Prince William and Harry send separate notes for Diana Award winners

Prince William and Prince Harry unveil shared honor for Diana Award winners.

Nearly 200 young changemakers across 44 countries were recognized by the organization.

The Diana Award is the sole charity established in memory of Princess Diana.

It remains the only philanthropic endeavor supported by both brothers.

Despite their ongoing personal estrangement, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex maintained their joint commitment to recognizing social action among the youth.

The latest cohort of 198 award recipients includes 23 young leaders from the United States.

India produced the largest group, with 49 winners.

Nigeria followed with 25 winners.

First-time honorees came from nations such as Ukraine and Mongolia.

Nine countries had their first Diana Award winners this year.

On November 4, 2026, they were honored at the 2026 Diana Award Virtual Ceremony.

The official website explains that on the day, both William and Harry delivered congratulatory letters to this year's recipients.

The messages were emailed.

Every recipient received one note from each prince.

The charity’s chief executive, Dr. Tessy Ojo CBE, praised the recipients.

“We are incredibly proud to celebrate young people from across the world receiving the Diana Award this year,” Ojo said.

“Their courage, compassion and determination to tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges are a powerful reminder that young people are the changemakers of today,” she continued.

“These young people are proof that, whatever their background or circumstances, the desire to make a difference is universal,” Ojo added.

“They are building on Diana, Princess of Wales' legacy almost thirty years on.”

The Diana Award was established in 1999 to honor the legacy of Diana, Princess of Wales.

She believed that young people can change the world.

The award celebrates changemakers aged 9 to 25 who demonstrate sustained commitment to humanitarian work, social justice, anti-bullying, and community action.

It is administered by the only official UK charity bearing her name.

It is supported by brothers Prince William and Prince Harry.

Eligibility required candidates to be aged 9 to 25 and to have completed at least 12 months of activity that changed lives for others, often in the face of adversity.

The charity described the award as the most prestigious accolade a young person could receive for social action or humanitarian work.

Winners also received an invitation to Althorp House, the Spencer family estate where Diana grew up.

The brothers had previously divided Diana Award duties.

Harry spoke at the July 2020 virtual ceremony, addressing 184 recipients.

He aimed his message at young people fighting racism and injustice.

He told the group he was “so incredibly proud to be part of these awards.”

He said Diana would have stood in their corner.

“You are all doing such incredible work,” Harry said in 2020.

“At a time of great uncertainty, you have found the power and inspiration inside of you to make a positive mark on the world.”

Two years later, William wrote to 180 changemakers from 29 countries.

He used Kensington Palace stationery carrying his W cipher.

He told them they were “the personification of my mother’s legacy.”

“I know she would be so proud of you all,” William wrote in 2022.

“I believe there’s no better way to celebrate her life and work than through recognizing incredible people who dedicate so much time and effort to helping those around them,” he continued.

In March 2024, the Diana Legacy Award ceremony put the brothers on opposite sides of the Atlantic.

William spoke in London.

Harry joined by video.

Their last appearance together occurred in 2021 at the unveiling of a statue dedicated to Princess Diana at Kensington Palace.

In a joint tribute, the royal brothers said: “Today, on what would have been our mother's 60th birthday, we remember her love, strength and character – qualities that made her a force for good around the world, changing countless lives for the better.”

“Every day, we wish she were still with us, and our hope is that this statue will be seen forever as a symbol of her life and legacy,” they added.

Since then, the brothers have not been seen together publicly.

The Duke of Sussex has been living in the UK since the end of August 2026.

It is believed that he is yet to reunite with his estranged brother, the Prince of Wales.

Years of tensions between the siblings have kept them apart.

The brothers continue to champion issues inspired by their mother.

Prince William concentrates on initiatives to combat homelessness.

Prince Harry supports landmine clearance and youth programs in southern Africa.

They maintain separate public and private lives.

The choice to send separate letters to the Diana Award winners this year seems to highlight their continued feud.

Both brothers wrote with words of appreciation and encouragement.

But the two letters arrived separately.

No joint statement was issued.

No photograph of the brothers together accompanied the announcement.

The charity framed the move as a shared honor.

Observers noted the irony of two men honoring a legacy of unity while remaining divided.

The Diana Award continues to grow.

The 2026 class spanned 44 countries.

India, Nigeria, and the United States led the winner count.

India produced the largest group, with 49 winners.

Nigeria followed with 25.

The United States had 23.