On Aug. 31, 1997, news broke that Princess Diana had died in a car accident in Paris, more than two decades ago. She was laid to rest a week later, on September 6, 1997. Her funeral was broadcast live to millions of people around the world, making it one of the most watched television events in history.
Many people remember her two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, who were only 15 and 12 years old at the time, walking behind Diana’s coffin with their Uncle Charles Spencer, Prince Philip, and Prince Charles. The fact that the Prince of Wales’ suit was not black was also noted by many onlookers. To show mourning, his sons, father, and brother-in-law all wore black suits, but Charles wore a navy suit instead. Some wondered if his choice was an accident, while others saw it as a sign of disrespect, given his tumultuous relationship with his ex-wife and their divorce a year prior. However, there is a very specific reason why Prince Charles wore a blue suit on that particular day, and the answer may surprise you.
When royals are in mourning, they usually wear black.
Many people associate black with death and mourning, and the royals are no exception. They must even bring a black outfit with them on all of their journeys in case they receive word that a loved one has died while they are gone.
“Black is generally thought to be worn only in mourning,” English Manner Chief Executive Alexandra Messervy told InStyle, “although Diana, Princess of Wales did occasionally wear it for evening functions, and the Duchess of Cambridge has been known to do so [as well].”
The men in the family, on the other hand, tend to reserve the colour for black-tie events and banquets, as well as mourning, which is why some people were surprised to see Prince Charles in a blue suit at the princess’s funeral.
Why did Prince Charles wear a blue suit instead of a black one to Diana’s funeral?
The colour choice made by the Prince of Wales on the day of his ex-funeral wife’s was deliberate and made as a tribute to the princess. Diana favoured the colour navy blue on him, so he chose it.
“If you look at Prince Charles at her funeral, he didn’t wear black; he wore a navy suit because Diana preferred him in navy,” Daily Mail editor Richard Eden told Palace Confidential.
Since Diana’s favourite suit for a man was navy, both of her sons wore dark blue suits when they unveiled her statue in the Sunken garden at Kensington Palace in 2021, according to the royal expert.
“You may have noticed that they were both dressed in navy suits, whereas Harry has been wearing his grey suit since meeting Meghan. Eden explained, “I think she suggested, ‘You look good in grey,’ and he’s always worn it.” “However, he chose navy for this occasion.”
What is the location of Princess Diana’s grave?
Many royal fans have wondered where the Princess of Wales is buried and if anyone can pay her a visit since her funeral on that solemn day.
Diana was laid to rest at the Spencer family’s ancestral home, the Althorp Estate in Northampton. Her grave is on a small island in the middle of the Round Oval, which is off-limits to the general public. Those who want to pay their respects to the People’s Princess, on the other hand, can do so at a memorial site on the grounds.
“With its beauty and tranquilly, we all agreed that this was the place for Diana to be,” Charles Spencer said of his sister’s gravesite.
