PRINCE William said walking behind the Queen’s coffin was “very difficult” – and brought back painful memories of his own mother’s funeral.
The Prince of Wales fought back tears today as he greeted well-wishers at Sandringham.
The Prince and Princess of Wales looked at floral tributes at Sandringham Estate today
He told one woman the royal procession yesterday had been “very difficult” and had reminded him of his own mother’s funeral in 1997.
The Prince of Wales, 40, solemnly marched alongside his brother Harry in the procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall yesterday.
It comes as…
- Prince William says the Queen’s procession brought back heartbreaking memories of walking behind mum Diana’s coffin
- Kate and Wills reveal how kids George, Charlotte and Louis are coping after their great-grandmother’s tragic death
- Sophie Wessex shares an emotional hug with a well-wisher at a memorial for Her Majesty
- Mourning Brits queue for hours to visit the late monarch’s coffin lying in state at Westminster Hall
- Prince Harry faces a lonely 38th birthday without children Archie and Lilibet
- Details of the Queen’s state funeral are revealed – from where William and Harry will stand to how Meghan will travel
It was a haunting echo of Princess Diana’s funeral, when the brothers, aged 12 and 15, stood side by side as they followed her casket.
And today, while viewing tributes to his grandmother in Sandringham, Wills said taking part in the late monarch’s cortege brought the pain flooding back.
Jane Wells, who had come to lay flowers at the Norfolk estate, said: “He told us it had been particularly difficult and following the coffin had reminded him of his mother’s funeral, of Diana.
“He said it had been very difficult.”
Another well-wisher told the emotional Prince she was close to tears, to which he replied: “Don’t cry now – you’ll start me.”
And he told a third: “I’m learning that she was everyone’s grandmother – the way people have reacted.”
At the same time, many mourners handed bouquets to Kate, who smiled as she interacted with the crowds.
And the Princess of Wales told another member of the public their children – Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, seven, and four-year-old Prince Louis – were handling the tragedy of losing their great-grandmother well.
Lynne, from Wymondham in Norfolk, told the BBC: “My daughter Jo, who has a great affinity with children and knows that Kate does as well, asked her how the children were doing.
“Kate thanked her and said they were doing well and they were being looked after at school.”
Kate reportedly told another well-wisher that George understood that the Queen had died, but his younger siblings “less so”.
The moving revelations came just minutes before it was announced William will stand together with Harry, 38, behind the Queen’s coffin at her funeral on Monday.
The brothers are set to show another display of unity as they mourn their grandmother, while their wives Kate and Meghan will follow in a car.
Yesterday, they stood side-by-side as they followed the late monarch – and they will unite in similarly solemn scenes for the state funeral on September 19.
William spoke with members of the public at Sandringham today
William and Harry during the procession following the Queen’s coffin yesterday
The brothers bowing their heads at their mother’s funeral service in 1997
A sombre Harry and William following their grandmother’s coffin
The brothers walked into Westminster Hall with Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle
The brothers appeared united in grief yesterday
Kate was handed flowers from members of the public
