The funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997 was a major event watched by millions around the world. As the former wife of the heir to the British throne, Princess Diana was afforded a royal ceremonial funeral despite no longer being a member of the royal family at the time of her death. The funeral saw members of the royal family and representatives from across Britain and the world come together to mourn and pay their respects. However, one royal family member notably did not bow at Princess Diana’s coffin during the service – Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Elizabeth’s Relationship with Princess Diana
Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana had a complex relationship during Diana’s time as a member of the royal family. Diana had married the Queen’s son, Prince Charles, in 1981. However, behind the scenes, the marriage was troubled. Diana struggled with life in the royal family and felt unsupported. She and Charles eventually separated in 1992, with their divorce finalized in 1996. This was an unprecedented event – never before had an heir to the throne divorced.
The Queen found many of Diana’s actions in speaking openly about her unhappiness with royal life and airing dirty laundry about Charles concerning. She disapproved of Diana’s decisions to publicly discuss private matters. Their relationship was further strained by Diana’s collaboration with the controversial book “Diana: Her True Story,” which painted unflattering portraits of Charles and other royals.
The Queen’s Reserved Nature
The Queen is known for keeping up a dignified facade and avoiding overt displays of emotion. Diana was much more openly expressive and candid about her feelings. These opposite approaches created conflict and misunderstandings between the two women. The Queen’s stoic British nature meant she struggled to relate to Diana’s dramatic personality.
After the Divorce
Once divorced from Charles, Diana was no longer considered part of the royal family. She and the Queen had little direct contact in the year leading up to Diana’s tragic death in a car accident in Paris on August 31, 1997. However, the outpouring of public mourning and grief over the People’s Princess’s sudden loss forced the Queen to recognize Diana’s lasting impact and popularity.
The Queen’s Initial Response to Diana’s Death
The Queen was at her Balmoral estate in Scotland when the news of Diana’s death broke. She initally remained silent and made no public statement. This fueled public outrage, as many thought the Queen’s failure to address Diana’s passing showed coldness towards the beloved princess.
| Date | Key Event |
|---|---|
| August 31, 1997 | Diana is killed in a car accident in Paris |
| September 1, 1997 | The Queen privately mourns Diana but makes no public appearance or statement |
| September 2, 1997 | Under mounting criticism, the Queen returns to Buckingham Palace |
| September 5, 1997 | The Queen gives a televised tribute to Diana the night before the funeral |
| September 6, 1997 | Diana’s funeral is held at Westminster Abbey |
The Queen declined to have the royal standard at Buckingham Palace lowered to half-mast as was typical upon a royal family member’s death. She continued with her vacation plans in Balmoral, which further angered the grieving public.
There was not yet the same easy access to mass communication and social media that exists today. But the general mood was still conveyed through the 24/7 media coverage on TV and in the papers. Once back in London, the Queen could not ignore the incredible response from the populace mourning Diana’s death.
Public Demands for More from the Queen
The British people were used to the Queen carrying on with a stiff upper lip and stoicism. But the enormous outpouring of flowers, cards, and tributes left outside Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace demanded a more thoughtful reaction.
A Rare Misstep in the Queen’s Reign
The Queen is deeply committed to duty and protocol. But her hesitancy to speak openly about Diana’s sudden death and its meaning to the British people was one of the rare misjudgments she has made during her long reign. Once she recognized the depth of public feeling, the Queen attempted to make amends.
The Queen’s Television Tribute
On September 5, 1997, the night before Diana’s funeral, the Queen gave a live televised address from Buckingham Palace. Speaking as both the monarch and a grandmother, her message shared the family’s grief and commemorated Diana’s life:
“We have all felt those emotions in these last few days. So what I say to you now, as your Queen and as a grandmother, I say from my heart.”
She praised Diana’s generosity and dedication to her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry:
“I for one believe that there are lessons to be drawn from her life and from the extraordinary and moving reaction to her death.”
The Queen recognized Diana’s impact:
“I admired and respected her for her energy and commitment to others and especially for her devotion to her two boys.”
Her televised tribute humanized the Queen and demonstrated an openness and vulnerability the public had rarely seen from her before. The address quelled some of the dissent over her initial response to Diana’s death.
An Attempt for Reconciliation
The Queen used the opportunity of her national TV message to aim for reconciliation:
“We have all felt the emptiness that follows the final, irrevocable loss of a loved one. Her family and friends were trying to cope with that pain. And they needed time to grieve in private.”
She expressed understanding of why the public reaction was so immense:
“That is why the events that followed her death were so extraordinary. She had earned a place in the hearts of so many.”
The televised tribute the evening before the funeral ceremony marked a turning point in easing tensions between the monarchy and the British public over the royal response to Diana’s sudden death.
Funeral Events
Princess Diana’s funeral was held on September 6, 1997 at Westminster Abbey. As would be expected for the funeral of the mother of the future king, it was a royal ceremonial funeral on a grand scale. Over one million people lined the streets of London during the funeral procession. A global TV audience estimated at 2.5 billion also tuned in to watch the events.
The funeral plans themselves proved controversial. Initially, the royal family desired a private ceremony. However, Diana’s ex-husband Prince Charles recognized the need to acknowledge the public’s wishes for a more accessible funeral.
Funeral Procession
The main events of the funeral were:
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Funeral Procession | Diana’s casket traveled from Kensington Palace to Westminster Abbey along a 2.6 mile route through London. |
| Procession Participants | In addition to Diana’s family, royals including Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry, and the Queen’s husband Prince Philip walked behind the casket. |
| Funeral Service | A church service open to the public was held at Westminster Abbey. |
| Guests | In addition to royalty, politicians, celebrities, and other VIPs attended the Abbey service. |
| Flower Tributes | Flowers laid by mourners lined the procession route and blanketed Kensington Palace. |
| Burial | Diana was laid to rest on an island at her family’s estate in central England. |
The procession featured solemn dirges and tolling bells as Diana’s casket traveled through London on a horse-drawn gun carriage. Accompanying the coffin was a great quantity of flowers, acknowledging Diana’s love of blooms. Her son Prince William walked with his head down in mourning behind his mother’s coffin. It was a somber scene watched closely by the crowds and on TV.
Westminster Abbey Service
The funeral service at Westminster Abbey included Bible readings and music from Diana’s favorite hymns and classical compositions. Elton John sang a customized version of his memorial song “Candle in the Wind.” The public guests represented the many charities and causes Diana supported. Her brother gave a moving tribute praising Diana’s generosity and willingness to hug AIDS patients during the HIV/AIDS crisis.
Overall, the funeral reflected Diana’s wishes for a ceremony honoring her life and charity work rather than her role as Princess of Wales. The events balanced royal protocol with more informal and modern elements, mirroring Diana’s unique position straddling royalty and celebrity.
The Queen Does Not Bow
As the senior royal, protocol dictates that the Queen does not bow or curtsy to others. She remained upright as she passed Diana’s coffin both in the funeral procession and when entering and exiting Westminster Abbey. This stood out in contrast to the bows and curtsies of other royal family members towards Diana’s casket.
Prince Charles bowed to Diana’s coffin when entering the Abbey. The Queen Mother, Princes Philip and Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry, and Diana’s brother Lord Spencer all bowed as the coffin was carried out of Westminster Abbey at the end of the funeral. However, the Queen did not bow on either occasion.
Reasons for the Queen’s Actions
The Queen declining to bow can be attributed to a few reasons:
| Factor | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Royal Protocol | As reigning monarch, the Queen does not bow or curtsy to others per royal custom. |
| Preserving Dignity | Bowing may be seen as beneath the monarch’s dignity. |
| Stature | The Queen bowing could be viewed as lowering herself before her royal subjects. |
| Separate Roles | Diana was no longer part of the royal family when she died. |
| Strained Relationship | There were tensions between the Queen and Diana when she was alive. |
The Queen has not publicly explained her actions at Diana’s funeral. However, even in grief, she remains aware of her responsibility to conduct herself with royal bearing as monarch. Angry as some were over her initial response to Diana’s death, bowing would have been seen as the Queen yielding some of her station.
Public and Media Reaction
At the time, no official complaint was made from Buckingham Palace over the Queen declining to bow at Diana’s casket. But her refusal did receive some media scrutiny.
It was perhaps viewed by some as a final slight to the rebellious Princess. However, the Queen is firmly bound by centuries of precedent in conducting herself as sovereign. The pomp and circumstance rules of royalty factored into her ceremonial conduct more than any personal animosity with her former daughter-in-law.
Overall, the majesty of the funeral events took central stage over any parsed analysis of who bowed or curtsied. The Queen’s televised address the evening before the funeral helped redeem her initially stilted response to Diana’s sudden death in the eyes of the public.
Conclusion
Princess Diana’s tragic passing was met with an overwhelming outpouring of public mourning and emotion. The immense scale of feeling towards the “People’s Princess” initially caught the royal family off guard. But under difficult circumstances, they rallied to acknowledge Diana’s loss in a thoughtful way.
The Queen’s refusal to bow at Diana’s coffin reflected custom, not contempt. Though Princess Diana rebelled against royal constraints, she still received a royal-style funeral full of pomp and dignity. The ceremony brought together Diana’s two worlds – royalty and celebrity.
While she did not bow to the casket, the Queen’s eulogy for Diana in her televised address demonstrated deference to the princess’s legacy. The funeral ultimately offered a fitting farewell to a beloved figure the world lost much too soon. Diana continues to capture hearts and attention decades after her death in 1997 at age 36.
