Prince Harry has recalled his mother Princess Diana’s funeral, saying that as a 12-year-old boy who had just lost their mum, the public event was incredibly hard.
“My mother had just died, and I had to walk a long way behind her coffin, surrounded by thousands of people watching me while millions more did on television.”
“I don’t think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances,” he told Newsweek magazine.
“I don’t think it would happen today.”
On September 6, 1997, Prince Harry walked behind his mother’s coffin with older brother Prince William, father Prince Charles, grandfather Prince Philip and maternal uncle Charles Spencer.
His mother had died just seven days earlier.
Harry, who has been open about his grief surrounding his mum’s death, says Princess Diana always wanted her sons to have as much of an “ordinary” life as possible, and that he makes sure continuing that is a high priority.
“My mother took a huge part in showing me an ordinary life, including taking me and my brother to see homeless people.”
Thank goodness I’m not completely cut off from reality. People would be amazed by the ordinary life William and I live.”
“I do my own shopping. Sometimes, when I come away from the meat counter in my local supermarket, I worry someone will snap me with their phone. But I am determined to have a relatively normal life, and if I am lucky enough to have children, they can have one too.”
RELATED: Prince Harry Has Opened Up About His Death Following Princess Diana’s Death