Bizarre Reason Why Princess Diana's Coffin Was Lined With Lead: "We Wanted To Ensure..."

Princess Diana’s funeral on September 6, 1997, was watched by 2.5 billion people. As people across the globe mourned the loss, they noted a heartbreaking detail—Diana's coffin carried a letter from Prince Harry that had the word 'Mummy' written on it. What's lesser known is another poignant detail rooted in royal tradition—the Princess was laid to rest in a customary lead coffin, weighing a 'quarter of a tonne.' This age-old practice followed in royal funerals was meant to prevent moisture and preserve the body longer.

Once dubbed the world's most photographed woman, Diana’s untimely passing was attributed to the media's obsession with her life. Despite being divorced from then-Prince Charles and no longer a part of the royal family, Diana was given a royal funeral in light of what she meant for the British public and of course for her sons, Prince William and Harry. As per BBC, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson explained, “Although there is no lying in state, obviously we want to ensure that as many of the public who wish to can share in the grieving.”

And so Diana was laid to rest in a coffin lined with lead; carried by eight Welsh guards who reportedly had trouble doing so, as per Metro. These coffins, when sealed airtight, slow the decomposition of the body for the royal state funeral procession that is to follow.

The late Princess's brother, Charles Spencer, requested Diana be buried on an island in the center of the Oval Lake within the Althorp Estate in tribute to her childhood and also to ensure privacy. Diana had a close relationship with her only brother and confided her deepest sorrows to him. Spencer gave a heartbreaking eulogy paying homage to her undying legacy of philanthropy and kindness. He said, “Diana was the very essence of compassion, of duty, of style, of beauty. All over the world, she was a symbol of selfless humanity. We will all feel cheated always that you were taken from us so young, and yet we must learn to be grateful that you came along at all.”

The People’s Princess wasn't the only royal to be buried in a lead coffin. As per the Daily Mail, the late Prince Philip was also buried in a similar coffin. His lead-lined English oak coffin, a tradition for members of the royal family, was made for him more than 30 years before. At his funeral in April 2021, the coffin was transported in a custom-designed Land Rover Defender 130, which he had helped design. It was placed in the Royal Vault at St. George's Chapel, where the Duke of Edinburgh was laid to rest alongside other royal family members