Prince Harry was just 12 years old when his mother Princess Diana died and he was made to walk behind her coffin, despite his uncle's concerns Prince Harry was staunchly defended by his uncle, Earl Charles Spencer, against what he deemed a "barbaric" decision by the Royal Family concerning the Duke during the funeral arrangements for Princess Diana. Earl Spencer, who has always had a close relationship with his nephew, stood up for Harry when there were plans for him and his brother Prince William to walk behind their mother's coffin. At the time of the funeral, Harry was just 12 years old, while William was 15.
In his memoir Spare , Harry recounts the moment, noting: "It seemed a lot to ask of two young boys. Several adults were aghast. Mummy's brother, Uncle Charles, raised hell.
" Harry remembered his uncle's vehement objection: "You cant make these boys walk behind their mother's coffin! It's barbaric," reports the Mirror . Initially, an alternative was considered where only William would walk behind the coffin, but eventually, it was decided that both brothers should participate to elicit public sympathy. Reflecting on the situation, the Duke of Sussex expressed: "Uncle Charles was furious.
But I wasn't. I didn't want Willy to undergo an ordeal like that without me. Had the roles been reversed, he'd never have wanted me-indeed, allowed me-to go it alone.
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