Camilla Tominey: Harry and William's 'awful' reminder of Princess Diana's funeral during Queen's procession
By Georgia Weir|
A royal expert has dubbed the moment that Prince Harry and Prince William walked behind their grandmother's coffin last night as an "awful" reminder of walking behind their mother's coffin back in 1997.
Speaking to Today, royal commentator Camilla Tominey said that watching Harry and William walk behind the Queen's coffin in the royal procession reminded her of Diana's funeral.
"I was thinking about the princes there and how awful that must have been," Tominey said.
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"They did walk behind Prince Philip's coffin but that was in Windsor so a completely different setting," Tominey continued, referencing the Duke of Edinburgh's more intimate funeral service at Windsor Castle.
"It must have reminded them of 1997 and those extraordinary scenes and them as such young boys following behind."
William and Harry were just 15 and 12 respectively when their mother Diana, Princess of Wales died in a tragic car accident.
Prince Harry has recently spoken about the effect that his mother's sudden death had on him, and his struggles with mental health.
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In a past interview with Angela Levin in Newsweek magazine, Harry opened up about his mother's death.
"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," the 38-year-old prince said.
"I don't think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances. I don't think it would happen today."
Tominey says that despite the painful reminders and the tensions that have brewed between the Sussexes and the royal family that they "behaved really with decorum."
"For this week they've clearly put their differences aside."
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"There was a degree in magnanimity in Prince William saying to his brother 'come to the walkabout on Saturday'," Tominey said.
"Equally Harry saying 'look, the uniform row just forget about it, my decade of service isn't about what I wear' จC again that was him being pragmatic."
Tominey is referencing the reports that Prince Harry was "saddened" he wouldn't be able to wear his military uniform at royal engagements this week.?
The royal family and the Sussexes in particular have been under close scrutiny this week. However, Tominey says "the body language isn't exactly warm between any of them but then they're in mourning so it's quite hard to read anyway."
