On a gloomy morning on September 6, 1997, the streets of London were enveloped in deep mourning. The bells of Westminster Abbey echo in the humid air, heralding the climax of a world-class tragedy. On that day, a lead-wood coffin weighing 635 pounds became the focus of all attention.
Resting in the coffin is the world's attention to Princess Diana, whose life was abruptly ended in a car accident in Paris, shocking the world. How did her children and ex-husband react to her death, and how did the British royal family react?
The tragic death of Princess Diana
In the early hours of August 31, 1997, the streets of Paris were filled with sirens and broken car glass, the beginning of a tragedy that shocked the world.
The Mercedes Benz sedan in which Princess Diana and wealthy Egyptian businessman Dodi Fayyad were riding collided with a wall inside the Alma Bridge tunnel, resulting in a serious car accident.
At the time of the accident, the car was extremely fast and was being chased by the paparazzi, all of which increased the likelihood of an accident. Diana and Dodi were pronounced dead shortly after being rushed to the hospital.
The news quickly spread around the world through the news media and aroused great concern in the international community. From London to New York, from Sydney to Cairo, people placed flowers in front of the British Embassy to express their condolences and respect for the "people's princess".
Diana, who was loved all over the world for her extensive philanthropic activities and people-friendly public image, was saddened by the sudden loss of countless people.
Some of the mourners were beneficiaries of her philanthropic work, while others were ordinary people who had met the princess on television and in newspapers and were touched by her tragic fate.
At the same time, Diana's death has sparked widespread discussion and speculation about the possible reasons behind it. Of particular concern to the public was whether the paparazzi chasing her were directly responsible for the crash.
In the aftermath of the accident, the legal liability and ethical scrutiny of the paparazzi became one of the focal points of media discussion.
In addition, technical details such as the safety of the accident vehicle, the driver's qualifications, and the specific driving route that night were also repeatedly sorted out and analyzed.
The Paris police conducted a thorough investigation into the accident. During the investigation, it was found that the driver, Henry Paul, had excessive levels of alcohol and prescription drugs in his blood, which became one of the important causes of the car accident.
As the investigation deepened, the cause of Diana and Dodi's deaths gradually became clear, but the controversy and conspiracy theories surrounding the accident still did not subside.
Queen Elizabeth's reaction is divided within the family
The British royal family reacted conservatively to this sudden tragedy and took a seemingly calm attitude. Queen Elizabeth, who was vacationing at Boermore Castle, initially appeared to be very restrained in her reaction to the outside world.
The queen did not immediately make a public statement, which was interpreted in part by the outside world as a cold handling of the incident.
At the time, it was reported that Queen Elizabeth even initially prevented Prince Charles from traveling to Paris to retrieve Diana's body.
This decision may have been motivated by a frenzied media focus on trying to handle the incident in a protective way and avoid the chaos caused by overexposure.
However, the views of Prince Charles and the Queen have diverged on this issue. Prince Charles was well aware of Diana's place in the public eye and the global implications of her death, so he felt compelled to personally travel to Paris to deal with the aftermath of this tragedy.
After internal discussions and weighing, Charles finally decided to go against the Queen's preliminary opinion and travel to France in person.
After Charles's decision, he soon set off for Paris with Diana's two sisters. Their actions were not only to retrieve Diana's remains, but also to show respect for Diana and the importance they took for this tragedy.
Charles and Diana's sisters met with the medical examiner and related staff responsible for handling Diana's body at a hospital in Paris.
In France, Charles and Diana's family first confirmed Diana's identity and communicated closely with the French authorities who handled the accident.
They reviewed the relevant accident reports and carried out the necessary legal and medical procedures on Diana's body to ensure that it was properly disposed of and repatriated to the UK.
Charles and Diana's sisters then arranged for Diana's body to be transferred to a more intimate facility so that the body could be embalmed and prepared for repatriation to England.
They chose a funeral parlor on the outskirts of Paris to better manage the details and avoid excessive media attention.
Throughout the process, Prince Charles and Diana's family showed great attention and respect, ensuring that all handling was consistent with Diana's identity and dignity.
Their actions in Paris, while low-key, also expressed deep condolences to Diana and the unity of the family in the necessary moments.
The handling of Diana's body and its repatriation
Princess Diana's body was placed in an ordinary wooden coffin after preliminary treatment in Paris. The coffin was functional and formal enough for the most basic needs, but given Princess Diana's public profile and the upcoming long haul, this simple arrangement did not seem appropriate.
Since it was summer, the temperature in Paris was higher, which further exacerbated concerns about the state of preservation of the remains. After communicating with the relevant authorities responsible for handling Diana's affairs, the British royal family decided to transfer the body to a more secure lead-wood coffin.
The choice of this lead-wood coffin was not a random decision. The lead wooden coffin weighs 635 kilograms, and its internal coating is made of lead, which has a strong antiseptic and oxygen insulation effect, which can effectively delay the decay process of the body.
The outer layer is made of sturdy wood, which not only ensures the stability of the coffin, but also provides enough weight and sealing to accommodate the upcoming air transport.
During the transfer to the lead-wood coffin, the relevant personnel carried out a series of delicate operations. First, Diana's body was carefully removed from the original wooden coffin for the necessary embalming.
These treatments include the use of embalming fluids and other preservation agents to ensure that the remains remain as stable as possible during long-distance transportation.
Subsequently, the body was transferred to a leaded wooden coffin. The inside of the coffin is covered with a thick lining and cushioning material that not only absorbs any liquid that may be produced, but also provides additional protection for the remains, reducing the direct impact on the remains of possible bumps during transport.
After these necessary steps are processed, the coffin is sealed. During the sealing process, the staff carefully inspected every seam and edge of the coffin to ensure that there were no gaps, thus preventing air and moisture from entering.
This process requires a high degree of professionalism and precision to ensure that the body is preserved in the best possible condition during the return to the UK.
Eventually, the coffin was placed in a metal container custom-made for the transport, which had the necessary safety features, including a stabilization bracket and a temperature control system. Once all these preparations were completed, Diana's body was ready to leave Paris and return to England.
Arrangements for the funeral and public mourning
On a gloomy morning on September 6, 1997, London's Westminster Abbey was in the global spotlight. On this day, Princess Diana's funeral was held here, and thousands of people gathered in the streets around the church from early in the morning.
People from all over the UK and around the world have come to London to express their deep condolences and love for Diana, the "people's princess".
They held flowers, lit candles, and hung banners with their love and remembrance of Diana.
The perimeter of the church was surrounded by police and volunteers to ensure that the funeral process was solemn and orderly. TV trucks and camera racks are set up outside the crowd, and the eyes of the world are locked on the screen in this moment.
The streets of London became eerily silent, and people's expressions showed deep sadness.
As the funeral begins, the bells ring, and mourning music slowly plays inside and outside the church, adding a sense of solemnity and solemnity. Diana's coffin was carried on the shoulders of eight Royal Guard soldiers as it slowly entered Westminster Abbey.
The coffin is covered with Princess Diana's royal emblem and a bouquet of white roses, symbolizing her purity and nobility.
Accompanied by the solemn melody of the organ, members of the royal family, politicians, hundreds of Diana's former friends and representatives of charities paid her one last respect.
The church was packed, and everyone had come to say goodbye to Diana. At this sad moment, Elton John took the stage and sang the song "Candle in the Wind", which was arranged exclusively for Diana.
As Elton John's mournful melody and soulful singing rang out, the whole church fell into deep grief.
The lyrics of the song tell the story of Diana, who was like a candle flickering in the wind, and her life was short but glorious.
Elton John's singing expressed the emotions of countless people, making everyone present feel a strong resonance.
As the singing ended, the venue burst into continuous applause, and many people could not contain their emotions and shed tears.
Inside and outside the church, silence and mourning reverberate, and the air was filled with infinite nostalgia for Princess Diana and deep respect for her bereaved and independent personality.
Princess Diana's legacy and the reaction of her sons
At Princess Diana's funeral, her two sons, Prince William, 15, and Prince Harry, 13, were the focus of the world's attention.
On this day full of grief, the two young princes had to face the public and participate in their mother's farewell ceremony.
Prince William, as Diana's eldest son, has attracted particular attention from the outside world. Throughout the funeral, his expression was serious, sometimes showing anger.
As a member of the royal family, William was taught to exercise restraint and dignity in public, but in this extreme situation, his young face still showed deep resentment and pain over his mother's death from time to time.
Compared to William, Prince Harry looks more confused and helpless. Despite his young age, Harry's performance gave the impression that he was overwhelmed by this sudden turn of events.
His expression was sometimes dazed, as if he could not fully comprehend the significance of the loss of his mother and the impact it had on his life.
During the funeral ceremony, the two princes followed behind the coffin, from Westminster Abbey in London to the private cemetery of the Alsop family.
Although the journey was not long, each step seemed unusually heavy for the two young princes. The image of them immediately behind the coffin was transmitted around the globe through television footage, and many people were heartbroken to see it.
As the procession slowly marched, thousands of mourners fell silent along the way, many watching the mournful procession from the side of the street to pay their last respects to Diana.
William and Harry are surrounded by adult relatives and friends, but despite this, their presence in the ranks stands out and is lonely.
The funeral ceremony took place inside the church, and William and Harry sat in the front row throughout the ceremony, facing their mother's coffin.
Although surrounded by family, friends and dignitaries from all over the world, this was undoubtedly one of the most unbearable moments of the brothers' lives.
The atmosphere reached a climax as Elton John's "Candle in the Wind" echoed through the church, and the whole church was filled with an atmosphere of sadness and sorrow.
After the song, William and Harry, along with the rest of the royal family, carried Diana's coffin out of the church and began their final journey to the Althop family cemetery.
Reference: Diana: Her True Story