On the day of Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997, Queen Elizabeth II reportedly offered to reinstate the princess’s royal title, according to a memoir by Earl Spencer, Diana’s brother. The offer would have restored Diana’s designation as Her Royal Highness (HRH), a style she lost following her divorce from Prince Charles.

Earl Spencer recounts in his book, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," that the Queen’s suggestion was conveyed by Robert Fellowes, the Queen’s Private Secretary and Spencer’s brother-in-law. The discussion took place during the journey by Royal Train to Diana’s burial at Althorp, the Spencer family’s estate in Northamptonshire.

The HRH title had been withdrawn from Diana as part of the arrangements made post-divorce in 1996, a move that had been controversial and a source of public and private disappointment. According to Earl Spencer, the princess was deeply hurt by the decision, which he characterized as “petty.” The reinstatement offer, therefore, represented a significant gesture from the monarch during a highly emotional moment.

Details on whether the offer was ultimately accepted or pursued further were not disclosed in the memoir. The incident sheds light on the complexities and sensitivities surrounding Diana’s status within the royal family following her separation from Charles, Prince of Wales.

Princess Diana died on August 31, 1997, and her funeral on September 6 was attended by members of the royal family and millions of mourners worldwide. The decision to remove the HRH style after her divorce had been defended by the royal household as aligning with protocol and tradition, but it also sparked debate among the public and media regarding her continued role and recognition as a member of the royal family.

The memoir by Earl Spencer offers new insight from a close family perspective on the events surrounding Diana’s final days and her legacy within the monarchy.