Prince Harry and Meghan Markle plant Diana's favourite flowers on anniversary of her death

Prince Harry has marked the anniversary of his mother’s death by planting her favourite flower with pre-school children in Los Angeles.

Diana was killed in a car accident in Paris on 31 August, 1997. Harry, now living in California with his wife Meghan Markle, spent the 23rd anniversary of her death at the Preschool Learning Center where they helped the children replant their learning garden.

The couple brought forget-me-nots with them, Diana’s favourite flower.

Last week, Harry and his brother Prince William confirmed the statue of their mother, which they commissioned in 2017, will be installed in Kensington Palace next year.

Pictures of Harry, 35, and Meghan, 39, working in the pre-school garden alongside the children were released on the Assistance League of Los Angeles Instagram account.

They show the couple in face coverings as they get involved in the planting. In one image Meghan can be seen raising up her messy hands as a little boy helps water the plants she’s put in.

Read more: Could Meghan Markle be US President despite being a member of the royal family?

In another, Harry shows one of the children how to replant from a pot.

The couple planted flowers and vegetables including California wildflower, tomatoes, squash and sweet peas.

Harry and Meghan also read to the children during the visit, choosing books about planting, and vegetables, as well as Jack and the Beanstalk.

Assistance League explained: “For more than 100 years, @TheLeague_LA has been providing early education services to children in need. Our nationally-accredited preschool instructs 40 students from low-income L.A. families.”

Yahoo UK understand this is not the first time the couple has volunteered at the centre, and it’s close to where Meghan went to High School.

Harry and William spoke about Diana extensively in 2017, during the 20th anniversary of her death, but they indicated they would not be discussing their memories of her frequently from then on.

Harry and Meghan have been back in Los Angeles since March, having moved over to California as the border between the US and Canada closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

They plan to launch their own non-profit organisation, but coronavirus and the issues around the Black Lives Matter movement in the US have delayed the start of Archewell.

Harry and Meghan bought their first home in the state earlier this summer, where they live with their son Archie.

Read more: Statue of Princess Diana to be installed in Kensington Palace next year

Meghan has said she is glad to be back in the US “for so many reasons”, while Harry revealed he is “loving it” on the US west coast during an interview with rugby league players.

But he also said he would be back in the UK next year - and would have been back this year too, had it not been for COVID restrictions.

The couple were expected to be back in the UK for events like the London Marathon, which the Duke of Sussex attends, as well as Trooping the Colour and to spend some of the summer in Scotland with the Queen at Balmoral.

However they would have to quarantine for 14 days were they to come to the UK from the US.