Prince Phillip had made no secret of his intense dislike of Princess Diana
It was one of the most heartbreaking images from Princess Diana's funeral, as Prince's William and Harry walked with their father, Prince Charles, their uncle, Earl Spencer, and Prince Philip, behind Diana's coffin.
The latter, had made no secret of his dislike of the late Princess in the period leading up to her death.
Meaning many were surprised to see him walking behind the coffin.
However, royal author Ingrid Seward has revealed the truth behind the reason Phillip walked in her latest book — My Husband And I: The Inside Story Of The Royal Marriage.
In one excerpt, she wrote that Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, reportedly believed he should be the only one to walk behind his sister’s coffin — something the royal family is said to have disagreed with.
“In a mark of respect to an ex-wife and a departed mother, Prince Charles wanted to walk behind the cortege with William and Harry beside him,” Seward said.
“Another of the by-now interminable rows ensued over the telephone, which Spencer ended by hanging up on the prince … It was made clear to Spencer that, regardless of whatever private feelings he might harbour, the prince and his sons would walk behind the gun carriage bearing the princess’s coffin.”
But persuading Prince William to walk was proving difficult. And eventually, William only agreed to do so, as long as his grandfather — who he was very close to — walked too.
“At first William flatly refused. Charles pleaded with him and said that it would be utterly wrong of him not to accompany them,” Seward said.
“Prince Philip weighed into the argument and eventually William agreed to take part — but only on the condition that his grandfather walked beside him.”
According to Seward, Princess Diana’s relationship with Prince Philip is said to have grown sour, but William had always been incredibly close to his grandpa.
“Diana had grown to dislike Prince Philip intensely — and he her — but Prince William was devoted to the old man,” Seward wrote.
“Now, William wanted his grandfather at his side in what was certain to prove the most harrowing public engagement the young man had had to endure.”
