Prince William, the eldest son of King Charles III, is currently the heir apparent to the British throne. After him in the line of succession are his three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Prince Harry, despite stepping back from royal duties in 2020, remains fifth in line.
However, journalist Richard Kay, who had a close relationship with Diana before her death in 1997, recently claimed that she had at one point considered the possibility that Harry might take on the monarchy’s highest role.
Speaking on the Daily Mail’s Palace Confidential podcast, Kay said Diana once shared doubts about whether William would want the responsibility of becoming king.
According to Kay, the princess described William as a quiet and reserved young man and suggested she was unsure whether he desired what she called the “top job” of wearing the crown.
Kay also said Diana jokingly referred to her younger son as “Good King Harry,” a phrase inspired by medieval history. He suggested she may have been keeping open the possibility that Harry could one day succeed his father, who was Prince of Wales at the time.
Despite that speculation, Kay acknowledged that events ultimately unfolded differently and said he believes William is well suited to his future role as monarch.
The claims were later discussed on the television program Good Morning Britain, where royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams offered a more cautious interpretation.
Fitzwilliams suggested that Diana may simply have been expressing a passing thought rather than making a serious prediction. He noted that Harry was only 12 years old when Diana died, making it impossible to know what kind of future role he might have developed into.
He also described both Diana and Harry as deeply emotional figures, adding that the trauma of losing his mother at such a young age had a lasting impact on the prince.
According to Fitzwilliams, the responsibilities of the monarchy are extremely demanding and high profile, and he questioned whether Harry would have been suited to such a role.
However, cultural commentator Ateh Jewel offered a more supportive perspective during the discussion. She highlighted Prince Harry’s military service and praised his decision to prioritize his family’s well-being when stepping away from royal duties.
Jewel suggested that if Harry and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, had ever become king and queen, they might have symbolized a more diverse and modern version of Britain.
She also emphasized Harry’s record of military service and his efforts to protect his family from what he has described as intense pressure within royal life.
While the idea of Harry becoming king remains purely speculative, the discussion highlights the continuing fascination with Princess Diana’s views about her sons and the future of the British monarchy.
