From left: Princess Diana, Prince George and Princess Charlotte
Tim Rooke/REX; HRH The Duchess of Cambridge/Getty
@SPerryPeoplemag
10/12/2015 AT 12:45 PM EDT
Princess Diana would have been a really fun grandma, says one of her closest friends.
In a new interview with The Mail on Sunday's You magazine, Julia Samuel – who is godmother to Prince George – says her late friend had a knack for making children happy.
Diana was "the most brilliant godmother: warm and loving and fun; the sort who gave the presents parents never wanted to give because they were so huge and noisy and nightmarish, but that the children loved," says Samuel, 56. "I am aiming to be as good a godmother as she was."
Diana, who died in 1997, was godmother to Samuel's son Benjamin, now 26.
Samuel adds, "She would have been a fantastic grandmother. It breaks my heart even thinking about it, because she would have been amazing, she really would."
Samuel, whose charity Child Bereavement UK is marking its 21st birthday this week at a gala dinner attended by royal patron Prince William, was chosen by the prince and wife Kate to be one of George's mentors in 2013.
Diana moved effortlessly between her formal role and simple domesticity
and hanging out with her friend at the movies or on the school run, says
her friend.
"She loved it when she could do the ordinary stuff like washing up or emptying the dishwasher," said Samuel. "She was brilliant at moving between these two worlds – and whether she was meeting President Reagan or having support in my kitchen, she was always herself."
And William, who with wife Kate has been highlighting the difficulties faced by young people especially over mental health and bullying, is the perfect patron for her charity, says Samuel, as he shows a sensitive understanding of what people are going through.
"He has deep empathy – that really comes across – which is why people feel better for meeting him," she adds.
"He has the genuineness that Diana had – they can see it in his face and hear it in his voice. He is warm, but very direct, just as she was."
Samuel set up the charity with fellow bereavement volunteer Jenni Thomas. They now employ 50 people and provide support for bereaved families as well as training for health-care professionals about how they can best help those coping with the loss of a child.
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In a new interview with The Mail on Sunday's You magazine, Julia Samuel – who is godmother to Prince George – says her late friend had a knack for making children happy.
Diana was "the most brilliant godmother: warm and loving and fun; the sort who gave the presents parents never wanted to give because they were so huge and noisy and nightmarish, but that the children loved," says Samuel, 56. "I am aiming to be as good a godmother as she was."
Diana, who died in 1997, was godmother to Samuel's son Benjamin, now 26.
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Samuel adds, "She would have been a fantastic grandmother. It breaks my heart even thinking about it, because she would have been amazing, she really would."
Samuel, whose charity Child Bereavement UK is marking its 21st birthday this week at a gala dinner attended by royal patron Prince William, was chosen by the prince and wife Kate to be one of George's mentors in 2013.
Julia Samuel
John Stillwell / AFP / Getty
"She loved it when she could do the ordinary stuff like washing up or emptying the dishwasher," said Samuel. "She was brilliant at moving between these two worlds – and whether she was meeting President Reagan or having support in my kitchen, she was always herself."
And William, who with wife Kate has been highlighting the difficulties faced by young people especially over mental health and bullying, is the perfect patron for her charity, says Samuel, as he shows a sensitive understanding of what people are going through.
"He has deep empathy – that really comes across – which is why people feel better for meeting him," she adds.
"He has the genuineness that Diana had – they can see it in his face and hear it in his voice. He is warm, but very direct, just as she was."
Samuel set up the charity with fellow bereavement volunteer Jenni Thomas. They now employ 50 people and provide support for bereaved families as well as training for health-care professionals about how they can best help those coping with the loss of a child.
Want to keep up with the latest royals coverage? Click here to subscribe to the Royals Newsletter.
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