Princess Anne, the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II, has voiced her full support for her mother’s handling of the aftermath of Princess Diana’s tragic death, particularly in relation to her young grandsons, Princes William and Harry.
In a newly revealed 2017 interview with ITV News Royal, Princess Anne, now 72, described her mother’s decision to stay at Balmoral Castle with William and Harry in the days following Diana’s fatal car accident in 1997 as both “right and extraordinary.”
The interview, part of a documentary marking the Queen’s 70-year reign, was first broadcast on September 12. It sheds light on a period when the Queen faced criticism for remaining in Scotland with her grieving family rather than returning to London immediately, where public mourning for Diana was unfolding. At the time, William was 15, and Harry was 12.
“I think my mother made the right decision,” Anne said. “She did something truly remarkable—exactly what any parent would do. Gradually, she found a way to bring those boys from Balmoral to London.”
Reflecting on the gravity of the situation, Anne continued: “I don’t think the boys could have coped with such a profound shock without the Queen being there. It was the best decision for them. She needed to comfort and protect them, giving them the time to process the tragedy with as little trauma as possible.”
Princess Diana passed away in a car crash in a Paris tunnel in 1997, just a year after her divorce from Prince Charles, the Queen’s eldest son.
In the same 2017 documentary, Malcolm Ross, a former senior royal aide responsible for overseeing Diana’s funeral arrangements, echoed Anne’s sentiments. “If you’re the grandmother of a 15-year-old and a 12-year-old whose mother has just died in a car accident, what would you do? The Queen did exactly the right thing,” he stated. Ross further explained that the Queen prioritized her grandsons’ well-being, adding, “If I were in her position, I would have done the same. Why rush them to London when they could grieve in the safety of their family environment?”
Ross also noted that the Queen herself decided to grant Diana a royal funeral, despite her no longer being married to Prince Charles at the time.
Beyond these reflections, Princess Anne used the interview to praise her parents’ 73-year marriage, describing it as a cornerstone of their lives. “The Queen and Prince Philip’s marriage was incredibly significant,” she said.
On September 11, the Queen’s coffin left Balmoral Castle, where she had spent her final summer, en route to Edinburgh ahead of its return to London for the state funeral on September 19. Princess Anne accompanied the hearse for the six-hour journey, paying her respects by curtseying as the coffin was carried into Holyroodhouse Palace.
Anne, known for her close bond with her mother, spent private time with the Queen in Scotland during her final weeks. Meanwhile, the Queen’s other children—King Charles III, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward—have taken part in various events to honor her legacy.
