Princes William and Harry walking behind thir mother's coffin as the funeral procession approaches Westminster Abbey. Photo: PA
Princes William and Harry walking behind thir mother's coffin as the funeral procession approaches Westminster Abbey. Photo: PA
Princes William and Harry walking behind thir mother's coffin as the funeral procession approaches Westminster Abbey. Photo: PA
Princes William and Harry walking behind thir mother's coffin as the funeral procession approaches Westminster Abbey. Photo: PA

Princes William and Harry to follow queen's coffin in echoes of Princess Diana's funeral


Gillian Duncan
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Princes William and Harry will walk behind the queen’s coffin on Wednesday as the cortege makes its way to Westminster Hall, in echoes of the funeral of their mother, Princess Diana, 25 years ago.

The two princes will join King Charles III, Prince Andrew, Princess Anne and Prince Edward, following the coffin on foot as it makes its way to Westminster.

Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips and her husband, Vice Adm Sir Tim Laurence, will also walk in the procession, as well as Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, and David Armstrong-Jones, the Earl of Snowdon.

Queen Consort Camilla, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, will travel by car.

The sombre walk will no doubt stir memories for the princes of the funeral of Princess Diana, when the brothers joined Prince Philip, Earl Spencer and Prince Charles, as he was at the time, to lead the procession.

The duke of Sussex spoke about the lasting impact the walk had on him in a documentary series on mental health released last year.

He was only 12 when he joined the walk, "sharing his grief with the world".

King Charles III joins the procession accompanying Queen Elizabeth II's coffin from the Palace of Holyroodhouse along the Royal Mile to St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. Getty Images
King Charles III joins the procession accompanying Queen Elizabeth II's coffin from the Palace of Holyroodhouse along the Royal Mile to St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. Getty Images

Prince Harry said: “For me, the thing I remember the most was the sound of the horses' hooves going along the pavement. Along The Mall, the red brick road. By this point I was, both of us were, in shock.”

He said he was doing “what was expected of me” even though he was experiencing profound grief.

“It was like I was outside of my body,” he said.

“Showing one 10th of the emotion that everybody else was showing. I thought, ‘This is my mum. You never even met her’.”

Wednesday’s procession will leave the palace at 2.22pm, making its way along The Mall, Horse Guards Road, across Horse Guards Parade and on to Whitehall to Parliament Square and into the Palace of Westminster, arriving about 3pm.

A service lasting about 20 minutes will be led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, accompanied by David Hoyle, the Dean of Westminster.

The doors to Westminster Hall will then be opened, allowing the public to file past to pay their respects to the queen from 5pm.

  • Lady Diana, Princess of Wales, and Charles, Prince of Wales, at their wedding in London at St Paul Cathedral, July 29, 1981
    Lady Diana, Princess of Wales, and Charles, Prince of Wales, at their wedding in London at St Paul Cathedral, July 29, 1981
  • Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer at the Buckingham Palace after the announcement of their engagement on February 24, 1981
    Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer at the Buckingham Palace after the announcement of their engagement on February 24, 1981
  • Lady Diana, Princess of Wales, and Charles, Prince of Wales, at their wedding in London at St Paul Cathedral, July 29, 1981
    Lady Diana, Princess of Wales, and Charles, Prince of Wales, at their wedding in London at St Paul Cathedral, July 29, 1981
  • Prince Charles and Princess Diana stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London, following their wedding at St. Pauls Cathedral, June 29, 1981
    Prince Charles and Princess Diana stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London, following their wedding at St. Pauls Cathedral, June 29, 1981
  • An official family photo taken on the wedding day of Prince Charles and Lady Diana, the Princess of Wales. Back Row, from left to right: Mark Phillips, Prince Andrew, Viscount Linley, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, the Princely Couple, Ruth, Lady Fermoy (the bride's grandmother), Lady Jane Fellowes (the bride's sister), Viscount Althorp (Diana's brother) and Robert Fellowes. Centre row, from left to right: Princess Anne, Princess Margaret, the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, India Hicks, Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, Mrs Shand Kydd (Diana's mother) Count Spencer, Lady Sarah McCorquodale (Diana's sister), Neil McCorquodale. Front row: ushers and bridesmaids
    An official family photo taken on the wedding day of Prince Charles and Lady Diana, the Princess of Wales. Back Row, from left to right: Mark Phillips, Prince Andrew, Viscount Linley, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, the Princely Couple, Ruth, Lady Fermoy (the bride's grandmother), Lady Jane Fellowes (the bride's sister), Viscount Althorp (Diana's brother) and Robert Fellowes. Centre row, from left to right: Princess Anne, Princess Margaret, the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, India Hicks, Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, Mrs Shand Kydd (Diana's mother) Count Spencer, Lady Sarah McCorquodale (Diana's sister), Neil McCorquodale. Front row: ushers and bridesmaids
  • The Prince and Princess of Wales in a merry mood aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia as they sail away on their honeymoon
    The Prince and Princess of Wales in a merry mood aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia as they sail away on their honeymoon
  • Princess Diana and Prince Charles hold hands on their honeymoon at Balmoral in Scotland, in August 1981
    Princess Diana and Prince Charles hold hands on their honeymoon at Balmoral in Scotland, in August 1981
  • Prince Charles and Princess Diana on the steps of the Lindo Wing at St. Mary's Hospital with their son, Prince William, as they left for Kensington Palace, June 1982
    Prince Charles and Princess Diana on the steps of the Lindo Wing at St. Mary's Hospital with their son, Prince William, as they left for Kensington Palace, June 1982
  • The Prince and Princess of Wales with baby Prince William in Kensington Palace in 1983
    The Prince and Princess of Wales with baby Prince William in Kensington Palace in 1983
  • Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales with their son Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, December 14, 1983
    Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales with their son Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, December 14, 1983
  • Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales leave the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital with their son Prince Harry, in Paddington, London, on September 16, 1984
    Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales leave the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital with their son Prince Harry, in Paddington, London, on September 16, 1984
  • Princess Diana and Prince Charles meet Pope John Paul II during a private audience a the Vatican on April 25, 1985
    Princess Diana and Prince Charles meet Pope John Paul II during a private audience a the Vatican on April 25, 1985
  • Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales with Prince William and Prince Harry on the Royal Yacht Britannia on May 6, 1985 in Venice, Italy
    Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales with Prince William and Prince Harry on the Royal Yacht Britannia on May 6, 1985 in Venice, Italy
  • Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales in Al Ain during a visit to the UAE in March 1989
    Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales in Al Ain during a visit to the UAE in March 1989
  • The Prince and Princess of Wales with sons Prince William, right, and Prince Harry prepare for a cycling trip in Tresco during their holiday in the Sicily Isles, June 1, 1989
    The Prince and Princess of Wales with sons Prince William, right, and Prince Harry prepare for a cycling trip in Tresco during their holiday in the Sicily Isles, June 1, 1989
  • The Queen Mother poses outside her London Clarence House residence for photographers with Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the Royal Family on her 89th birthday, August 4, 1989. Left to right: Prince Andrew, Sarah Duchess of York, Lord Linley, Prince Edward, Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales
    The Queen Mother poses outside her London Clarence House residence for photographers with Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the Royal Family on her 89th birthday, August 4, 1989. Left to right: Prince Andrew, Sarah Duchess of York, Lord Linley, Prince Edward, Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales
  • Prince Charles looks towards Princess Diana as they await their carriage to depart the Order of the Garter ceremony at Windsor Castle, June 15, 1992
    Prince Charles looks towards Princess Diana as they await their carriage to depart the Order of the Garter ceremony at Windsor Castle, June 15, 1992
  • The Prince and Princess of Wales, and Prince Harry smile to photographers with Prince William on his first day of term at the Eton College on September 6, 1995
    The Prince and Princess of Wales, and Prince Harry smile to photographers with Prince William on his first day of term at the Eton College on September 6, 1995
  • The Prince of Wales, Prince William, Princess Diana and Prince Harry attend the Heads of State ceremony in Hyde Park to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of VE Day in London on May 7, 1995
    The Prince of Wales, Prince William, Princess Diana and Prince Harry attend the Heads of State ceremony in Hyde Park to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of VE Day in London on May 7, 1995

The hall will be open round the clock until early on Monday, the morning of the queen’s funeral.

Organisers expect thousands to attend to pay their respects, and have prepared for queues of up to eight kilometres in length.

They are warning people to prepare for a long and physically demanding wait, with few opportunities to sit down.

Everyone arriving at the hall will be issued with wristbands, which will allow them to pop out for a short time for food or drink.

The queen's coffin will be guarded round the clock until the funeral by members of the Household Division or Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London, who are the sovereign's bodyguards.

Updated: September 14, 2022, 10:14 AM