Diana was the first member of the British royal family to have contact with AIDS victims.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry sent a sweet message to the LGBTQ community at the start of Pride Month on Saturday, also honoring Harry's late mother and the work she did to destigmatize HIV/AIDS.
The royal couple shared a collage of images on Instagram, writing, "We stand with you and support you." Meghan and Harry said they continued their tradition of only following accounts that support causes that matter to them.
Within the collage was an image of Princess Diana, Harry's late mom. She was sitting on the hospital bed of an AIDS patient in London in 1996.
Diana began her work in the 80s, at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. She was the first member of the British royal family to have contact with AIDS victims. She was famously photographed hugging and shaking the hands of people with the disease.
In 1995, she had told the BBC that she "would like a monarchy that has more contact with its people."
Harry spoke of his mother's embraces in 2017 at the Attitude Awards, saying, "she knew exactly what she was doing. She was using her position as Princess of Wales – the most famous woman in the world – to challenge everyone to educate themselves; to find their compassion; and to reach out to those who need help instead of pushing them away."
He added: "I often wonder about what she would be doing to continue the fight against HIV and AIDS if she were still with us today."
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