Junior Rasmussen
Princess Diana's death in 1997 shocked the world, and her funeral was a highly publicised affair. Her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, were just 15 and 12 years old at the time and walked behind the coffin in a procession to Westminster Abbey. During his wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018, Prince Harry paid tribute to his late mother by including the hymn Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer, which was also sung at Princess Diana's funeral.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Princess Diana's funeral | 6 September 1997 |
| Date of Harry and Meghan's wedding | 19 May 2018 |
| Hymn played at both occasions | "Guide Me, O Thy Great Redeemer" |
| Other songs played at Princess Diana's funeral | "I vow to thee, my country", "The king of love my shepherd is", "Make me a channel of your peace", "Libera Me" from Verdi's Requiem, "Candle in the Wind" |
| Other ways Princess Diana was honoured at Harry and Meghan's wedding | Forget-me-nots, Princess Diana's favourite flower, were included in Meghan's bouquet; the couple invited Elton John, who performed at Princess Diana's funeral |
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What You'll Learn
Prince Harry's emotional reaction to the song
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle chose to include several tributes to his late mother, Princess Diana, during their wedding ceremony in 2018. One of these tributes was the hymn "Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer", which was also sung at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997, when Prince Harry was just 12 years old.
During the performance of the hymn at his wedding, Harry appeared to get choked up and was seen with an emotional reaction. The hymn was one of several ways in which the couple chose to honour Princess Diana during the ceremony.
Harry's mother's family were also involved in the wedding. Lady Jane Fellowes, Princess Diana's sister, gave a reading of "The Song of Solomon". Harry also handpicked flowers from Kensington Palace's garden, including forget-me-nots, one of his mother's favourite flowers, for Markle's bouquet.
Harry has spoken about his mother's funeral, which was depicted in the final season of 'The Crown'. In 1997, a 12-year-old Harry walked behind his mother's coffin with his brother, Prince William, their grandfather Prince Philip, their father King Charles, and their uncle Charles Spencer.
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The hymn Guide Me, O Thy Great Redeemer
The hymn "Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer", also known as "Cwm Rhondda", was written by William Williams in 1745 and published in 1849. The hymn is set to a tune composed by John Hughes in 1907 and is often referred to as "Bread of Heaven" due to a repeated line in the English translation.
The hymn's text is an allegory for the journey of a Christian throughout their life on earth, requiring the Redeemer's guidance and ending at the gates of Heaven. It draws on imagery from the Exodus story in the Old Testament, such as the "bread of heaven" and the "crystal fountain". The New Testament's Christocentric focus is also evident in the text, with Jesus portrayed as the "bread of heaven" or "bread of life".
"Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer" has been featured on several British state occasions, including the funerals of Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and the weddings of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
During Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding ceremony, the hymn was included as a touching tribute to Princess Diana. It was one of several ways in which the couple honoured Diana during the wedding, with all three of her siblings in attendance and a reading given by her sister, Lady Jane Fellowes. Prince Harry appeared to be emotional during the singing of the hymn, which held special significance for him as it had also been played at his mother's funeral when he was just 12 years old.
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Elton John's performance at Princess Diana's funeral
The decision to include Elton John's performance at the funeral was not without controversy. The royal family initially resisted the idea, with the royal household expressing concern that the new lyrics were "too sentimental". However, the Dean of Westminster, the late Very Reverend Dr Wesley Carr, strongly advocated for its inclusion. In notes attached to a letter, he wrote:
> "This is a crucial point in the service and we would urge boldness. It is where the unexpected happens and something of the modern world that the Princess represented. I respectfully suggest that anything classical or choral (even a popular classic such as something by Lloyd Webber) is inappropriate. Better would be the enclosed song by Elton John (known to millions and his music was enjoyed by the princess), which would be powerful."
Dr Carr also suggested that if the lyrics were considered too sentimental, they did not need to be printed and only sung. Ultimately, his argument that Elton John's performance would be an "imaginative and generous" gesture to the public prevailed, and the singer was allowed to perform.
Elton John's performance at the funeral was a touching tribute to Princess Diana, and he later recalled that it was "one of the most surreal things I have ever done". He also promised to never perform the tweaked rendition again unless Diana's sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, specifically asked him to.
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The inclusion of Princess Diana's favourite flowers in Meghan Markle's bouquet
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018 included several tributes to the groom's late mother, Princess Diana. One of these tributes was the inclusion of Princess Diana's favourite flowers in Meghan's bridal bouquet.
The bouquet was designed by London-based florist Philippa Craddock, who worked with the couple on all the flowers for their wedding celebration. The bouquet featured an all-white collection of flowers, including Princess Diana's favourite forget-me-nots, as well as sweet peas, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine, and astrantia. The inclusion of these flowers was a subtle and touching way to honour the memory of Princess Diana and ensure her presence at the wedding.
In addition to the forget-me-nots, Meghan's bouquet also featured white garden roses, which were another of Princess Diana's favourite flowers. The roses were paired with peonies, which are allegedly a favourite of the bride herself, and foxgloves, which are traditionally symbolic of the Virgin Mary in the Christian religion. The combination of these flowers created a beautiful and meaningful arrangement that held special significance for both the bride and groom.
The inclusion of Princess Diana's favourite flowers in Meghan's bouquet was just one of the ways in which the couple honoured her memory during their wedding. Another touching tribute was the singing of the hymn "Guide Me, O Thy Great Redeemer," which was also sung at Princess Diana's funeral nearly 21 years earlier. The hymn held deep emotional significance for Prince Harry, who was visibly moved during the performance, demonstrating the enduring love and connection between a son and his late mother.
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Princess Diana's funeral procession
Princess Diana's funeral took place on Saturday, 6 September 1997, in London. The tenor bell of Westminster Abbey began tolling at 9:08 am, signalling the departure of the cortège from Kensington Palace. The procession was led by a gun carriage carrying Diana's coffin, which was escorted by mounted police to St James's Palace. The Union Flag on top of the palace was lowered to half-mast.
The official ceremony was held at Westminster Abbey and concluded at the resting place on Diana's family estate, Althorp, Northamptonshire. Two thousand people attended the ceremony in the abbey, while the British television audience averaged 32.1 million viewers—one of the United Kingdom's highest viewing figures ever. Services of commemoration and events honouring the Princess were also held in various cities and towns across the United Kingdom.
The hymns played at the funeral were, in chronological order, 'I vow to thee, my country', 'The king of love my shepherd is', 'Make me a channel of your peace', and 'Guide me, O thou great redeemer'. The British National Anthem, 'God Save The Queen', was also sung by the congregation, as is traditional at state and ceremonial funerals. At the end of the service, they performed John Tavener's 'Song for Athene', with text adapted from Shakespeare's Hamlet and the Orthodox Funeral Service. As the congregation stood to allow the Procession to leave the church, the organist played JS Bach's 'Prelude in C minor, BWV 546' and the 'Maestoso' from Saint-Saëns's 'Symphony No. 3 "Organ"'.
Elton John, a close friend of Diana, performed a rewritten version of his 1973 song 'Candle in the Wind' as a dedication to the Princess of Wales. The BBC Singers, joined by soprano Lynne Dawson, performed 'Libera Me' from Verdi's Requiem. Princess Diana's sisters, Sarah and Jane, gave readings of a poem titled 'Turn Again To Life' by Mary Lee Hall, and another poem titled 'Time', respectively.
Prince Harry paid tribute to his late mother, Princess Diana, at his wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018. The hymn 'Guide Me, O Thy Great Redeemer' was played during the ceremony, and Prince Harry appeared to be emotional.
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Frequently asked questions
The hymn "Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer" was played at both Princess Diana's funeral and during Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle.
The song was played as a tribute to Prince Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, and he appeared to get emotional during the song.
Harry and Meghan also invited Diana's sister, Lady Jane Fellowes, to give a reading of "The Song of Solomon", and included forget-me-nots, Princess Diana's favourite flowers, in the bouquet.
