A 1986 video of the late Princess Diana ruling the mom game on the playground has recently been making the rounds (thank you, internet). Taken when Prince William was 4 and Prince Harry only 1, it could be from the archives of any family’s video library and is complete with a near-miss on the ladder and an uncooperative toddler. And judging from its million-plus views, it’s struck a chord.
The video, which features the playset (of death… one look and you know the video must have been shot in the ’80s with all that steel) at Highgrove Estate in Gloucestershire, appears to have been taken to give the public a glimpse of their future King and his brother playing happily together while their mum (because they’re in England) looked on. But the first shot includes a peek at Prince William, who may be trying to escape the camera inside his Little Tykes playhouse. As with every family photoshoot where moms are hoping for the best behavior, Prince William’s glare at the camera—though adorable—can’t be mistaken.
The narrator of the video says the young prince is “an energetic child, but his parents think no more so than any four-year-old.” Cue the knowing glances among mothers across the UK, folks. With their trademark stiff upper lips, this is basically British for “hell on wheels.”
Undeniably adorable, the young princes are shown playing together—Harry shoots down the slide as William makes a tunnel with his legs for him to fly under at the bottom—clambering over the rungs of the ladder, getting stuck on top of the structure and being distinctly unmotivated to call it a day when playtime is over.
Princess Di, meanwhile, is the mom you’d want to chat with on the playground. She’s not a helicopter mom; she only comes to the “rescue” when William is clearly stuck and asks for help. She lets him climb all over the steel structure while holding Harry on her hip, jumping to catch him (though she probably would have failed if he hadn’t gotten a grip as he slipped) when he loses his footing, then cutting him an epic mom stare (paired with a grin) afterward.
And perhaps her greatest flex of all is how she handles William when he runs to hide behind the hedge instead of going inside, as she’d told him. “Alright, Harry will have all the fun then,” she says, as she turns to walk away. “NOOOOOO!” he roars, running after her. Like a total boss, she doesn’t even slow her step. “No, it’s alright,” she says, walking away—while William races to follow her into the house.
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