Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge paid a private tribute to Princess Diana on the anniversary of her death, introducing her grandson, Prince George, to members of her family.
The new parents spent the weekend with the late Princess of Wales’s eldest sister Lady McCorqudale with six-week-old baby George in tow, the Daily Express reports.
The three-piece Cambridge family were seen boarding a helicopter to travel to Lady Sarah’s farmhouse.
The visit coincided with their 16th anniversary of Diana’s death.
William is said to be especially close to his 58-year-old aunt who introduced Diana to his father, Prince Charles, and assumed an unofficial role of Diana’s lady-in-waiting.
The Prince and wife Kate are said to have made an effort to stay in touch with all of the Spencer relatives.
Last year, Kate and William both attended the wedding of Lady Emily McCorquodale, Lady Sarah’s oldest daughter, and one of the Spencer cousins William grew up playing with. Prince Harry also attended the wedding, though it is unclear whether he joined the family reunion at the weekend.
The young princes William and Harry tragically lost their mother aged 15 and 12 respectively, and William opened up about his grief in 2009 when he launched a campaign to raise awareness of child bereavement.
“Never being able to say the word Mummy again in your life sounds like a small thing,” he said.
“However, for many, including me, it is now really just a word — hollow and evoking only memories.”
On the day of her engagement to the prince in 2010, Kate said she would have “loved to have met her”.
“She’s obviously an inspirational woman to look up to,” she said.
