In the days following Princess Diana’s death, King Charles III reportedly insisted on a full state-style ceremonial funeral, a decision described by insiders as a departure from established protocol. According to a source close to the royal family, Charles was deeply grief-stricken at the time and made it clear that no criticism of the arrangements was to be tolerated.

Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, characterized the Palace’s response to recent revelations from Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, as “unprecedented.” Seward suggested the King’s intervention was motivated primarily by a desire to protect the reputations of his sons, William and Harry, rather than himself.

Ken Wharfe, Diana’s former protection officer, offered a nuanced perspective on the King’s reported statements. Speaking to Times Radio, Wharfe indicated that while Charles was “quite capable” of making such remarks during his period of mourning, it does not necessarily imply he genuinely held those views.

Earl Spencer, whose recent book sheds new light on the family dynamics surrounding Diana, stated his objective was to present an honest account of the late princess from the perspective of her brother. In his eulogy at Westminster Abbey, he pledged that Diana’s “blood family” would safeguard the emotional well-being of her sons, ensuring that their lives would not be confined by royal duty and tradition alone.

Meanwhile, senior members of the royal family continued with scheduled engagements amid ongoing discussion about the late princess. The Prince and Princess of Wales, known in Scotland as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, were engaged in public duties in the country’s north. They visited the town of Rothesay on the Isle of Bute, meeting residents at the Bute Shinty Club, a local sports facility, before participating in a beach clean-up at Ettrick Bay.

At the King’s artificial intelligence summit, Charles emphasized the “existential dangers” posed by AI if misused, addressing figures including AI minister Kanishka Narayan and Paolo Benanti, an ethics advisor to Pope Francis.

Prince Harry also made a public appearance in the United Kingdom for the first time since his return, attending the Invictus Spirit Awards at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich. Wearing formal evening attire and his military medals, Harry engaged warmly with attendees, including wounded veterans. The event raises funds for the Invictus Games Foundation, where Harry serves as founding patron.