In 1995, Princess Diana confided in her lawyer, Lord Mishcon, fearing she might be killed in a staged car accident. Her concerns were recorded in a note, which was only shared with French investigators six years after her 1997 fatal crash in Paris. Even her family, including Princes William and Harry, were unaware of its existence for years.

Now, in a major break from tradition, Prince William has chosen Mishcon de Reya, the same law firm that handled Diana’s divorce, instead of King Charles’s long-time lawyers, Harbottle & Lewis.

A source revealed that William wanted independence, signaling a shift from his father’s approach. While Harbottle & Lewis has long represented the Royal Family—including during the 2006 phone-hacking scandal—William’s move has delighted Mishcon, particularly Anthony Julius, who was a key legal figure in Diana’s divorce.

The decision underscores William’s determination to forge his own path, separate from that of King Charles.