Earl Charles Spencer has a close relationship with his nephew Prince Harry and has previously defended him against a ‘barbaric’ decision by the Royal Family
Prince Harry was fiercely defended by his uncle after the Royal Family made a “barbaric” decision regarding the Duke.
Earl Charles Spencer has always shared a close bond with his nephew and was forced to stick up for Harry when the royals were planning the funeral of Princess Diana. Harry recalled the incident and said Earl Spencer had been against him walking behind his mother’s coffin.
Harry was just 12 years old when the funeral took place and the plan was for him and his brother Prince William, who was only a little older at 15, to follow the coffin on foot. Earl Spencer believed it was too much for the young brothers to handle.
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‌Recalling the incident in his memoir Spare, Harry said: “It seemed a lot to ask of two young boys. Several adults were aghast. Mummy’s brother, Uncle Charles, raised hell.”
Harry said his uncle yelled: “You cant make these boys walk behind their mother’s coffin! It’s barbaric.” An alternative plan was created to have William walk behind the coffin alone, however, it was decided both brothers had to do it “to garner sympathy”.
The Duke of Sussex added: “Uncle Charles was furious. But I wasn’t. I didn’t want Willy to undergo an ordeal like that without me. Had the roles been reversed, he’d never have wanted me—indeed, allowed me—to go it alone.”
Earl Spencer recently reunited with Harry at St Paul’s Cathedral for a special service to mark the anniversary of the Invictus Games. Royal expert Tom Quinn believes the show of solidarity “speaks volumes” about where the Earl’s loyalties lie.
Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, he said: “The Spencer family have always felt uncomfortable with the Royal Family after the death of Harry and William’s mother. Earl Spencer, Diana’s brother, was openly critical of the way the Royal Family treated his sister and of course that criticism largely centred on Prince Charles (as he then was).”
Princess Diana sadly died in August 1997 in a fatal car crash in Paris. Tom said there is “still a lot of bitterness around”. The expert added: “Like Harry, the Spencers still see the Royal Family, to some extent, as the enemy.”
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