A shocking new documentary has laid bare the bitter behind-the-scenes power struggle that threatened to overshadow the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in September 1997. The revelations expose a profound clash between the House of Windsor and the Spencer family over control of the historic ceremony.
The programme, entitled 'The Queen's Green Planet' and airing on ITV, reveals how Earl Spencer, Diana's brother, directly challenged royal protocol in emotional negotiations with Prince Charles. The Earl demanded that the Spencer family, rather than the Royal Family, should walk directly behind Diana's coffin during the procession to Westminster Abbey.
A Clash of Wills and Protocol
At the heart of the conflict was Earl Spencer's determination to assert his family's central role in the proceedings. He insisted that the Spencer family should occupy the primary position directly behind the coffin, a move that would have fundamentally altered centuries of royal tradition and protocol.
Prince Charles found himself caught between the raw grief of his former wife's family and the unwavering demands of royal tradition. The negotiations became so tense that they threatened to derail the carefully planned state occasion, creating a diplomatic crisis within the highest levels of the establishment.
The Princes' Heartbreaking Decision
The documentary poignantly reveals how the young princes, William and Harry, were ultimately drawn into this painful family dispute. Initially spared from the emotionally devastating walk through London, the boys made the courageous decision to join the procession after understanding the escalating tension between their two families.
Their participation became a powerful symbol of unity amid the conflict, helping to bridge the divide between the Windsors and Spencers during one of the most watched moments in modern British history.
A Legacy of Tension
This revelation sheds new light on the immense pressure and complex family politics that surrounded Diana's funeral. The documentary suggests that these tensions continued to influence the relationship between the Royal Family and the Spencer family for years to come.
The programme features never-before-heard accounts from those closest to the negotiations, providing an unprecedented look at how traditional protocol clashed with raw human emotion during a period of national mourning.
