Prince Harry’s 38th birthday should have been a time to celebrate, but the royal is instead in mourning after the passing of his grandmother, the Queen, a week earlier.
Wednesday was a particularly trying day for the Duke of Sussex and his family as they followed the Queen’s casket as it was brought to Westminster Hall to lie in state. In a speech about the day, Prince William, the brother of Harry, compared it to the time he walked behind the coffin of his late mother Princess Diana in 1997.
Photo: Instagram
William admitted to Jane Wells, who was at Sandringham on Thursday to lay flowers, that he and brother Harry were thinking about his mother’s funeral as they followed the Queen’s coffin.
He reported to us that yesterday had been particularly trying and that seeing the coffin had brought back memories of his mother’s funeral and of Diana.
Another audience member told the emotional Prince that she was on the verge of crying, to which he responded, “Don’t cry now – you’ll start me,” adding, “He said it had been very difficult.”
Harry and his late mother were very close, so the funeral had a big impact on him. In an interview from 2017, he said, “No child should be asked to do that,” in reference to following her coffin.
Photo: Instagram
Emily Nash, the royal editor for HELLO!, commented on the day’s emotions, saying: “The royal family must all be feeling worn out as they cope with their loss while making a flurry of public appearances. Yesterday was obviously a very emotional day for them all.
Harry has previously been open about how upsetting that event was for him at the time, so it’s understandably a very difficult time for him too. Prince William has spoken today about how the procession brought back memories of walking behind Diana’s coffin.
The Duke’s separation from his two children, Archie and Lilibet, as a result of extending his stay in the UK to attend the Queen’s funeral, will make the day difficult for him as well.
He will, however, have Meghan Markle’s support, who no doubt still made his 38th birthday a memorable occasion for him.
Wednesday’s procession of the Queen featured Meghan standing by her husband and holding his hand inside Westminster Hall.
