As Weber State University professor T. Ramakrishn Reddy's son returned to London's Eton College this week, students speculated whether the school's most famous pupil - Prince William - would resume his studies at the prestigious private school following his mother's death.
William was enrolled in the centuries-old school at Princess Diana's insistence because her brother is an alumnus.Reddy said Diana often visited her son and attended school activities.
Last year, 14-year-old Vikash Reddy and the boy who would be king appeared in a musical at the school. Both Diana and Prince Charles attended the performance.
"I hope Charles will continue to do that. Unfortunately, they will not have their mother around. I think people feel such empathy for their children," said Reddy, who teaches political science.
Reddy said the events of the next few weeks may portend how Prince Charles will handle life as a single parent.
British media has reported that Prince William is at odds with his father over Diana's funeral arrangements. William has insisted on walking in the procession behind his mother's coffin. A palace spokesman refused to comment, saying it will announce Thursday where the princes will be stationed.
Diana wanted her boys to experience, as much as possible, a normal childhood. Trips to amusement parks and fast-food joints were interspersed with meetings with the less fortunate.
By contrast, William and younger brother Harry's relationship with their father is characterized in press reports as formal and distant.
Weber State economics professor Sarah Tinkler, a native Brit, said the boys' upbringing has been "a certain tug between Diana and the royals."
She, too, predicts William's lifestyle will more closely resemble his father's upbringing, "cold, formal and a lot of training for future duties."
"At least they're old enough they've had her influence for quite a long time," Tinkler said, adding "I'm sure they (the royals) are caring in their own way."
Tinkler said Princess Diana's loss has been felt across the globe because Diana was "the most normal royal."
"You don't have to be a royal watcher particularly to feel it's a real tragedy. When you grow up in England, you consider the royal family members of your own family. Beyond that, I think a lot of women identify with her. Her supposed fairy tale marriage turned out to be a very hard life despite being so well off. She married a cold man and went through a painful divorce. A lot of women have had that happen to them."
Three days after reading the news of Diana's death in her Sunday newspaper, Tinkler said she is still coming to grips with the loss.
She reeled back to July 29, 1991, when she stood among throngs of Britons who lined London streets to catch a glimpse of Prince Charles and his then 20-year-old bride, Lady Diana Spencer.
"I was the same age, and I thought, `She's way too young to be getting married.' It seemed soppy in a way. I grew to like her, though," Tinkler said in an interview Tuesday.
In fact, Tinkler developed a deep respect for Diana, who embraced controversial social issues such as AIDS, leprosy and most recently, land mines.
Tinkler said she hopes Diana is remembered for shaking the hands of AIDS patients, which at the time helped dispel the belief that the disease could be spread through casual contact.