Much has been said about the farewell speech that Prince Harry recently delivered while attending a banquet for Sentebale, an organization the prince has supported for years.
As Lainey Gossip observed, Harry made a deliberate point to use his own mother's words in his speech.
"Perhaps what’s most telling in this speech though comes towards the end of his comments about this change: 'Together, you have given me an education about living,'" she says. "What does it mean, for Harry in particular, to LIVE? This year, Harry turns 36… the same age Princess Diana was when she died. Living is a big word, and it’s not just about existing, but about experiencing life on our own terms," Lainey goes on to say. "Which, as we’ve seen over the years, not even royals have that luxury."
In 1993, Princess Diana and Prince Charles had recently announced they were separating. Princess Diana chose to announce that she would be stepping back from public life while attending an event honoring Headway, one of her patronages.
In her speech, Princess Diana said, "It is a pleasure to be here with you again sharing in your successes of the past year. Headway has grown into an organisation which is improving the quality of so many lives. I'm so proud of the work you've achieved.
"In the past twelve years, I can honestly say, that one of my greatest pleasures has been my association with people like yourselves. During those years I have met many thousands of wonderful and extraordinary people, both here and around the world. The cared for and the carers."
"To the wider public, may I say that I've made many friends. I've been allowed to share your thoughts and dreams, your disappointments and your happiness. You have also given me an education. By teaching me more about life and living than any books or teachers could have done. My debt of gratitude to you all is immense. I hope, in some way, I've been of service in return."
Clearly, Prince Harry spent some time studying his mother's own choices and the words that she used when announcing her own "step back" from royal life. While the circumstances were different, the theme is the same: Both royals thanked the public for teaching them about what it means to live a life.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been quite vocal about their situation in the UK. At first, the two appeared to be making the best of the situation. They were willing to sit it out and see if the press would come around. After all, their wedding was massively popular around the world, and their popularity brings in millions of pounds for the British economy.
However, throughout 2019 it became increasingly clear that the British media was not willing to let up, especially as it pertained to its treatment of Meghan. Numerous headlines ran, filled with racist innuendo and outright racism. The birth of their child appears to have sent the media into overdrive, and Prince Harry knows exactly how dangerous the game the British media plays can be.
The time preceding the death of Princess Diana was a total media frenzy. At times, Diana appeared to be in control of it … but at others, she definitely was not. At the time of her death, she had been relentlessly pursued as the media attempted to get photographs and information about her relationship with Dodi Fayed.
Princess Diana and Dodi were in Paris for only a short time. The two had just spent nine days together aboard Dodi's family's yacht and were on their way back to Diana's home in London. Dodi's father, Mohamed Al-Fayed, is the owner of the Ritz in Paris, where the two stayed.
What happened over the course of the night still reverberates throughout conversations about the media and the British royal family. The pair were involved in a fatal car crash while attempting to evade the media, and both Princess Diana and Dodi died as a result of their injuries. Dodi was killed immediately, while Princess Diana was critically injured but conscious when photographers arrived. While some photographers attempted to help, others were too busy snapping photos of the car's occupants as they lay dying.
Princess Diana ultimately died after going into cardiac arrest. She suffered massive internal injuries that made reviving her impossible.
The royal family was plunged into mourning, and the entire nation (and just about anyone with a television) watched as young Prince William and Prince Harry trailed their mother's casket during her funeral procession.
Given this history, it should be more than understandable why Prince Harry is extra anxious about making sure his wife and child are safe. It appears he believes the country isn't willing to protect them, and the family has decided to take matters into their own hands.
The legacy of mistreatment by the British press dates back for decades and decades. The royal family has acknowledged that the privileges bestowed upon them mean that they often have to contend with a press that often seems to know no bounds.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's future will truly be fascinating to watch. It's wonderful to see a man who was born into the height of privilege leave it all behind to do what he can to ensure the safety of the people he loves the most.
And in the case of Prince Harry, it's truly devastating that his personal loss means he has to do this at all.
