Prince William and Prince Harry honoured their late mother Diana, Princess of Wales at an awards ceremony on Thursday afternoon.
The royal brothers were on hand to present 20 young recipients with the very first Legacy Awards at a ceremony for the Diana Award youth charity, the only non-profit organisation established in the princess’ name.
The recipients, who were chosen for their “monumental impact” on society, came from the UK, United States, Canada, India, Belize and the United Arab Emirates.
Jonathan, who campaigns for people with disabilities, told the princes to “never judge a book by its cover; never look at a child like me and assume we are not worth teaching.”
The royal brothers had the opportunity to speak one-on-on with many of the awards recipients.
Since her tragic death in 1997, Prince William and Prince Harry have made it their life’s work to continue their late mother’s incredible legacy.
Before handing out the well-deserved awards, the royal duo gave a moving speech about their ever-inspiring mother.
“This summer marks 20 years since our mother died. She achieved so much in her life. From helping to shatter the stigma around AIDS, to fighting to ban landmines and supporting the homeless — she touched the lives of millions,” William, 34, said.
“The truth is, though, that she was taken at only 36, just slightly older than I am today. But of course, we can never know what our mother would have gone on to do,” he continued. “But in one sense Harry and I feel that our mother lives on in the countless acts of compassion and bravery that she inspires in others.”
“Seated here today are twenty extraordinary young people who are doing just that.”
Perhaps one of the most iconic photos of the royal, Princess Diana is pictured visiting a landmine sight.
Princess Diana — activist, fashion icon and model mother — was loved the world over.
She once said: “The worst illness of our time is that so many people have to suffer from never being loved.”
Harry, 32, added: “One of the things our mother taught William and I was the value of doing good when no one is watching. She visited hospitals late at night to comfort patients; she spent hours writing letters to privately support the work of others; she achieved a lot by shining a spotlight, but she worked just as hard when the cameras were gone. It is this spirit of quiet selflessness that unites these 20 recipients of the Legacy Award.”
“Our mother once said that if we all play our part in making our children feel valued, the result will be tremendous. This result was tremendous.”
Award winners include Mercy Ngulube, 18, the current chairman of Children’s HIV Association Youth Committee; Jemima Browning, 16, a teenager from North Yorkshire who set up a swimming club for young people with disabilities; and Jaylen Arnold, 16, who was honored for his anti-bullying crusade.
In addition to receiving the great honour, the young individuals will have access to the Diana Award development program to aid the enhancement of their skills in four key areas; leadership, community development, social entrepreneurship and technology.
Tessy Ojo, the Diana Award’s chief executive, previously said: “What’s 2017 all about? It’s about celebrating the legacy of Princess Diana, 20 years on. Diana, Princess of Wales was known worldwide for her values of compassion, her values of kindness and her values of service to others.”
“Twenty years on, we at the Diana Award know that her values and her legacy live on through the tens of thousands of young people who only know her as an historic figure, but are committed to continuing those values.”
