Departure from royal tradition raises questions
Prince William, the 42-year-old Prince of Wales, has taken an unexpected legal step by hiring the exact divorce attorney who represented his late mother, Princess Diana, during her split from King Charles III. This decision marks a departure from the royal family’s longstanding legal affiliations.
A shift in legal representation
According to The Daily Mail, William has parted ways with the royal family’s traditional legal firm, Harbottle & Lewis, in favor of Mishcon de Reya, one of the UK’s leading law firms. The move signals a significant shift in the prince’s approach to legal matters, reinforcing his intent to forge his own path as the heir to the British throne.
Prince William has specifically retained Anthony Julius, the deputy chairman of Mishcon de Reya, who represented Diana in her highly publicized 1996 divorce from Charles. Julius also maintained a close professional connection with the late princess, serving as vice president and one of the original trustees of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund until its dissolution in 2012.
Motivations behind the decision
A source close to the royal family told The Daily Mail that William’s choice was deliberate:
“Prince 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 further emphasized that the Prince of Wales is intent on distinguishing his approach from his father’s:
“Prince William is more than willing to shake up the status quo behind palace doors as well.”
The history of Charles and Diana’s divorce
The legal battle between King Charles and Princess Diana culminated in a finalized divorce in 1996, just a year before Diana’s tragic death in a Paris car crash.
The couple, who married in 1981, had been living separately since 1992. That same year, then-British Prime Minister John Major confirmed their separation in the House of Commons, stating:
“This decision has been reached amicably, and they will both continue to participate fully in the upbringing of their children.”
The late Queen Elizabeth II formally approved the divorce in 1996, marking a significant moment in modern royal history.
William’s recent legal move raises further speculation about his growing independence within the monarchy and his willingness to redefine royal conventions.