Prince William and Prince Harry ‘roll up their sleeves and get involved, says CEO of The Diana Award

Prince William and Prince Harry ‘roll up their sleeves and get involved and never do things just for the photos’, the chief executive of the Diana Award has insisted.

The royal brothers, despite their reported current rift, have both been brought up to look after their mother’s legacy, according to CEO Tessy Ojo, who runs the charity founded to promote Princess Diana’s belief in the positive power of young people.

Opening up about her working relationship with the princes to OK!, Tessy also revealed that the Duke of Sussex, 36, is still very much involved with the charity despite now living in America with his wife Meghan Markle and their son Archie.

London-based Tessy, 49, said: ‘Both the brothers are the best. I love the fact that they care deeply. They never do things just for the photos, they roll up their sleeves. They’ve been brought up to look after their mother’s legacy.

‘… The princes continue what she started. Even though Prince Harry is in America, he’s still involved. He attended our awards ceremony over the summer virtually. Not being in the UK won’t stop him being involved.’

She added that she was sad to see the Duke of Sussex leave Britain following his decision to step back from his royal duties but added that ‘people have to do what’s right for them.’

Tessy is a recipient of a CBE, having been named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list earlier this month.

The royal brothers, despite their reported current rift, have both been brought up to look after their mother’s legacy, according to CEO Tessy Ojo, who runs the charity founded to promote Princess Diana’s belief in the positive power of young people. Pictured, Harry with Meghan

The mother-of-two was congratulated by both brothers, with the Duke of Cambridge, 38, sending Tessy a personal letter after thanking her for continuing his mother’s legacy. 

She also received a note from the Duke of Sussex’s office, offering his congratulations, and said she felt ‘honoured’ and would ‘cherish’ the messages.

Speaking to the publication about how she ditched her well-paid corporate job 20 years ago to pursue charitable endeavours, Tessy said she wouldn’t have been able to do it without the support of her husband Stephen, 51. 

Her comments come after royal biographer Robert Lacey, who is the author of Battle of Brothers, a new book that examines the rift between the two Dukes, said the siblings have ‘five months to heal their rift’ or their relationship will never recover.

 Her comments come after royal biographer Robert Lacey, who is the author of Battle of Brothers, a new book that examines the rift between the two Dukes (pictured with their wives in March 2020), said the siblings have ‘five months to heal their rift’ or their relationship will never recover

Speaking to Newsweek, he said the rift between the princes must be resolved by the end of a 12-month review of Harry and Meghan’s new working relationship, due in March.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are currently midway through their year-long probation period, at the end of which the Queen, 94, Prince Charles, 71, and Prince William will come together to review their relationship with the monarchy. 

Robert explained that the relationship would become irreparable if Prince William takes on Prince Harry’s former military title as Captain General of Royal Marines.

He added: ‘There have been stories that it’s going to be assigned to William. Were that to be the case, that would be the end of it.

‘Either it goes in the direction of some sort of compromise or reconciliation or there has to be some break.’