Prince William surprised his well-wishers as the Duke of Cambridge thanked them personally for marking his mother’s birthday.
The fans were gathered outside Kensington Palace since 5.30am to remember what would have been Diana, Princess of Wales’ 58th birthday.
At around 6.45pm they were surprised to see Prince William walk quietly and without fanfare through the palace gates into Kensington Gardens with a small security detail.
William came near to the group of six, who was standing with pictures of his late mother along with bunting and flowers and shook each by the hand.
‘William told me he knew we’d been coming here for years and thanked us for what we were doing for his mother,’ said 59-year-old fan John Loughrey, from south-west London. ‘I’m still shaking now. I feel very emotional,’ he added.
Mr. Loughrey said the prince also praised the badges of Diana on his hat and said he thought it was ‘wonderful’ that they were celebrating his mother’s life and legacy.
‘He said ‘I’m touched by what you do, you’ve got quite the collection’. I told him that I pray for his mother every Sunday at Westminster Abbey and he seemed really touched.
‘He shook my hand three times, he has a really firm shake, and I felt a beautiful feeling go through my body. I think I’m still shaking now. I feel very emotional.’
Mr. Loughrey asked when the much-talked-about the statue to his late mother would finally be effected in her memory outside the palace.
William pointed out to the place of his gardens, where it would be situated, and said: ‘Soon, very soon. We just want to make sure it is right. It’s important to get it right.’
When asked why he held a vigil on the princess’s birthday and the anniversary of her death Mr. Loughrey added: ‘She was born with two hearts, one for her and one for us. People must never forget that.
‘I have never spoken to William before, only seen him, but he made a beeline for me and he knew who I was. I am so touched. He seemed really moved that we were here.’
Another fan was Maria Scott, 48, from Newcastle, and Sky London, 59, from Paddington.
The sky had been asleep when the prince arrived but was woken by his friends.
He said: ‘William said a friend had taken a photo of me asleep earlier and showed it to him.’
Maria added: ‘We are here to honor Diana’s legacy. We are two generations down now and there are children growing up who don’t even know who she is. It’s important that we remind them and remember.
‘None of us could believe it when William suddenly walked down the drive to come and thank us. He really is his mother’s son.’
The prince spent seven minutes with the people and chatted to the six-strong group, he left when crowds started to gather, saying it was a private visit.