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7 Shocking Untold Secrets And New Revelations About Princess Diana's Funeral

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The funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, remains one of the most defining moments of the 20th century, a raw, public outpouring of grief that forever changed the relationship between the British monarchy and its people. Even today, over two decades later in December 2025, new details and personal accounts continue to emerge, painting a clearer picture of the extraordinary tension, sorrow, and logistical chaos that took place behind the scenes during that fateful week in September 1997.

This article dives deep into the most recent and least-known revelations—many sourced from memoirs and documentaries released in the last few years—that prove the 'People's Princess' final farewell was far more complicated, controversial, and emotionally charged than the world witnessed on live television.

The Life and Legacy of Diana, Princess of Wales: A Brief Biography

Diana Frances Spencer was born on July 1, 1961, at Park House near Sandringham, Norfolk, to an aristocratic family with deep ties to the Crown. She became Lady Diana Spencer after her father inherited the title of Earl Spencer in 1975.

  • Full Name: Diana Frances Spencer
  • Born: July 1, 1961, Park House, Sandringham, Norfolk, England
  • Titles: Lady Diana Spencer (before marriage), Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales (during marriage), Diana, Princess of Wales (after divorce)
  • Spouse: Charles, Prince of Wales (married July 29, 1981; divorced August 28, 1996)
  • Children: Prince William (born 1982), Prince Harry (born 1984)
  • Key Role: Known globally for her extensive humanitarian and charity work, particularly her campaigns against landmines and her efforts to destigmatize AIDS.
  • Died: August 31, 1997, Paris, France, following a car crash.

The Week That Shook Britain: Planning and Controversy

The six days between Diana’s death on August 31 and her funeral on September 6, 1997, were marked by unprecedented public grief and intense internal conflict within the Royal Family and the government. The primary tension revolved around the nature of the funeral itself.

1. The Queen Initially Resisted a Public Funeral

The initial plan for Diana was a private funeral, as she was no longer a working member of the Royal Family following her divorce from Prince Charles. Queen Elizabeth II, sequestered at Balmoral with the young Princes William and Harry, wanted to shield her grandsons from the media frenzy and public spectacle.

However, the sheer scale of the public mourning—with flowers piled high outside Kensington Palace and The Mall—forced a change. Prime Minister Tony Blair and Prince Charles reportedly had to convince the Queen that a private event would be disastrous for the monarchy’s reputation. They argued that the funeral needed to reflect her life as "The People's Princess." The Queen eventually conceded, granting Diana a Royal Ceremonial Funeral, a status typically reserved for consorts, not divorced ex-wives.

2. Prince Harry’s True Feelings About Walking Behind the Casket

One of the most enduring and heartbreaking images of the day was 15-year-old Prince William and 12-year-old Prince Harry walking for 3.5 miles behind their mother’s 800-pound, lead-lined casket.

In his memoir, *Spare*, Prince Harry revealed the immense trauma of this experience. He stated that he "hated" walking behind the casket, feeling it was a cruel and unnecessary spectacle that forced him to parade his grief in front of the world. The decision for the boys to walk was a point of considerable debate, with Prince Philip famously offering to walk with them to provide support, reportedly telling Prince William: "If I walk, will you walk with me?"

3. The Queen's Secret Move to Hide All Televisions

During the week leading up to the funeral, the Queen was deeply concerned about protecting Prince William and Prince Harry at Balmoral Castle. According to documentaries, she ordered all televisions and radios in the castle to be moved or hidden. Her intention was to shield the young princes from the constant news coverage and the overwhelming public emotion, allowing them a small pocket of privacy to grieve their mother away from the media's glare.

The Moments of Defiance and Emotional Impact

The service at Westminster Abbey and the subsequent private burial were filled with moments that broke from royal tradition, reflecting Diana’s unique status as a royal rebel and humanitarian icon.

4. The Controversial Eulogy That Criticized the Monarchy

Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer, delivered one of the most famous and controversial eulogies in modern British history.

His speech was a powerful and thinly veiled attack on the Royal Family and the press, accusing them of contributing to Diana’s unhappiness and death. He vowed that his sister’s "blood family" would protect her sons, William and Harry, from the same fate. The eulogy received a massive, spontaneous round of applause from the crowd outside and many inside Westminster Abbey, an almost unheard-of breach of protocol at a royal event. Earl Spencer later revealed he had prepared a "very different" original draft, but chose to speak from the heart in defense of his sister.

5. Elton John’s Last-Minute Song Change

Elton John, a close friend of Diana, performed a rewritten version of his song "Candle in the Wind," retitled "Goodbye England’s Rose."

However, it was recently revealed that Westminster Abbey officials originally expected him to sing his more traditional song, "Your Song." It took a personal plea from a close friend of Diana, who wrote to the Abbey's dean arguing the importance of the new lyrics, to secure permission for the performance that became one of the most iconic moments of the day.

6. The Royal Who Refused to Attend the Ceremony

While the world watched, one prominent member of the extended Royal Family chose not to attend the funeral: Sophie Rhys-Jones, who would later become the Duchess of Edinburgh upon her marriage to Prince Edward.

At the time, she was Prince Edward’s girlfriend (they were not yet married). Royal biographer Sean Smith revealed that she chose to stay away because her physical resemblance to Diana from a distance was so strong that her presence might have created a distracting and upsetting media circus, taking focus away from the main event.

7. The Final, Private Burial at Althorp

While the funeral was a global spectacle, watched by an estimated 2 billion people worldwide, Diana’s burial was a quiet, intensely private affair.

Following the Westminster Abbey service, her body was taken to Althorp House, her ancestral family home in Northamptonshire. She was laid to rest on an island in the middle of the Oval Lake, known as the Round Oval, on the estate. This location was specifically chosen by the Spencer family to ensure her grave would remain a peaceful, private sanctuary, protected from the relentless public scrutiny and paparazzi that had defined her life.

The funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, was more than a royal event; it was a cultural phenomenon and a turning point for the monarchy. The recent revelations, particularly from the personal accounts of Prince Harry and the details surrounding the planning, underscore the immense pressure and emotional turmoil that defined that September week. It confirmed Diana’s enduring status not just as a princess, but as a global figure whose passing remains a source of fascination and deep historical significance.

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funeral princesa diana

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