Prince William Praises Young Leaders’ ‘Compassion’ as He and Prince Harry Support Charity in Princess Diana’s Name

Prince William is praising “extraordinary” young people in his late mother’s name.

William, 42, has written a heartfelt letter to all of the latest recipients of the Diana Award, each of whom will be honored on Thursday, Dec. 5 at a virtual ceremony. His brother Prince Harry, 40, is also set make a video contribution at the ceremony held by the non-profit that serves as the only charity that carries the name of their late mother, Princess Diana.

This year marks the milestone 25th anniversary of the charity, and William said in his letter to award recipients that they have shown "kindness and compassion" as they make unique contributions to their respective communities.

Thanking them for their “dedication,” William called them “extraordinary”: “I am so proud of the impact every one of you has had on your communities and beyond," he wrote. "You are driven by kindness and compassion, and through this you are all changing the world for the better."

“At times, the world can feel an uncertain and unfamiliar place, and I know many of you have had to work hard to overcome barriers to make positive change. Despite this, I am heartened to see what inspirational young people like you can achieve," the Prince of Wales continued.

“I know my mother, in whose memory you receive the Diana Award today, would be immensely proud of you. I hope this award helps you to further champion your cause and support those around you,” he concluded.

In its largest-ever awards, the charity will honor 200 young people from 45 countries. The U.S. in particular had a record-breaking number of award winners this year, with 34 of the recipients hailing from the country that Harry now calls home.

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At the ceremony on Dec. 5, Prince Harry will join the virtual awards ceremony via a filmed video message. He appears alongside Legacy Award Recipients Chiara Riyanti Hutapea Zhang, 18, from Indonesia, and Christina Williams, 27, from Jamaica, who he met in New York City in September.

The awards will be live on YouTube from 10 a.m. EST (which is 3 p.m. in the U.K.) on Dec. 5.

The royal brothers may be estranged, but they have both made a point of contributing to the support for the Diana Award. This year, William was guest of honor and made the main speech at the Legacy Awards dinner, meeting the 20 recipients in person at a special evening in London earlier this year.

Harry, meanwhile, spoke to them via video link afterwards. He also took part in the Diana Award event at the annual Concordia Summit in September in N.Y.C.

"I applaud you for certainly, [at] your age, to be on this stage, to have the confidence that you do, and to be able to speak as clearly and as passionately as you do," Harry said on stage at the September event. "And I know that my mom would be incredibly proud of you guys, not just you, but all of the award winners."

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This year, the Diana Award has generated more applications for recognition than at any time in its history, cementing it as a truly global award. The charity says its 200 honorees are "exceptional young leaders" who are "transforming their communities, driving lasting change and creating a fairer, more equitable society for all."

It adds that the young peoples' "causes and backgrounds are varied, but they are united in their innate desire to affect positive change, mobilizing and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps."

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Dr. Tessy Ojo CBE, chief executive of the Diana Award, said in a statement that she  “warmly” congratulated the new recipients.

“This event is special, as it marks our 25th anniversary year and our most competitive year yet with record nominations," she said. "This new cohort of Diana Award recipients demonstrate that young people have the power to change the world; a belief also held by Diana, Princess of Wales.”

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