Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (then Sophie Rhys-Jones) was the royal who notably chose not to attend Princess Diana's funeral in 1997, as her strong physical resemblance to Diana would have been too upsetting for mourners, a decision supported by the Royal Family. She was not yet married to Prince Edward (they wed in 1999) and was seen as a potential distraction, so she stayed away out of consideration for the public's grief.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (then Sophie Rhys-Jones) didn't attend Princess Diana's funeral because she and Diana looked so alike, and it was decided her presence would be too upsetting for the mourners, a decision supported by the Royal Family. Her resemblance to Diana, including similar short blonde hair and features, meant that from a distance, she could have been mistaken for the late Princess, causing distress.
However, one member of the Royal Family decided to skip Diana's funeral, fearing their attendance would upset too many people. According to the Daily Mail, biographer Sean Smith discussed Duchess Sophie's decision to not attend Princess Diana's funeral in a forthcoming book.
“We hadn't heard from him before, but he was really anguished. 'It's about the boys,' he cried, 'They've lost their mother. '” “At a dinner prior to the funeral, Prince Philip said to his grandsons, “I'll walk if you walk.”
Prince Harry refused to accept Princess Diana’s death for years | 60 Minutes
Did Camilla attend Diana's funeral?
No, Camilla Parker Bowles (now Queen Camilla) did not attend Princess Diana's funeral in 1997, as it was decided her presence would be inappropriate and detract from the solemn occasion, despite an initial invitation from Princes William and Harry to support them. The decision was made after reflection, recognizing the immense public grief and the potential for controversy, leading to her absence being a strategic move to manage public perception and respect for Diana.
She couldn't believe that Diana would speak out so publicly and disgrace the family in such a bold way. Margaret was deeply loyal to the monarchy and saw Diana's actions as unforgivable. In fact, according to biographers, Margaret became one of Diana's harshest critics in the royal family after that interview.
Did you know Queen Elizabeth II almost never bowed to anyone? As the reigning monarch, she followed royal protocol strictly meaning she didn't curtsy or bow, except on very rare and meaningful occasions. Only a few people in her lifetime were considered worthy of that gesture.
Princess Diana kept her head down in public due to a combination of shyness, feeling overwhelmed by intense media scrutiny, and a strategic way to manage her image, often peering up from under wide-brimmed hats to regain a sense of control and privacy while still appearing graceful, a habit stemming from her early struggle with royal life and a desire to seem smaller or less conspicuous.
Which word did Princess Diana remove from her vows?
Princess Diana famously removed the word "obey" from her wedding vows to Prince Charles in 1981, choosing instead to promise to "love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health," a move that modernized royal tradition and was later followed by her daughters-in-law, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle.
“They did not like each other,” claims Sean, who says the tension between them was partly due to Diana being annoyed by how much Sophie, now 60, looked like her. When she saw the younger woman, she'd say, “Oh, look, here comes my double”, or, “Here comes Miss Goody Two Shoes.”
According to Seward in The Queen & Di, although Elizabeth was initially sympathetic to Diana, eventually the stoic monarch felt that the emotional princess was simply too much to handle.
"She had a furious row with Raine because Diana was so upset that her own mother had been ignored in the ancestral home, and she pushed her, and Raine fell down the stairs. "She was badly bruised and was dreadfully upset."
Prince Philip's most famous nickname for Queen Elizabeth II was "Cabbage," a term of endearment possibly derived from the French "mon petit chou" (my little cabbage/pastry puff), though he also reportedly called her "Sausage". Queen Elizabeth had many nicknames, including her childhood name "Lilibet," used by her father and later Philip, and "Gan-Gan," used by Prince George, but "Cabbage" was a private, affectionate term from her husband.
There will be a LOT of changes. Camilla Parker Bowles leveled up to Queen Consort Camilla in 2023, but she won't get to keep the title forever. Assuming Her Majesty outlives King Charles, things are expected to change significantly for Camilla—and not just when it comes to her title.
