Prince William and Prince Harry were just 15 and 12 years old respectively when their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, tragically died in a car accident in Paris in 1997. As the young princes mourned the loss of their mother, all eyes were on them during the days leading up to Diana’s funeral on September 6, 1997. One of the most iconic and heartbreaking images from the funeral was of Prince William and Prince Harry solemnly walking behind their mother’s coffin as part of the funeral procession. This led many to wonder – did Prince William cry at his mother’s funeral? As the elder brother, Prince William showed remarkable strength and composure throughout the difficult days. However, despite his stoic demeanor, he was still just a grieving child enduring a devastating loss.
The Days Leading Up to the Funeral
In the immediate aftermath of Diana’s death, Prince William and Prince Harry were staying at Balmoral Castle in Scotland with their father, Prince Charles, grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, and other members of the royal family. The family aimed to provide comfort and shield the young princes from the intense media scrutiny as much as possible.
Prince William reportedly was very involved in the funeral planning and approved the various details including the selection of hymns and the list of invitees. As the heir to the throne, this likely helped William gain a sense of control during the terribly upsetting time. Both William and Harry also made the courageous decision to walk behind their mother’s coffin during the funeral procession. Despite their grief, they wanted to honor their mother.
The night before the funeral, Prince Charles brought Prince William and Prince Harry back to Kensington Palace in London which had been their home with Diana. This visit was an emotional one as the princes viewed the vast sea of flowers left by the public outside the palace gates in tribute to their mother.
The Funeral and Procession
On the morning of September 6, 1997, the day of Diana’s funeral, Prince William and Prince Harry were seen greeting and shaking hands with various mourners and guests including Prime Minister Tony Blair and Sir Elton John who performed a rewritten version of his song “Candle in the Wind” as a tribute. Even in these brief public appearances, 15-year-old Prince William maintained a stoic demeanor.
The funeral took place at Westminster Abbey with 2,000 guests in attendance. During the service, Prince William and Prince Harry sat beside their father, brotherly grandmother Frances Shand Kydd, and Diana’s sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale. The young princes showed quiet strength and composure throughout the ceremony.
After the service concluded, Prince William and Prince Harry solemnly walked behind Diana’s coffin, along with their father Prince Charles, grandfather Prince Philip, and Diana’s brother Earl Charles Spencer, as it traveled from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch in Hyde Park.
Prince William was just 15 years old during this difficult procession which was witnessed by crowds of mourners along the route and broadcast to a global television audience of millions. The two princes displayed incredible courage under such an intense public spotlight during a time of tremendous grief.
Did Prince William Cry at the Funeral?
Prince William remained composed all day during the funeral events. There were no visible tears from the young prince in public throughout the service or procession.
However, according to some accounts, Prince William was very distressed after the intense day. When he returned to Kensington Palace, he finally broke down in tears, overwhelmed with grief following his mother’s funeral. Prince Charles remained with both boys back at the palace, consoling them through this painful time.
So while Prince William showed remarkable strength in front of the public, even 15-year-old boys have their breaking point. William pushed through the funeral rituals with composure, but ultimately could not contain his grief forever following the emotional events of the day. Overwhelmed by it all, he cried once safely in private back at home. Prince Harry later said in an interview that he had only cried twice over his mother’s passing – once at her funeral and then again years later in private.
Praise for the Princes’ Strength and Dignity
Despite enduring incredible heartbreak, pain, and trauma at such a young age, Prince William and Prince Harry won praise for their strength, courage, composure, and dignity throughout the difficult days surrounding their mother’s funeral.
The public grief and media frenzy surrounding Diana’s death and funeral were at a level unprecedented for the young royals. However, Prince William and Prince Harry maintained their composure admirably under unimaginable scrutiny for teenage boys. Their solemn dignity was noted as remarkable given the extremely distressing circumstances.
Queen Elizabeth II herself praised Prince William following the funeral, saying, “I am very proud of my grandson. It was difficult for him to handle all those people in Westminster Abbey but he managed it with great dignity.”
Harry later remarked that walking behind Diana’s coffin was “one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It felt she was almost walking beside us to get us through it.” Despite the heartache, they persevered to honor their beloved mother.
Lasting Impact on Prince William
The trauma of losing his mother so suddenly at such a tender age had a profound impact on Prince William that endures to this day. He has spoken about still being haunted by the procession and funeral over two decades later.
According to some psychological experts, the tremendous stress and trauma that Prince William absorbed at age 15 likely shaped aspects of his personality during adulthood such as his serious demeanor and penchant for privacy. His experience with intense grief at a formative age also gave him unique empathy that informs his charitable work around mental health issues.
Prince William himself has spoken about how the trauma of losing his mother sparked his interest in emergency response. He later worked as a helicopter pilot for air ambulance services for several years.
On the 20th anniversary of Diana’s death in 2017, William stated, “Time makes grief less raw, but it doesn’t make it less real.” The pain clearly still runs deep, but Prince William has found meaning and purpose in continuing his mother’s legacy of compassion and service.
Fatherhood and Keeping Diana’s Memory Alive
Now a father of three himself, Prince William keeps Diana’s memory alive for her grandchildren. He introduced the Princess of Wales to her first grandchild by giving his firstborn daughter the name Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana Cambridge.
Prince William gifted his daughter Charlotte with Diana’s diamond and sapphire engagement ring, ensuring that this iconic piece of royal jewelry remains in the family. For Prince William, keeping his mother’s memory alive for future generations remains vitally important.
Conclusion
Prince William and Prince Harry demonstrated true courage, strength, dignity, and resilience well beyond their tender years under unfathomable public scrutiny during the tragic death of their mother and her widely mourned funeral. Though Prince William stayed strong and dry-eyed throughout the public funeral events, he let his stoic façade crumble once back home in private, overwhelmed with grief after the emotional day. While the heartbreaking loss forever shaped his outlook and psyche, the beloved Diana remains an enduring presence in his life as a guiding force and cherished inspiration. Though torn with sadness at Diana’s funeral, the principled young Prince William made his late mother exceptionally proud. His composure and grace under fire exemplified true nobility and honor befitting the future King.