Princess Diana married then-Prince Charles, in what was dubbed the “Wedding of the Century,” at St. Paul’s Cathedral on July 29, 1981.

Less than a year after the pair said “I do,” they welcomed their oldest son, Prince William, on June 21, 1982. And now someone who was friends with the princess is sharing what Diana predicted not long after giving birth to her first child.

Here’s more on that, plus what William says he is still “sad” and “angry” about all these years after his mother’s death.

Diana predicted that Prince William would be a popular figure when he became an adult

Jennie Bond is a former BBC correspondent and royal reporter, who was also a friend and confidant of the late princess. According to Bond, after Diana gave birth to the future king, she made a bold prediction about William that he would become a popular and cherished figure one day and that the country was “lucky” to have him.

Speaking to The Mirror, Bond recalled what Princess Diana told her about her oldest son, “As Diana once said to me: ‘William’s alright. The country is very lucky to have William.’”

Bond agreed with her late friend’s assessment, saying: “I think she was bang on … Clearly, William is doing something very right. His informal, approachable way of going about his work is resonating with the public. Even the way he talks is different to previous generations.

“He’s well spoken, of course, but not overly posh. He dresses well, of course, but is quite often wearing jeans and trainers. He’ll pose for selfies with the crowds, he’ll even work the camera for them if they get flustered! All this adds up to a prince and future king who seems reasonably in touch — despite his privileged status.”

Prince William has consistently landed atop opinion polls as the “most popular royal family member” for some time. In a May 2025 YouGov poll, William was again ranked the most popular royal among Brits — with three-quarters (75%) having a positive opinion of the heir to the throne.

What Prince William said about wishing he could have ‘protected’ his mother

William and Prince Harry were just 15 and 12 when their mother died following a car crash in Paris. And the Prince of Wales has previously opened up about not being able to do something to “protect” their mom.

In an interview with British GQ, William shared: “I feel very sad and I still feel very angry that we were not old enough to be able to do more to protect her, not wise enough to step in and do something that could have made things better for her.”

The prince has now vowed to protect his family, telling the publication: “My mother did put herself right out there and that is why people were so touched by her. But I am determined to protect myself and my children, and that means preserving something for ourselves. I think I have a more developed sense of self-preservation.”