London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 15, 2026

Diana memories made Queen's procession challenging - William

Diana memories made Queen's procession challenging - William

The Prince of Wales said walking behind the Queen's coffin "brought back a few memories" of his mother's funeral as he spoke to well-wishers in Norfolk.

Prince William said it had been "challenging", as he and the Princess of Wales viewed floral tributes left outside Sandringham House.

He and his brother walked behind the gun carriage in Wednesday's procession, echoing Princess Diana's funeral.

Members of the Royal Family conducted visits as official mourning continued.

After viewing some of the hundreds of tributes to the late monarch, who died last week, outside the gates at Sandringham, Prince William and Catherine spoke to those gathered there.

Speaking to one woman, Prince William said: "I mean the walk yesterday was challenging, it brought back a few memories..."

Among those he spoke to was receptionist Jane Wells, from Long Sutton in Lincolnshire, who said she had told the prince how proud his mother would have been of him.

"He said how hard it was yesterday because it brought back memories of his mother's funeral," she said.

Caroline Barwick-Walters, of Neath in Wales, said she told Prince William "thank you for sharing your grief with the nation", and that he replied "she was everybody's grandmother".

Prince William, then 15, and his brother, Prince Harry the Duke of Sussex, then 12, walked with their father, King Charles III, behind the coffin of their mother, Princess Diana, in September 1997.

They were side by side again as they solemnly escorted the Queen's coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster on Wednesday.

Speaking in 2017, Prince Harry described walking behind his mother's coffin as a child as something that would not happen now.

He told Newsweek: "I don't think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances. I don't think it would happen today."

Princes William and Harry at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997

They joined their father King Charles in walking behind the Queen's coffin on Wednesday


Sandringham House has been a royal residence for four generations of British monarchs for a period of more than 150 years, and has traditionally been where the Queen spent her Christmas break.

She gifted Anmer Hall, a Georgian country house which is part of the Sandringham estate, to Prince William and Catherine after their wedding.

The couple made it their main home for several years while their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte were young.

Meanwhile, the King returned to Highgrove, his country home in Gloucestershire, where a spokesman said he was attending to state business.

Other members of the Royal Family have also been on visits on Thursday.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex - the Queen's youngest son Prince Edward and his wife Sophie - met well-wishers and viewed tributes in Manchester's St Ann's Square.

The couple were shown a book of condolence at Manchester's Central Library, before lighting a candle in memory of the Queen at Manchester Cathedral.

The Princess Royal - the Queen's only daughter Princess Anne - travelled to Glasgow to meet representatives of organisations of which the Queen was patron.

On Wednesday, members of the Royal Family marched behind the Queen's coffin as it travelled from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, where she is lying-in-state.

Thousands have queued for hours to view the coffin, which people can visit 24 hours a day until 06:30 BST on 19 September - the day of her funeral.

At 20:00 on Thursday the queue was nearly five miles (8km) long, with queuing time estimated to be eight-and-a-half hours.

Many more people are expected to come to the capital to pay their respects over the next three days, as the country prepares to say a final farewell to its longest-reigning monarch.

Some details have been released for the Queen's state funeral, which will be held at Westminster Abbey and is likely to be one of the biggest single ceremonial events staged in Britain since World War Two.

Thousands of people have left flowers and tributes outside Sandringham House


Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, spoke to crowds in Glasgow

The Earl and Countess of Wessex lit a candle in memory of the Queen at Manchester Cathedral


Prince William: Procession was "challenging" and "brought back memories"

Prince and Princess of Wales meet Sandringham crowd


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Beer Industry Warns UK Rules Could Limit Growth of Alcohol-Free Market
Home Office Faces Legal Challenges Over Asylum Seeker Accommodation Closures
UK Heatwaves Linked to More Than Two Thousand Seven Hundred Deaths as Climate Debate Intensifies
Home Secretary Faces Pressure Over Political Security After Ann Widdecombe Murder Investigation
United Kingdom Opens Trade Consultation With Indonesia, Philippines, United Arab Emirates and Uruguay
Robert Jenrick Joins Reform UK After Leaving Conservative Party Leadership Role
Counter-Terrorism Police Take Over Investigation into Murder of Former MP Ann Widdecombe
Andy Burnham Secures Strong Labour Backing in Race to Succeed Keir Starmer
Global Markets Slide as Middle East Conflict Escalation Sends Oil Prices Higher
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Offers Condolences Following Death of Qatar’s Father Amir
UK Regional Innovation Policy Focuses on Research Clusters Across Scotland, Wales, and Northern England
UK Corporate Transparency Rules Set to Become More Strict Under Modern Slavery Reform Plans
UK Civil Service Estate Strategy Shifts Government Activity Away From London
UK Strengthens National Security Powers Through New Threat Designations
Greater Manchester Police Conduct Drink and Drug Driving Operations After Football Events
UK Government Advances Darlington Economic Campus With Construction Milestone
UK Authorities Increase Football-Related Security Operations After Tournament Fixtures
UK Invests Fifty-One Million Pounds in National Cryogenics Facility and Regional Innovation Hubs
UK Moves Toward Tougher Modern Slavery Reporting Rules With Corporate Penalties
UK Government Reports Forty-Three Million Pounds in Savings From Office Estate Reform
UK Government Expands Civil Service Regional Strategy With Manchester and Darlington Campus Projects
UK Designates Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as National Security Threat
United Kingdom Financial Markets Monitor Business Response to Economic Policy Changes
Scottish Renewable Energy Expansion Highlights Need for Faster Grid Development
Wales and Regions Strengthen Focus on Economic Development Through Tourism and Investment
Retail Industry Warns High Street Businesses Remain Under Pressure
Police Chiefs Highlight Growing Challenges Managing Protests and Public Order
Agriculture Leaders Seek Clarity on Post-Brexit Farming Support and Environmental Rules
Transport Unions Warn of Further Industrial Action Over Pay and Working Conditions
Welsh Tourism Sector Reports Strong Growth Driven by Domestic and International Visitors
National Infrastructure Review Gains Support as Leaders Seek Faster Project Delivery
Financial Markets Assess Impact of United Kingdom Corporate Tax Policy Changes
Northern Ireland Assembly Debates Cross-Border Trade and Infrastructure Cooperation Plans
Government Opens Consultations on Housing Reform and Planning System Changes
Scottish Government Faces Pressure to Accelerate Offshore Wind and Grid Expansion
National Energy System Operator Warns Grid Investment Is Needed for Future Electricity Demand Growth
United Kingdom Research Council Invests in Artificial Intelligence and Biotechnology Innovation Hubs
United Kingdom Expands Oversight of Skilled Worker Visa Sponsors Amid Migration Debate
Cross-Party MPs Call for National Infrastructure Strategy Review to Accelerate Economic Growth
Prime Minister Announces One Billion Pound NHS Funding Package Ahead of Winter Pressures
Bank of England Signals Cautious Approach to Interest Rates as Inflation Remains Above Forecasts
World Cup Visitors Turn American Big-Box Stores Into Souvenir Stops
Netflix Weighs Always-On Channels, Bundles and Short-Form Video
Passenger Is Pulled Partly Outside Ryanair Jet After Window Fails Mid-Flight
Innovation-led growth strategy
Public service reform pressure
Defence and industrial security
Labour leadership transition and economic reset
Northern England Pushes for Greater Influence in Britain’s Future Economic Model
UK Technology Strategy Focuses on Life Sciences, Digital Innovation and Research Investment
×