Prince Harry and William walked side by side following the Queen’s coffin, much as they once did 25 years ago after the tragic death of their mother, Princess Diana.
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The Queen’s coffin was carried from Buckingham palace to Westminster Hall, and the brothers solemnly marched behind as thousands of mourners lined the streets.
Her Majesty’s coffin was draped with the Royal Standard and topped with the glittering, priceless Imperial State Crown on a purple Velvet Cushion with a wreath of white flowers.
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The flowers were white roses, white dahlias, spray white roses, and foliage, including pine grown in the gardens at Balmoral, lavender, pittosporum, and rosemary from the gardens at Windsor.
The coffin was carried on a Gun Carriage of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, which was also used for the coffins of the late Queen’s mother and father.
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When Princess Diana died, William was 15, and Harry was 12. The two brothers seemed nearly lost in shock and sadness.
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The young men were lean, gangly, and dressed in black coats that seemed about two sizes too big.
They had lost their mom, who was violently taken from them in a car crash in a Paris tunnel while being chased by paparazzi on motorcycles. Diana was only 36 years old, just a year younger than Harry is today.
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Harry would later say that he tried to hide under his bangs during the precession. He would tell Angela Levin, the author of “Conversations with the Prince,” that he did not think we should ever see such a scene again.
“I don’t think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances.”
He said, “No child should lose their mother at such a young age and then have his grief observed by thousands of people.”
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As for his older brother, William spoke of the “numbness” he felt that day.
Diana’s funeral was filled with raw emotion, and thousands of British people openly sobbed, a few quite overcome with grief at the loss of “The Queen of Hearts.”
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On Wednesday, the scene was more somber and restrained. The Queen lived to be 96 years old, and many knew the day could come at any time. According to the palace, Her Majesty passed away peacefully. There were a lot of gasps of surprise but much less shock.
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Many believe that the funeral might be an opportunity for William and Harry to reconcile over the split between Harry and the Royal Family.
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Sources:
- “William and Harry walk together behind Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin” Washington Post.
