and Princess Diana speak with the press after meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1997. AFP

Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Earl Spencer, and Prince William watch as the coffin of Princess Diana is carried into Westminster Abbey, London, in September 1997. AFP

Floral tributes for Princess Diana in front of Kensington Palace in London, in 1997. AFP

Prince William places a bunch of flowers with the hundreds tributes already laid outside his mother's official residence at Kensington Palace, in 1997. AFP

Prince William and Prince Harry unveil a statue they commissioned of their mother, at Kensington Palace in 2021, on what would have been her 60th birthday. PA

“I see her legacy every time I meet families, young people and children from all corners of the world.

“And I see my mum's legacy when I look at my own children every single day.”

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, brought their children, Archie, aged 3, and 1-year-old Lilibet, to the UK in June when they attended celebrations marking Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee.

“My mother instilled in me, and in all of us, a drive to speak up and fight for a better world and now, as a husband and a parent, my mother's voice is even stronger in my life,” the duke added.

“All of you have kept her voice alive by showing the world how each small action counts, how kindness is still valued and how our world can be better if we choose to make it so.”

The Diana Award was created to promote the princess's belief that young people have the power to change the world for the better and the ceremony was held on what would have been her 61st birthday.

The organisation's three key initiatives are a mentoring programme for young people at risk; a youth-led, anti-bullying ambassadors’ campaign; and the Diana Award, which recognises young people for their social action or humanitarian work.

During the virtual ceremony, more than 180 children and young people were recognised for inspiring their peers to support their communities by campaigning, volunteering, fighting injustice or overcoming extreme life challenges.

Prince William said in his written tribute to the recipients: “Your stories are remarkable.

“Many of you face huge challenges in the face of difficult times, yet you are tirelessly breaking down barriers to create a better future for us all.

“Thank you for your compassion, bravery and absolute determination.

“You truly are the personification of my mother's legacy and I know she would be so proud of you all.”

Prince Harry concluded the ceremony by telling the young people watching they could “create positive change”.

“We know that our young people face unique challenges to their mental health and well-being, increasing social and economic barriers, and a world consumed by disagreement, conflict and anger,” he said.

“But we need to listen to you and we need to empower you, because you are our only way out of the mess.”