Prince Harry recalls heartbreak of walking behind his mother’s coffin

Prince Harry was only 12, when his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, was tragically killed in a car crash. He recalls the heartbreak of walking miles behind her coffin in front of thousands of people.

Twenty years after his mother’s death, Prince Harry, now 32, has opened up about the heartbreak he experienced on the day of his mother’s funeral.

In an interview with Newsweek he recalled the moment he was forced to walk behind his late mother’s coffin alongside his older brother Prince William, his father Prince Charles, his grandfather Prince Philip and his uncle, Earl Spencer, in a funeral procession through the streets.

“My mother had just died, and I had to walk a long way behind her coffin, surrounded by thousands of people watching me while millions more did on television,” he told the publication. “I don’t think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances.

He added: “I don’t think it would happen today.”

“My mother died when I was very young. I didn’t want to be in the position I was in, but I eventually pulled my head out of the sand, started listening to people, and decided to use my role for good,” he said. “I sometimes still feel I am living in a goldfish bowl, but I now manage it better. I still have a naughty streak too, which I enjoy and is how I relate to those individuals who have got themselves into trouble.”

“My mother took a huge part in showing me an ordinary life, including taking me and my brother to see homeless people. Thank goodness I’m not completely cut off from reality,” he said. “People would be amazed by the ordinary life William and I live.”

Prince William recently confessed that he and Prince Harry felt they let their mother down because they failed to protect her. Read more on that here.

They are certainly very down to earth. Diana must be so proud of her boys.

Share your comments below.

14 Comments

- - mom81879 said
  - 21 Mar 2018
    9:52 am
Diana did a brilliant job with her two boys, even tho she left them so early, I’m sure she would be extremely proud. My heart went out to these boys having to do this. Harry is right, no child should have to do that, no matter what their circumstances

- - mom94125 said
  - 05 Oct 2017
    11:26 pm
everyone would remember this moment in time. very iconic and sad to watch

- - mom101628 said
  - 03 Aug 2017
    9:38 pm
I’m sure Diana is still watching over her boys. She has done more to bind the monarchy to the public than she will ever know.

- - june11 said
  - 10 Jul 2017
    11:50 pm
It is heartbreaking enough travelling in a car behind the hearse.
I don’t think the boys were given any options.

- - BellaB said
  - 28 Jun 2017
    4:03 pm
I remember saying at the time that it was a cruel thing to do to a kid.

- - mom160421 said
  - 28 Jun 2017
    11:50 am
I cannot imagine how hard it must be for a child to know their parent is encased in a coffin. A very sad thing to go through at any age.

- - Ellen said
  - 28 Jun 2017
    7:36 am
It’s hard for anyone to walk beside/behind the coffin of a loved one, let alone when you’re 12 ! Beautiful how prince Harry shares about this.

- - nealsq said
  - 27 Jun 2017
    9:53 pm
I have read another article that said they were given the choice as to whether they wanted to do the walk or not because of the difficult nature of it

- - mom206279 said
  - 27 Jun 2017
    9:50 pm
The way these two men are so open about their mum is so incredible. They are both beautiful humans.
- mom93821 replied
  
  28 Jun 2017 , 7:28 am
  I agree – they appear to be so respectful and well adjusted. Some royals do not give back to the public but they seem too – which is wonderful.
  - mom90758 replied
    
    28 Jun 2017 , 3:19 pm
    
    Yes, they look like common people. Even if they aren’t. And that’s what makes them really special. 🙂
- - mom93821 said
  - 27 Jun 2017
    6:41 pm
Harry impresses me more and more each day with his attitude. I agree with him – it must have been so difficult and I was amazed then and still am at how they managed to do that heart breaking walk.

- - mom90758 said
  - 27 Jun 2017
    2:54 pm
I really like Harry, his sweetness, kindness and the way he handles a lot of things. I agree that it must have atrocious for him to walk behind the coffin, with all eyes on them, and feel so sad and desperate inside for loosing his lovely mum.

- - mom112217 said
  - 27 Jun 2017
    12:52 pm
That would have been so hard for him and Harry and l remember watching it on t.v.His mother would be so proud of her boys.