The months to come will be poignant for Charles Spencer, as the 9th Earl Spencer marks his late sister, Princess Diana’s 60th year.
The Princess of Wales would have celebrated the landmark birthday this July 1, with her brother determined to commemorate her life on the day.
In honour of the occasion, Charles has decided to host the 2021 Legacy Awards on the grounds of Althorp House, their childhood family home.
The awards are part of The Diana Award organisation, which was established 22 years ago to honour young people who have selflessly bettered the lives of others.
Following in their mother’s footsteps, Prince Harry and William presented the awards at the first Legacy Awards in 2017, which took place at St James’s Palace.
(Image: ITV)
A Legacy Award is the highest award a young person can receive for their humanitarian work or action in social change, and this year’s ceremony will see 20 winners crowned.
Taking place on December 9, the event will take place on the grounds of Althorp House, where Charles, Diana, and their two sisters, Sarah and Jane, grew up.
Ahead of the ceremony, Tessy Ojo CBE, Chief Executive of The Diana Award, said in a statement: “Hosting the Legacy Awards at Diana, Princess of Wales’ family home is especially poignant as we mark what would have been her 60th birthday.
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“In a year that has seen young people’s lives disrupted by the Pandemic, it is even more important that we honour, celebrate but also invest in those young people from across the world, who through their selfless trailblazing efforts have changed lives in their communities.”
Diana died aged 36 on August 31, 1997, from injuries she sustained in a car accident in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris.
Speaking at the inaugural Legacy Awards four years ago, her eldest son William reflected on the positive social change brought about by his activist mother.
He said: “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.
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“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.
“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.”
Gesturing to the award winners, he went on: “Seated here today are twenty extraordinary young people who are doing just that. We are all too accustomed to stories about young people’s lack of connection to their communities and families. I see every day in my work, as our mother did in hers, that this just simply is not true – these 20 young people are just the tip of the iceberg. We all need to celebrate what today’s generation are achieving.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
