Prince Harry Opens Up About Reliving a Princess Diana Memory With His Children: 'It Was Amazing'
The late Princess Diana spared no effort in giving Prince William and Prince Harry as normal a childhood as possible, despite their royal upbringing. Harry recently reflected on his mother’s humble parenting in a special Disneyland documentary, recalling their magical trips to Disney World together. He remembered ‘losing’ his calm as a child at the ‘happiest place on earth’ and how he has since relived those memories with his own children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, during family visits to Disneyland.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex appeared in The Happiest Story on Earth: 70 Years of Disneyland — A Special Edition of 20/20, released on September 21. In it, Harry recalled visiting Disney World in 1993 and having the time of his life, shortly after his mother had separated from then-Prince Charles. He said, "I remember it very, very well. I remember losing it as a kid with all the characters. Like, losing it." Later, he spoke about taking a trip to Disneyland with his kids to celebrate Lilibet's 4th birthday. "To see the kids throw themselves into these experiences when they have no idea what they're walking into — it was amazing. And it brings out the kid in you again."
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Meghan Markle also opened up about her experience visiting Disneyland as a ‘Southern California girl,’ saying that it was "more accessible" for her but "still the biggest treat in the world." She reminisced about going there for a grad night, when high school seniors visit the park after hours. She said, "I don't even know why they let us do that!" with Harry chiming in, "That sounds like a lot of fun. Can you do that in your forties?" The Duke also joked that he had warned his children about the excitement awaiting them on their trip, saying, "They're like, 'This is amazing!' Like, 'Guys, this isn't even the front of it. Prepare yourself. You're about to be blown away.'"
As children, Harry and William loved visiting theme parks with Diana, a safe place where they could enjoy a normal childhood without the pressures of royal life. One of the trio's most iconic photos comes from their visit to Thorpe Park in England during the 1993 Easter holidays. There, the late Princess had told the Thorpe Park staff that she wanted to be treated just like everyone else, including waiting in long queues for rides. Meanwhile, at Disney World, Diana, William, and Harry were treated to an exclusive ride on Splash Mountain, Harry’s favorite one. She and her boys were escorted through Disney’s secret underground tunnels for VIPs.
Unsurprisingly, the Duke recreated this childhood memory during his trip to Disneyland on Lilibet’s birthday. In a video on Markle's Instagram, the couple was seen laughing on a rollercoaster ride with Archie between them. For their fun-filled adventure, the family of four rode the Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear's Star Cruiser, and Cars-themed Radiator Springs Racers.