Wednesday was an exceptionally
difficult day, as the Duke of Sussex walked in procession with his family
behind the Queen’s coffin as it was carried to Westminster Hall, where it now
lies in state. Harry’s brother, Prince William, spoke about the day,
saying it had reminded him of when he walked behind his mother Princess
Diana’s coffin following her death in 1997.
Jane Wells, who was at
Sandringham on Thursday to lay flowers, revealed William admitted to her
that thoughts of his mother’s funeral were at the forefront of his mind as
he, along with brother Harry, followed the Queen’s coffin.
She said: “He told us
yesterday had been particularly difficult and following the coffin had reminded
him of his mother’s funeral, of Diana”.
“He said it had been very
difficult,” she added while another crowd member told the emotional Prince
she was close to tears, to which he replied: “Don’t cry now – you’ll start
me.”
Harry had been very close with
his late mother, and the funeral deeply affected him. Speaking about following
her coffin, in a 2017 interview he said: “No child should be asked to do
that.”
Royal editor, Emily Nash said:
“Yesterday was obviously a very emotional day for the entire royal family
who must all be feeling exhausted as they come to terms with their loss amid a
series of public appearances.
“Prince William has spoken today about how the procession brought back memories of walking behind Diana’s coffin, and Harry has previously been candid about how upsetting that event was for him at the time, so it’s understandably a very difficult time for him too.”
However, he will have the support of his wife, Meghan Markle, who will no doubt have still made his 38th birthday a special day for him.
At the Queen’s procession on
Wednesday, Meghan was seen supporting her husband as she held his hand inside
Westminster Hall.
