Queen Elizabeth breaking royal protocol at Princess Diana's funeral was a 'sign of respect'
Princess Diana's funeral took place on September 6, 1997...Queen Elizabeth II’s unexpected gesture at Princess Diana‘s funeral was a sign of ‘respect’, a body language expert revealed.
While the late queen was a stickler for tradition, she did break royal protocol once or twice during her record-breaking 70 years on the throne. One of those rare times was at the funeral of Princess Diana.
The former Princess of Wales passed away following a tragic car crash in Paris in 1997. Her funeral took place a week later, with millions lining the streets to say their final farewells.
Queen Elizabeth II broke royal protocol at Princess Diana’s funeral
The royals have to follow a long list of rules. Whether they avoid eating shellfish or refuse to sign their name for fans, they are steeped in protocol.
However, the biggest supporter of tradition was Queen Elizabeth, until she broke it for Princess Diana’s funeral.
The late monarch attended the ceremony along with other members of the royal family. Her husband, Prince Philip, joined her grandsons William and Harry, and son Charles, in walking in the funeral procession route.
Before the coffin reached Westminster Abbey, she did something unexpected. As Diana’s coffin passed her by in the cortege, the queen bowed her head. The royal lived her life watching others bowing and curtseying to her, and she didn’t have to bow to anyone as monarch.
Although she didn’t have to, she bowed two other times during her reign. First, after she took the throne in 1953 during her coronation and again at Charles and Diana’s wedding in 1981 as part of the church service.
A ‘sign of respect’
But Queen Elizabeth breaking the cardinal rule at Princess Diana’s funeral was a sign of ‘respect’, a body language expert explained.
Judi James told the Daily Mail: “This gesture was and still is powerful for two key reasons.
“Firstly is to do with protocol and status. As monarch, the Queen was not expected to lower her head to virtually anyone.”
Read more: Why people don’t believe Princess Diana’s death was an accident
She added it was the royal “signalling respect” and “equal status” and the monarch accepting the Princess of Wales’ ‘power and the love’ that people had for her.
Judi added: “It seemed to declare a non-verbal draw and an acceptance of equal status and respect.”
Princess Diana’s funeral remains the most-watched live TV event in the UK. It saw Elton John perform a rewritten version of Candle in the Wind in tribute to the princess.
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