Charles Spencer has revisited one of the most painful moments in the British royal family’s modern history, claiming that Princes William and Harry were expected to walk behind their mother’s coffin partly to protect then-Prince Charles from an angry crowd.
Speaking about his new memoir, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, the Earl Spencer described the decision to have the two young princes participate in Princess Diana’s funeral procession as deeply troubling.
According to Spencer’s account, he did not believe William and Harry should have been required to walk behind their mother’s coffin. He has suggested that the boys were placed in the procession not only as grieving children, but also as a way to calm public anger and prevent King Charles from facing boos or heckling along the route.
Diana’s Funeral Procession at a Glance
The young princes walked behind their mother’s coffin with then-Prince Charles, Prince Philip and Charles Spencer.
The claim adds another layer to one of the most emotionally charged public scenes of the twentieth century. On September 6, 1997, William, then 15, and Harry, then 12, walked behind Diana’s coffin from St. James’s Palace to Westminster Abbey alongside their father, grandfather Prince Philip, and uncle Charles Spencer.
The image of the two brothers walking through the enormous London crowd became one of the defining photographs of Diana’s funeral. But both princes have since spoken about how difficult the experience was.
Book cover courtesy of Penguin Books.
Read Charles Spencer’s New Diana Memoir
Swan Song: Diana, My Sister by Charles Spencer is now available.
Buy on AmazonAffiliate disclosure: If you purchase through this link, Royally Inspired may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
In his 2017 documentary, Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy, William said he was surprised that he had been expected to take part in the procession. Harry has also described the experience as profoundly painful, recalling the thousands of people watching as he walked behind his mother’s coffin.
Spencer’s account suggests that there may have been another consideration behind the decision: concern about how the public might react to King Charles, who remained deeply unpopular with many people following the breakdown of his marriage to Diana and his relationship with Camilla.
The claim has not been independently proven, and it reflects Spencer’s personal recollection of events. However, it comes at a significant moment, as his memoir has reopened questions about the decisions made by the royal family in the days following Diana’s death.
Spencer has also alleged that King Charles made a deeply hurtful remark during a conversation about Diana’s funeral arrangements, claiming that the King said, “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.” Buckingham Palace has pushed back against the allegation, suggesting that grief can affect memory and judgment. Spencer has rejected that explanation and continues to stand by his recollection.
What Charles Spencer Claims
- He objected to William and Harry walking behind Diana’s coffin.
- The princes were only 15 and 12 years old.
- Palace officials wanted them in the procession to help shield their father from possible public hostility.
- Spencer believes Diana would not have wanted her sons placed in that position.
These allegations reflect Charles Spencer’s account and have not been independently established.
Taken together, the claims present Spencer’s memoir as more than a family account. It is also an argument about how Diana’s death was handled, how her sons were treated, and whether the institution placed public image ahead of the emotional wellbeing of two grieving children.
For William and Harry, the procession remains one of the most painful chapters of their childhood. For Charles Spencer, it appears to represent a decision that should never have been placed on their shoulders.
Swan Song: Diana, My Sister will be published on September 22.
Sources include the CBS Sunday Morning interview coverage and reporting from The Guardian, People
