In a move that’s drawing attention across royal circles, Prince William has quietly hired the legal team that once stood beside his mother, Princess Diana, during one of the most turbulent periods of her life.
The decision to work with Mishcon de Reya — instead of the law firm long used by King Charles — signals more than just a legal preference.
Prince William Hire Divorce Lawyers
According to sources close to the matter, William’s decision wasn’t made lightly. He wanted to “strike out on his own” and make it clear that he won’t be following every royal custom.
His choice to move away from Harbottle & Lewis, the firm trusted by King Charles and the broader royal household for decades, has reportedly ruffled a few feathers behind the scenes.
At the heart of this legal shift is a symbolic connection. Mishcon de Reya isn’t just any law firm. It’s the same one that represented Princess Diana during her 1996 divorce from then-Prince Charles.
Anthony Julius, the deputy chairman of the firm, was her legal representative throughout that high-profile split. But his role extended beyond the courtroom. He was also a confidant — someone Diana trusted deeply during her most vulnerable moments.
In fact, Diana once shared chilling fears with Lord Mischon, founder of the firm. She confided that she feared someone would try to harm her in a staged car accident.
Those concerns were documented and eventually handed to the Metropolitan Police. The note included her worry that if not killed, she might be made to seem mentally unstable.
Tragically, Diana died in a car crash in Paris just two years after expressing those fears — a loss that shocked the world and left a lasting scar on her sons.
While Kensington Palace has not officially commented on the change, insiders say the move was about more than legal strategy. It was a personal decision, rooted in independence and a desire to do things differently.
“He wants to be his own man,” a source revealed to MailOnline. Another added that William is determined to show that he can lead with a modern approach, distinct from his father’s traditionalist ways.
William has already been quietly reshaping the royal image. In January, he made headlines for openly expressing his love for his wife, Princess Kate — a rare and touching public gesture that many saw as a break from the royal family’s reserved image.