Prince Harry Shares Sweet Family Tradition of Baking Lemon Drizzle Cake for Princess Diana

Prince Harry has shared a simple family ritual that helps keep Princess Diana’s memory alive for his own children. He, Meghan Markle and their kids bake a lemon drizzle cake every year on her birthday, July 1, and on the anniversary of her death, August 31.

The Duke of Sussex, 41, spoke about the tradition during a Q&A at Scotty’s Summer Festival at Maxstoke Castle in Warwickshire on July 11. He was there in his role as global ambassador for Scotty’s Little Soldiers, the charity that supports children who have lost a parent in military service.

A 16-year-old named Sebastian asked whether Harry and his family mark those dates in any special way. Harry told him they bake lemon drizzle cake. He added that traditions like this really matter, especially the sweet ones.

Harry was 12 when his mother died in the 1997 Paris car crash. He has spoken openly over the years about how grief stays with you and how important it is not to push it aside. In earlier comments this year he described loss as disorienting at any age and talked about the times he felt overwhelmed or had to keep going while carrying private pain.

His appearance at the festival came during a UK trip that also brought a private family reunion. On July 10, King Charles and Queen Camilla welcomed Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet to Highgrove House in Gloucestershire. It was the first time the King had seen his son and grandchildren together in four years. The gathering stayed out of the public eye with no photos released.

Harry has long wanted his children to know their grandmother in some way. The yearly cake baking gives them a quiet, consistent way to remember her on the days that mean the most.