Prince William, at 42 years old, has penned a heartfelt letter to the latest recipients of the Diana Award. These recipients will be honored on Thursday, December 5, during a virtual ceremony. His brother Prince Harry, 40, is also set to make a video contribution at this non-profit event that bears the name of their late mother, Princess Diana.

Impact and Pride

This year marks the significant 25th anniversary of the charity. In his letter, William commended the recipients for their "kindness and compassion" as they make unique contributions to their communities. He expressed his pride, stating, "I am so proud of the impact every one of you has had on your communities and beyond. You are driven by kindness and compassion, and through this you are all changing the world for the better."At times, the world can seem uncertain and unfamiliar, yet the Prince of Wales noted that he is heartened by the achievements of young people like these. He continued, "I know my mother, in whose memory you receive the Diana Award today, would be immensely proud of you. I hope this award helps you to further champion your cause and support those around you."

Global Reach and Record Numbers

In its largest-ever awards, the charity will honor 200 young people from 45 countries. The United States had a remarkable record-breaking number of award winners this year, with 34 recipients hailing from the country that Harry now calls home.The awards will be live on YouTube from 10 a.m. EST (3 p.m. in the U.K.) on December 5. This global event showcases the power of young leaders in transforming their communities and driving lasting change.

Royal Contributions

Although the royal brothers may be estranged, they have both made a point of contributing to the support for the Diana Award. This year, William was the guest of honor and delivered the main speech at the Legacy Awards dinner, meeting the 20 recipients in person earlier in London. Harry, on the other hand, spoke to them via video link after the event and also participated in the Diana Award event at the annual Concordia Summit in September in New York City.During the September event, Harry praised the recipients, saying, "I applaud you for certainly, [at] your age, to be on this stage, to have the confidence that you do, and to be able to speak as clearly and as passionately as you do. And I know that my mom would be incredibly proud of you guys, not just you, but all of the award winners."

Exceptional Young Leaders

This year, the Diana Award has received more applications for recognition than ever before, solidifying its status as a truly global award. The charity describes its 200 honorees as "exceptional young leaders" who are "transforming their communities, driving lasting change and creating a fairer, more equitable society for all."The young people's "causes and backgrounds are diverse, but they are united in their innate desire to affect positive change, mobilizing and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps."Dr. Tessy Ojo CBE, the chief executive of the Diana Award, warmly congratulated the new recipients. She said, "This event is special, as it marks our 25th anniversary year and our most competitive year yet with record nominations. This new cohort of Diana Award recipients demonstrate that young people have the power to change the world; a belief also held by Diana, Princess of Wales."