The Real Reason Prince Harry Has Worn the Same Bracelet for Years
Updated: Sep. 20, 2018
It’s so sweet—and heartbreaking.
The truth about Prince Harry’s bracelet
Prince Harry has changed a lot over the years. The world has watched him grow from adorable redheaded toddler to rebellious royal bad boy to the charmingly handsome Duke of Sussex. One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is his fondness for bracelets.
In particular, he has been seen wearing the same silver-and-black metal bracelet on his right wrist for the last 20 or so years—for a very special reason. It’s believed to be a tribute to his late mother, Princess Diana. (Find out how the Prince coped with his mother’s death.)
Shortly after Princess Diana’s tragic car accident and death in 1997, Prince Charles took the 12-year-old and his brother Prince William to Africa in an effort to find refuge from the pain. “My dad told my brother and me to pack our bags—we were going to Africa to get away from it all,” he told Town and Country in 2017. Prince Harry reportedly bought the oft-seen bracelet on that trip; Prince William reportedly made a similar purchase. (These were Princess Diana’s last words before she died.)
Since then, he has been photographed wearing it at all sorts of occasions, from rugby matches to royal events. He wore it during his first public outing with Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, in 2017, and it was even part of his wedding day attire. If the accessory truly is a tribute to his mother, it proves that Diana is still very much with him, especially for the most important moments in his life.
Next, check out the real story of how Prince Harry and Meghan Markle met.
