A new book has brought to light a poignant moment from Prince Harry’s childhood, revealing a deeply moving question he asked after his mother, Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997.
In “A Voyage Around The Queen,” author Craig Brown recounts how a 12-year-old Harry, filled with grief and confusion, wondered aloud if his mother was really gone.
Prince Harry at Princess Diana’s Funeral
Describing the end of the funeral service, Brown writes, “The 100-strong congregation ends the service with a rendition of ‘God Save the Queen.’ After the service, Harry asks, ‘Are you sure Mummy’s really dead?'”
This revelation comes just before the 27th anniversary of Princess Diana’s tragic death in Paris on August 31, 1997, reminding the world of the pain that has lingered since that fateful day.
What did Harry say about his mother’s funeral?
On Sept. 6, 1997, William, 15, and Harry, 12, walked behind their mother’s coffin as it made its way through London. The decision to have the princes make the walk has been widely debated.
In his 2023 memoir, “Spare,” Prince Harry offers a deeply personal account of that day, shedding light on the emotional turmoil that surrounded the funeral. He reflects on the trauma he endured following his mother’s death and how it clouded many of his childhood memories.
Harry recounts the tense discussions that took place in the days leading up to the funeral, revealing that his uncle, Charles Spencer, Diana’s brother, was fiercely opposed to the idea of the young princes walking behind the coffin.
“There was some discussion about the next day’s funeral,” Harry writes. “According to the latest plan, 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.'”
He continues by explaining that there was an alternative proposal: only William, the elder of the two, would make the walk. Harry, as the “spare,” would be spared this ordeal. However, the suggestion was swiftly dismissed.
“It must be both princes. To garner sympathy, presumably,” Harry recalls.
Despite his uncle’s objections, Harry admits he never felt angry about having to walk. In fact, he didn’t want his brother to endure such a painful experience alone.
“Uncle Charles was furious. But I wasn’t,” he confides. “I didn’t want Willy to undergo an ordeal like that without me. Had the roles been reversed, he’d never have wanted me—indeed, allowed me—to go it alone.”
As the moment finally arrived, Harry describes feeling a sense of numbness, his senses narrowing to the crunch of gravel beneath his feet.
“Off we went, all together,” he recounts. “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.”
Harry continues to describe the moments that remain etched in his memory: “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.”
But the strongest memory of all for Harry is the soundscape of that day.
“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.”
He adds, “There wasn’t one engine, one lorry, one bird. There wasn’t one human voice, which was impossible, because two million people lined the roads. The only hint that we were marching through a canyon of humanity was the occasional wail.”
Prince Harry in New York
To honor his mother’s memory, Prince Harry is set to host an event in New York City next month, marking another effort to keep her spirit alive. However, it seems that Prince William will not be joining his brother at the Diana Award event.
Dr. Tessy Ojo, CEO of the Diana Award, confirmed Harry’s role, stating, “In our 25th year, The Diana Award is delighted to be leading an event with Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex in New York this September.”