Queen Elizabeth’s Balmoral estate offers a variety of amenities and activities that would satisfy the needs of any member of the royal family. For Prince William and Prince Harry, the Scottish residence is more than their grandmother’s vacation home.

In 1997, the boys were on holiday with the Queen when they learned about Princess Diana’s death. However, due to their desire to make the most out of the time in Scotland, they kept their phone call with their mother short, unaware it would be their last conversation with her.

Over the years, Prince William and Prince Harry have expressed their regrets about how they handled their phone call with their mother. In Andrew Morton’s 2011 book, “William and Catherine,” the author revealed details about the final words Princess Diana exchanged with her children.

At the time of her death, William was 15 years old was Harry was 12. The boys expected Diana to fly from Paris to the UK the following day and spoke to her a few hours before her death.

During their last conversation, William told Diana about Harry’s trouble in school. “While Diana lay on the deck of a luxury yacht under the Mediterranean sun, William was concerned about an edict from Buckingham Palace that he had to attend a photocall to mark his third year at Eton,” Morton wrote.

Since Harry was being held back a year, William was worried the mishap would hurt his agreement with the press. In exchange for a photocall, the paparazzi would not bother William during the school year. Although Diana agreed to discuss the matter with Prince Charles once she returned, the conversation never happened.

Queen Elizabeth tried to shield her grandsons from the public by remaining on vacation in Balmoral following Diana’s death. However, her plan backfired in more ways than one.

The royal family continues to visit Balmoral each year, but Prince William and Prince Harry have not forgotten the heartbreak they felt when they learned about their mother’s death. In May, the 37-year-old reflected on the devastating loss while appearing in a Royal Team Talk documentary.

“I’ve thought about this a lot […] I think when you are bereaved at a very young age, you feel pain like no other pain,” he said.

Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris, alongside her lover, Dodi Al-Fayed, and their driver, Henri Paul. Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry and several other members of the royal family attended Diana’s funeral service.

Prince William and Prince Harry
Prince William and Prince Harry are pictured hosting a reception to officially open the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference on Oct. 10, 2018 in London, England. Tolga Akmen - WPA Pool / Getty Images