Prince Harry Was Scared Of Attending Prince Philip’s Funeral, Speaks About Diana’s Death And ‘Unresolved Grief’

Within the royal family, marriage was traditionally treated as sacred, and personal marital problems were kept private. Divorce among senior royals was virtually unheard of until King Charles III and Princess Diana publicly announced their separation. The revelation was not entirely unexpected, as rumors had circulated for years about Charles’s relationship with Camilla—now Queen Consort—during his marriage to Diana.

Diana spoke openly about the difficulties in their relationship and even confronted Camilla in 1989. The couple formally separated in 1992 after ten years of marriage, and in 1994 Charles admitted to being unfaithful, confirming what many royal watchers had long suspected.

Privately, Diana endured significant emotional pain during the separation. Beyond the betrayal, she felt relentlessly targeted by the British press, believing she was constantly pursued and scrutinized. After the marital breakdown became public, this pressure intensified, and she felt the royal family did little to shield her from media intrusion.

Princess Diana tragically died in a car accident on August 31, 1997, leaving behind her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. As adults with families of their own, both continue to reflect on her legacy, with Harry speaking openly about the lasting trauma of her loss.

Harry was only 12 when Diana died. In a 2017 interview with Newsweek, he recalled walking behind her coffin before massive crowds and global television audiences, saying no child should have to endure such an experience.

He later acknowledged that his grief led him toward unhealthy influences and excessive partying in his youth, though he eventually redirected his life toward meaningful public service.

Now married to Meghan Markle and father to Archie and Lilibet, Harry still experiences emotional triggers connected to his mother’s death. He revealed to the Associated Press that attending Prince Philip’s 2021 funeral stirred anxiety about facing another highly public family mourning.