Queen Elizabeth Did Something At Princess Diana's Funeral That The Public Did Not See Coming

Princess Diana was honored with a public funeral on September 6, 1997, seven days after her tragic death. The event brought in an estimated 2.5 billion viewers, while another 3 million crowded the streets of London to follow the route of Diana's coffin from Kensington Palace to her final resting place at the Spencer family home. Diana's two sons, William and Harry, joined the funeral procession alongside their father, grandfather, and uncle Earl Spencer. The coffin passed Buckingham Palace, where members of the royal family waited outside. Queen Elizabeth II was one of them, and as Diana's coffin was carried past her, she made a very rare move – she bowed her head. The Queen's gesture is remarkable for a couple of reasons. First, while it is customary for others to bow or curtsy to Her Majesty, she is not technically required to bow or curtsy to others. Second, there was a huge amount of drama within the royal family after Diana's death, including the fact that the Queen had insisted that Diana's ceremony be private. She faced fierce resistance from Prince Charles, and then-Prime Minister Tony Blair also agreed that Diana should be laid out at St. James's Palace with a public funeral held at Twin Smiths Abbey. The speech, and the Queen's decision to grant permission for a state funeral, has long been recognized as a turning point in Her Majesty's conflictual spell with members of the public. Because the Queen was so highly criticized for her silence and business-as-usual behavior in the wake of Diana's death, her bowing at the coffin attempt to send a message of compassion, honor, and genuine grief.