Prince Harry recently revisited a treasured memory from his childhood by bringing his own family to Disneyland—echoing a magical moment he once shared with his late mother, Princess Diana.
In August 1993, eight-year-old Harry and his older brother Prince William, then 11, accompanied Diana on a private trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. The visit came just months after Diana’s separation from Prince Charles and offered the family a rare escape into joy and normalcy.
During their stay, the trio was given an exclusive ride on Splash Mountain, which had been closed to the public for their visit.
Diana, Harry, and William were ushered through Disney’s VIP underground tunnels, accompanied by friends and royal security.
A waiter at Flagler’s restaurant (now Citricos) at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort recalled to PEOPLE, “They were all very nice, very well behaved. She was a sweetheart.”
Fast forward to June 6, when Meghan Markle posted a video montage celebrating their daughter Princess Lilibet’s fourth birthday with a family trip to Disneyland in Anaheim, California—just two days after Lilibet turned four. Their son, Prince Archie, 6, also joined the outing.
“Thank you @disneyland for giving our family two days of pure joy!” Meghan wrote on Instagram, with Peggy Lee’s upbeat tune “It’s a Good Day” playing in the background.
The birthday celebration featured a two-tiered cake inspired by The Little Mermaid—perhaps a nod to Lilibet’s favorite Disney character, who, like her, is a redhead.
Photos and clips in the post showed Meghan, Harry, Lilibet, and Archie all wearing Mickey Mouse ears as they explored the park. Among the attractions they enjoyed was the revamped Splash Mountain ride, now renamed Tiana’s Bayou Adventure since its reimagining in 2024.
The family also stopped to meet characters from Star Wars and Frozen, including stormtroopers and Elsa, and sampled popular park snacks like corndogs and pickles.
In revisiting a place filled with childhood wonder, Harry created a new memory for his children—one that mirrored the joy his mother once gave him.
