How Prince Philip secretly comforted Prince William at Princess Diana's funeral
Prince Philip was determined to support his grandsons at Princess Diana's funeral, according to a new royal documentary
The Duke of Edinburgh's thoughtful gesture to Prince William at Princess Diana's funeral has been detailed in a new ITV documentary.
- Prince Philip's comforting gesture to Prince William at Princess Diana's funeral has been detailed by a former colleague of the late royal consort.
- The Duke of Edinburgh's legacy has been celebrated in a new ITV documentary, Philip: Prince, Husband, Father.
- In other royal news, Prince William 'enjoying a new version of Christmas', as he noticeably ignores the Sussexes after annus horribilis.
Prince Philip's comforting gesture to his grieving grandsons following the death of their mother has been detailed in a new documentary for ITV.
Philip: Prince, Husband, Father will shed light on the lesser-known family moments of the Queen's late husband, who died aged 99 in April, through "rare archive and audio recordings" and a collection of interviews with biographers, friends, and colleagues.
The documentary comes shortly after Prince William and Duchess Kate banned BBC from Christmas concert broadcast in response to its controversial series, The Princes and the Press.
This latest documentary is unlikely to cause such a stir within the Royal Family, however, focusing heavily on flattering anecdotes about Prince Philip's personal life. In one clip, Martin Palmer, who co-founded The Alliance of Religions and Conservation with Prince Philip, explains how the Duke supported his young grandsons at their mother's funeral in 1997. Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris at the age of 36, leaving behind her two beloved children, William, 15, and Harry, 12.
The heartbroken teenagers walked behind Diana's coffin in the funeral procession at Westminster Abbey on September 6, alongside Prince Charles, Earl Spencer, and Prince Philip. By staying close to his grandsons' side during the painfully long ritual, the Duke was able to comfort them away from the cameras' eye.
"There’s a moment where they go under the Horseguards Parade arch where it’s quite clear that Prince Philip—and I asked him about this he said, "Yes, I didn’t think the cameras could see us"—at that point, he turns to William and comforts him,' Martin said.
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
"You’ve just got to watch that moment and realize, here is a grandfather who is trying to help his young, very vulnerable grandson struggle through this awful awful moment."
It's understood that the Duke of Edinburgh had not intended to take part, but agreed to walk with his grandsons at the last minute in an act of solidarity. Prince Philip made the touching pact with William and Harry at a dinner before the funeral, telling the boys, "I'll walk if you walk."
Philip: Prince, Husband, Father will air on ITV at 9pm on Tuesday, 26 December.
Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.
Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.
-
M&S has the dreamiest white summer dress just like Kate Middleton's
Princess Kate's Zimmerman summer dress has long been discontinued - but M&S have just dropped a rival piece that looks so similar
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
What year is Blue Lights set in and where was it filmed?
Blue Lights is back for another season...
By Jess Bacon Published
-
Prince William just revealed the sweetest detail about Prince Louis
Prince William spoke with volunteers about his youngest son’s favourite sport
By Jess Bacon Published
-
Recent weeks 'precious' for Kate Middleton with 'country walks and snuggles in front of the TV' with George, Charlotte and Louis
The Prince and Princess of Wales have been able to relish in precious family time over the Easter break, according to a royal expert
By Caitlin Elliott Published
-
32 sweet pictures of Prince William and Kate Middleton with their children
There's nothing better than an adorable moment between the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children
By Jack Slater Published
-
32 candid pictures of the Wales family, from world tours to family days out
Whether it's quality time with one of their children or all five of them out together, we love these candid photos of the Waleses
By Jack Slater Published
-
Carole Middleton's 'low-key' pub trip with Prince William as she continues to be Catherine's 'rock'
The future King and his mother-in-law were reportedly spotted enjoying a visit to the local
By Caitlin Elliott Published
-
32 candid photos that capture the real Prince Philip - from having a belly laugh to meeting celebrities
We look back at some of Prince Philip's funniest (and most heartwarming) moments, from sharing a joke with other royals to getting very into sporting events
By Elena Kiratzi Published
-
The best candid pictures of the Prince and Princess of Wales having a great time together
The Prince and Princess of Wales aren't just man and wife - they're best friends who always have a fun time together
By Jack Slater Published
-
32 candid photos of Prince Harry that show his goofy side, from questionable dance moves to being the family joker
From a young age, Prince Harry has always found time to lighten the mood...
By Jack Slater Published