One of the Queen’s most trusted aides has revealed how William and Harry were persuaded by their grandfather, Prince Philip, to follow behind their mother’s coffin on the eve of her funeral, saying: ‘I’ll walk if you walk.’
Sir Malcom Ross, the courtier responsible for planning the event, says the decision wasn’t made until the royals gathered for a ‘family supper’ hours before Princess Diana was laid to rest on September 6, 1997.
Clearly sensing his beloved grandsons’ anguish over the issue, the Queen’s husband turned and offered to personally accompany them if they chose to walk behind the cortege to Westminster Abbey in front of the crowds.
He said: ‘The involvement of the princes on the day, we didn’t address until the last possible moment.
‘I understand it was at a family supper on the Friday night at Buckingham Palace that the decision was made and Prince Philip, after some discussion, said to the boys, “I’ll walk, if you walk”.’
One of the Queen’s most trusted aides has revealed how William and Harry were persuaded by their grandfather, Prince Philip, to follow behind their mother’s coffin on the eve of her funeral
Prince William was particularly reluctant to walk in the funeral procession to Westminster Abbey, before being persuaded by his grandfather
Sir Malcom Ross, the courtier responsible for planning the event, says the discussion over whether the boys should walk behind the coffin or not was held off until the last moment
Sir Malcom is the most senior member of the Royal Household ever to speak about Diana’s death and features extensively in the new ITV documentary, narrated by actress Kate Winslet, Diana: The Day Britain Cried
Made by Finestripe Productions to mark the 20th anniversary of her death, and with the knowledge of William and Harry, its executive producer, Sue Summers, describes the funeral as the ‘great untold story of her death’
Both William and Harry, who were aged 15 and 12 when their mother died, have recently spoken of their anguish at having to walk in front of the crowds.
Harry, who has sought professional help to deal with his grief, has gone further, saying: ‘No child should be asked to do that.’
Prince William, then 15, and his brother Harry, 12, picked out the floral arrangement for their mother’s coffin, according to their former Royal Protection Officer
The arrangement of white roses contained a note from her sons, in an enveloped marked Mummy
Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, has gone so far as to claim that he was lied to by a palace courtier who told him that the boys wanted to join the cortege.
It has been suggested that some courtiers were keen for the young princes to be there as, while they did not want Lord Spencer to walk alone with his sister, they were also concerned at what reaction Prince Charles might receive from the crowds.
The documentary also reveals William and Harry’s final touching tribute to their mother at her funeral.
How Elton’s Candle In The Wind was BANNED from the funeral
Elton John was originally barred from singing Candle In The Wind because its references to Marilyn Monroe were deemed inappropriate for a royal funeral.
But when Elton John’s lyricist, Bernie Taupin, changed the lyrics, Westminster Abbey’s director of musical services loved it.
Martin Neary, who was responsible for music at the service, says: ‘I certainly felt there had to be something representing the era of Princess Diana. When the name of Elton John came up, I think I really didn’t know quite what to think at that point.
‘The question came up of what he should sing. When I gathered that the favoured choice was “Candle In The Wind”, I had to say to Elton that really there was no possible chance that could be used at the service [because of references to Marilyn].
‘Elton John contacted his lyricist Bernie Taupin, who was in California, and in a matter of hours he came up with this amazing title, “Goodbye England’s Rose”.’
Elton John was originally barred from singing Candle In The Wind because its references to Marilyn Monroe were deemed inappropriate for a royal funeral
Former Royal Protection Officer Lisa Webb who organised the boys’ floral tributes to their mother revealed how the young princes picked out an arrangement of white roses, a favourite of their mothers, to sit on top of her coffin as it made its way to Westminster Abbey.
‘The flowers were chosen by the princes,’ she explained.
According to the production company Finestripe Productions ‘Diana: The Day Britain Cried constructs a powerful minute-by-minute account of that day, from the chime of the tenor bell marking Diana’s departure from Kensington Palace on a lonely gun carriage to the remarkable journey of the hearse along a deserted motorway to her final resting place at her family home of Althorp.’
Diana: The Day Britain Cried, ITV, 29 August at 8pm
Princess Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris almost 20 years ago, and a new ITV documentary will revisit the day of her funeral on 6th September 1997
The boys were persuaded to walk in the funeral procession by their grandfather Prince Philip who said he would accompany them if they did it
Reports suggest that Earl Spencer wanted to walk behind Diana’s coffin alone, and that William and Harry had to be persuaded to take part in the procession