Tensions over the funeral arrangements for Diana, Princess of Wales, came to light in the days leading up to her service, revealing disagreements within the royal family regarding the roles of her sons and the conduct expected in mourning.

According to an account from a close family member, there was significant opposition to a plan endorsed by Prince Charles that the young princes, William and Harry, walk behind their mother’s coffin during the funeral procession. The family member described the suggestion as "barbaric" and stated that Diana would never have wanted her children to endure such a public ordeal at their young ages. This view led to a firm refusal to include the princes in that part of the funeral, despite Prince Charles’s insistence.

During a phone exchange, Prince Charles defended his position by citing precedent, pointing to his own participation in the funeral of Lord Mountbatten, his great-uncle, as a young adult. The family member challenged this comparison, emphasizing the difference in circumstances, particularly that Lord Mountbatten was not Charles’s parent. The conversation reportedly became heated, with Prince Charles expressing frustration and accusing the family of lacking a sense of duty, before abruptly concluding with a controversial remark that the world would soon forget Diana.

Behind the scenes, senior royal household officials were said to have debated who should walk behind the coffin, with Prince Charles reportedly determined to take that role himself. Concerns were raised about the potential for public hostility, leading Sir Robin Janvrin, the Queen’s Deputy Private Secretary, to propose that if Charles did walk behind the coffin, the participation of William and Harry alongside him might mitigate any possible abuse from onlookers. This suggestion was ultimately accepted, with the condition that the princes’ involvement would be voluntary and not coerced.

In the final arrangements, it was reported that William and Harry agreed to walk behind their mother’s coffin on the condition that their grandfather, Prince Philip, also accompany them. The family member expressed cautious approval of this compromise, emphasizing that the decision should not have been pressured upon the young princes.

Reflecting on the broader family dynamics, the source highlighted a history of allegiance and service to the Crown within Diana’s family, alongside the princess’s own steadfast sense of duty to the monarchy despite personal complexities. Diana’s desire for a marriage based on love was noted as a guiding principle for her, informed by the experience of her parents’ divorce and her wish to provide stability for her children.