Reason Prince Philip 'exploded at question about William and Harry over Princess Diana's funeral'
Diana's funeral took place on September 6, 1997Prince Philip reportedly “exploded” over a question about whether Prince William and Prince Harry would walk behind their mother Princess Diana’s coffin at her funeral.
September 6 marks the anniversary of Diana’s funeral. It took place 28 years ago in 1997, following her death days earlier on August 31. Diana died at the age of 36 following a car crash in Paris.
Her funeral was watched by billions around the world, and heartbreakingly saw a very young William and Harry walk behind their mother’s coffin as it made its way to Westminster Abbey.
Prince William and Harry walked behind their mother’s coffin at her funeral
William was 15 and Harry was 12 when Diana died. On the day of Diana’s funeral, the two boys were seen bravely walking behind the hearse carrying her coffin as it made its way through London to Westminster Abbey for the service.
Their father, the then-Prince Charles, grandfather Prince Philip, and their uncle and Diana’s brother Charles Spencer walked alongside William and Harry.
However, according to royal author Tom Bower, the night before the funeral saw Philip lash out at the then-Prime Minister Tony Blair’s aides over a question regarding the young princes.
In his 2018 book Rebel King, reported by the Daily Mail, Bower explained how Blair and his Downing Street aides tried to help the royal family navigate the death of Diana amid public outrage.
Prince Philip ‘exploded’ at Tony Blair’s aides over funeral question
The royal family faced criticism following Diana‘s death, mainly for remaining quiet in the days following the tragedy. Some members of the public thought they should have done more to express their grief.
At the time, as previously reported by the BBC, Blair defended the royal family and insisted they were sorting complex arrangements for the funeral as well as comforting William and Harry.
In his book, Bower claimed that Blair “saw his duty to ‘protect the monarchy’ from the public’s rage”.
However, then reportedly came the question of whether Charles, William, and Harry would walk behind Diana’s coffin.
Bower wrote: “During a discussion with Blair’s aides, Prince Philip, speaking on the phone from Balmoral, had exploded about the spin doctors’ insensitivity.
“‘[Bleep] off. We are talking about two boys who have lost their mother.'”
However, according to Bower, the question was “finally resolved over the family dinner on the night before the funeral”.
What did Philip say to William and Harry about walking behind Diana’s coffin?
According to Philip’s friend, Gyles Brandreth, the Duke of Edinburgh had not planned to walk behind Diana’s coffin.
However, he reportedly said to his grandsons: “If I walk, will you walk with me?”
Both William and Harry have spoken of the immense grief they endured after losing their beloved mother.
In his 2023 memoir, Spare, Prince Harry opened up about the funeral. Speaking about walking in the procession behind his mother’s coffin, Harry said: “The coffin would be pulled through the streets on a horse-drawn carriage by the King’s Troop while Willy and I followed on foot. It seemed a lot to ask of two young boys. Several adults were aghast. Mummy’s brother, Uncle Charles, raised hell. ‘You can’t make these boys walk behind their mother’s coffin! It’s barbaric.'”
Harry felt ‘numb’ at Diana’s funeral
He added: “Off we went, all together. Uncle Charles on my right, Willy to his right, followed by Grandpa [Prince Philip]. And on my left was Pa. I noted at the start how serene Grandpa looked, as if this was merely another royal engagement. I could see his eyes, clearly, because he was gazing straight ahead. They all were. But I kept mine down on the road. So did Willy.
Read more: Princess Diana’s brother Charles Spencer brings flowers to her burial site on death anniversary
“I remember feeling numb, I remember clenching my fists. I remember keeping a fraction of Willy always in the corner of my vision and drawing loads of strength from that.
“Most of all I remember the sounds, the clinking bridles and clopping hooves of the six sweaty brown horses, the squeaking wheels of the gun carriage they were hauling…. I believe I’ll remember those few sounds for the rest of my life, because they were such a sharp contrast to the otherwise all-encompassing silence.”
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