When Prince William and Prince Harry walked in Prince Philip's funeral procession this weekend, the sight may have brought to mind when they did so beside their grandfather himself at the funeral of Princess Diana in 1997.
That the young princes walked in the procession for their mother remains a highly-controversial memory for many. But, during that difficult moment, Prince Philip was a source of support for his grandsons.
Prince Philip supported William, Harry with Diana's funeral
After Princess Diana's tragic death in a car crash, it was decided that William, 15, and Harry, 12, must participate in the funeral procession. It remains unclear who precisely dictated that they must walk, but Prince Philip helped his grandsons through the process.
According to The Evening Standard, Prince Philip was especially concerned for his grandsons and defended them vehemently amid the planning of the funeral. When the boys were uncertain about the walk, the Duke leaned on his bond with them and is said to have asked: "If I walk, will you walk too?"
Another version of the conversation, quoted in the biography Philip and Elizabeth, has Prince Philip explaining to Prince William: "If you don't walk, I think you'll regret it later. If I walk, will you walk with me?" During the procession, Prince Philip walked next to William, beside Charles Spencer, Harry, and Prince Charles.
The brothers later commented on the controversial walk in interviews. Prince William in a 2017 documentary said, "There is that balance between duty and family and that's what we had to do." Prince Harry later told the BBC that "no child should be asked to do that," but he added that he is "very glad" that he walked for his mother.
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Prince Harry, Prince William walk at Prince Philip's funeral
Now in 2021, Prince Harry reunited with the royals for the funeral of his grandfather Prince Philip, which came after a year of strained family relations following his stepping down as a working royal. He flew in to the UK from California ahead of the April 17 ceremony, where he joined his brother William and seven other family members in the funeral procession for the Duke of Edinburgh.
Prince Philip passed away at the age of 99 on April 9, two months shy of his 100th birthday. He was laid to rest in the Royal Vault following a ceremony on Saturday, April 17.
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