George’s Reaction Says It All After a Stranger Tells Him ‘Granny Diana Would Be Proud of You’
Royal watchers wait every year to spot the Royal Family at their annual walkabout at Sandringham. This year as well, hundreds of people waited in line to catch a glimpse of senior royals, though a viral interaction involving Prince George has left a sour taste in the mouths of many. While the 12-year-old handled the situation in his usual calm demeanor, fans are slamming a stranger’s comments about the late Princess Diana as being ‘weird’ and ‘creepy,’ calling it inappropriate for the occasion.
The incident took place on Christmas morning when John Loughrey, a 70-year-old who claims to be Diana’s ‘superfan,’ stopped the young Prince. In the video making rounds on Instagram, he can be heard saying, "George, I've got something to say to you. Granny Diana would be ever so proud of you.” Listening to his well-wishes attentively, George politely said, “Thank you,” while Prince William also stepped in to acknowledge the sentiment, telling Loughrey, “That’s very kind of you.”
While the royals didn’t look alarmed by Loughrey’s remarks, the internet surely wasn’t having it. After coming across the video, social media users were quick to label the interaction as a breach of personal boundaries. For many, the idea of a stranger bringing up the late Princess of Wales in front of George, who had not even met her, crossed a line. Soon, users rushed to the comment section to detail their thoughts on the matter.
One fan observed, "I'm sorry that's a really weird thing to say to him." Another sneered, "She means well but really not her place to say any such thing." A third individual opined, "I find this really creepy acting as though they know the family." Lastly, a fourth said, "Who is she to tell something like that? I can't imagine she knew Princess Diana in person. Only Prince William as a father can tell his children their grandmother would be proud of them." The consensus among fans seems to be that while the public feels connected to Diana’s legacy, projecting these emotions onto a child is appalling.
George has been connecting with his grandmother’s legacy on his own terms. Just a few days before Christmas, he joined his father, William, at The Passage, a homelessness charity initiative Diana famously supported. In a heartwarming moment starkly different from the Sandringham shouting, the young Prince was shown a visitor’s book from 1993. On the page were the signatures of Diana and a young Prince William. "That's my mum. And this was the very first day that she took me to The Passage," the Prince of Wales told his son, as reported by GB News. The charity’s chief executive, Mick Clarke, suggested that the 12-year-old was ‘very touched’ as he signed his own name directly beneath his grandmother’s.
While John Loughrey’s comments didn't go well with online users, the event of the Prince discovering Diana’s pride through charity work and family history would surely get a thumbs-up.