The Reason Diana Thought Harry Would Make a Better King Than William
Prince William has been set to inherit the British throne from birth, but Princess Diana thought her younger son would actually be better suited to the role.
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Considering that he’s sixth in line for the British throne (even after “stepping back from royal duties”), it’s safe to say that Prince Harry will probably never get to be the king of England. But were the line of succession not a factor, would he make a good ruler? Harry’s own mother, the late Princess Diana, reportedly thought so—in fact, she thought he would actually be better suited to the throne than Prince William.
In her 2018 biography Harry: Conversations with the Prince, Angela Levin delves into Harry’s relationship with his mother. According to Levin, as Diana’s sons grew up, she identified qualities in Harry that she thought would make him a good, willing ruler. Even though William was older, and, of course, the actual heir to the throne, she thought it was Harry who possessed more qualities that befitted a leader, including his “ability to cope,” “ease with people,” and “general gusto.” Reportedly, Diana even gave her younger son the nickname “Good King Harry.” (Check out these rarely seen photos of Diana and Harry.)
As for William, Diana didn’t necessarily think he wasn’t suited to be king. But she did sense that her older son didn’t want the throne, so much so that she would “worry about” how he’d bear his future kingly burden. “William doesn’t want his every move watched,” Levin quotes Diana as saying.
Of course, though, this was when William was much younger, so will he make a good king when he inherits the throne one day? We probably won’t know for many years.
Next, check out the most shocking royal memoirs ever published.
