Prince William is reportedly distancing himself from one longstanding royal tradition, having turned to the legal team once used by his late mother, Princess Diana.
According to surprising new claims from the Mail, the heir to the throne has recently chosen to work with the prominent UK law firm Mishcon de Reya to manage some of his private legal matters—a firm that previously represented Princess Diana during a pivotal moment in her life.
Back in August 1996, Diana enlisted the help of Mishcon de Reya to oversee the formal end of her marriage to Prince Charles, now King Charles III. Specifically, she was represented by Anthony Julius, the firm’s deputy chairman, throughout the high-profile divorce proceedings.
Following her untimely death in 1997, Julius went on to become the vice-president of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund—a charity he helped found—until it closed its doors in 2012.
Diana, who was also mother to Prince Harry, died in a tragic car crash on August 31, 1997, alongside her partner Dodi Fayed, after a high-speed chase involving paparazzi ended in a fatal collision in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris. Fayed also lost his life in the crash.
Now, at 42, Prince William—who was only 15 when he lost his mother—has reportedly returned to her trusted law firm to represent him in current legal matters. This marks a significant shift from his previous reliance on the longstanding royal firm Harbottle & Lewis.
That firm has served the royal family for many years, with William often turning to Gerrard Tyrrell, one of the company’s key partners, for legal counsel in the past.
Reports from the New York Post indicate that William has now personally sought out Anthony Julius as his new legal representative—just as his mother did nearly three decades ago.
Although there’s no indication that this legal move is related to any issues in his marriage to Kate Middleton, insiders say it’s being seen as a notable break from tradition within royal circles.
Commenting on the decision, a source reportedly told the Post, “William wanted to strike out on his own. He did not want to continue using his father’s lawyers. It’s as simple as that. He wants to be his own man.”
The insider added, “William’s decision to break away from his father’s legal advisers signals that he’s not afraid to shake up the status quo behind palace walls.”