Prince Philip made this touching pact with William and Harry at Princess Diana's funeral
Prince Philip made a special agreement with William and Harry at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997
Prince Philip's heartfelt pact with his grandsons at Princess Diana's funeral has been revealed.
- Prince Philip made a poignant pact with his bereft grandsons at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997.
- The Duke of Edinburgh's touching agreement with Prince William and Prince Harry reflected the tight bond he had with the two boys.
- In other royal news, The Crown bosses release Prince Philip statement following his death.
Prince Philip has died aged 99, but his legacy within the Royal Family is unlikely to ever expire.
While the Duke of Edinburgh was known publicly for his heroic acts in World War II as a Navy officer, he was also understood to be very caring in private towards his grandsons following the tragic death of Princess Diana in 1997.
The royal veteran was reportedly extremely concerned for Prince William and Prince Harry during their mother's funeral arrangements, insisting that their wellbeing be prioritized by its organizers. According to a former government official, Prince Philip became uncharacteristically outspoken before the ceremony.
“We were all talking about how William and Harry should be involved and suddenly came Prince Philip’s voice,” he told the Evening Standard. “We hadn’t heard from him before, but he was really anguished. ‘It’s about the boys,’ he cried, ‘They’ve lost their mother.’”
Prince Philip was adamant to be by his grandsons' sides throughout the heartwrenching ordeal, proposing that they all walk together in the funeral procession. He reportedly said, "I'll walk if you walk," to the boys at a dinner before the service.
Along with Princess Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, and Prince Charles, he walked solemnly behind the flower-adorned casket with Prince William, 15, and Prince Harry, 12.
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Prince William later revealed the collective walk was incredibly painful for him, as he strained to maintain his composure under the glare of the public eye. In a 2017 appearance on the BBC documentary, Diana, 7 Days, he recalled the struggle to find 'balance between me being Prince William and having to do my bit, versus the private William who just wanted to go in a room and cry because he'd lost his mother.'
Harry also shared his thoughts on the matter in the film, revealing that he doesn't regret the decision. "Generally, I don't have an opinion on whether that was right or wrong. I am glad I was part of it. Looking back on it now, I am very glad I was part of it," he said.
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.
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