Princess Diana Had a Closed Casket During Her Funeral — And The Reason Is Truly Tragic

31 August, 1997, was one of the saddest days in history as millions mourned the untimely death of Princess Diana, or 'People's Princess' as she was fondly known. Diana's life was tragically cut short in a car crash in Paris as paparazzi chased her vehicle into a tunnel. Unlike many royal funerals, Diana's was a closed-casket ceremony. The decision was influenced by the horrific nature of her death and in part, also given the traditional British funeral practices.

Diana suffered a deep thigh wound, a broken arm, and a concussion in the accident, but it was a chest wound that claimed her life. As per reports, the Princess had internal bleeding from a severed pulmonary vein, and the damage was so serious that her heart had moved within her rib cage. As reported by Grunge, the condition of Diana's body after the accident, the medical procedures she underwent thereafter, and the autopsy, made her body unable for public viewing. As such her family wished to preserve her memory as forever graceful and dignified.

Given that Diana's sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, who was just 12 years old at the time, were to attend the funeral, an open casket was scraped to avoid adding to their grief. Additionally, tradition also played a part— as open caskets are uncommon in England and have been since the Victorian era. Though they were formerly widespread, wakes and post-mortem photos eventually became less popular. Following royal custom, Diana was buried in a lead-lined coffin, which prolonged the body's preservation.

27 years later, Diana's funeral still is a topic of much debate given the Crown's choice to have William and Harry walk behind their mother's coffin. In a 2017 documentary, William said, “It wasn’t an easy decision, and it was a collective family decision to do that. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But we were overwhelmed by how many people turned out, it was just incredible. There was that balance between duty and family and that’s what we had to do.” There were around 2,000 mourners at Westminster Abbey, including members of the royal family, Diana's family, political figures, and friends. 32 million people also watched the procession on television in the UK, making it one of the most-viewed events in history, as reported by People Magazine.

Reflecting on the tragic day, Harry once said, “I think it was a group decision. But before I knew it, I found myself with a suit on with a black tie and a white shirt...and I was part of it. Genuinely, I don’t have an opinion on whether that was right or wrong. I am glad I was part of it. Looking back on it now, I am very glad I was part of it.” He also recalled hearing people screaming in the crowds. He said, “The broadcast news today still talks about the silence and of course, there was a huge amount of silence, but what I remember is every 50 yards or whatever certain people in the crowd were just unable to contain their emotion. That was a big thing.”