Like mother like sons: How Princess Diana's sons keep her legacy alive 17 years on

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Like mother, like son: Right, Prince William, proudly dressed in his naval uniform, poses for a portrait in London ahead of his deployment with the Royal Navy at the frigate HMS Iron Duke in May 2008. The prince bore a striking resemblance to his blue-eyed mother, who showed off a military cap of her own during an outing in England in the summer of 1986.
Adventurous Diana donned a green jumpsuit and squeezed into a tank during a visit to the Royal Hamphsire at Tidworth in June 1998. Little Harry, then 8, was the splitting image of his mother when he donned an army uniform for a ride in a tank at the British regiment in Germany.
Always close by for an encouraging word and a loving hug, Diana gave her sons the confidence to succeed as she showed them the ropes. Five years after the photograph on the top was taken, William, too, looked confident as he made the rounds on his first – but certainly not his last – visit to Canada.
Intent on creating awareness about devastating land mines in Angola, Diana donned a protective suit and walked through a minefield. The 1997 image shocked the world and brought much-needed attention to the subject. Carrying on his mother’s work, Prince Harry travelled to Mozamique in 2010 and suited up for a tour of the minefields.
Diana’s sons share her compassion for vulnerable kids. Here, the princess is seen getting a hug at a London school for children with disabilities, while William bonds with patients at a New Zealand hospital in 2010.
Top, Diana meeting a toddler at a hostel for abandoned children. Bottom, Prince Harry connects with a youngster in Africa in 2006.
In marrying Kate, William has chosen a partner who can help him carry on his mother’s legacy. He paid tribute to Diana by proposing to his bride with her ring. "It was my way of making sure my mother didn’t miss out on the excitement,” he said.
Warm, doting and involved, the Duke of Cambridge's approach to fatherhood has set a new standard for royal family life. Unlike his predecessors, William openly hugs and kisses the toddler and is unabashed about being a modern dad – a precedent that was set by Diana, who vowed to give her sons normal upbringings. Kate, too, shares her husband’s view, and subtly paid tribute to her late mother-in-law with a polka-dotted maternity gown reminiscent of Diana’s.
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