How Prince Philip’s ‘gruff tenderness’ supported William and Harry when Diana died

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Prince Philip shared a unique bond with his grandchildren that persevered even as the royal family was shaken by Prince Harry’s decision to quit his position.

The Duke of Edinburgh, who has died aged 99, was not known to show emotion in public, but shared a more openly loving relationship with his grandchildren.

Former royal correspondent Duncan Larcombe even noted that the Duke’s relationship with them was ‘very different’ to that with his own children, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

Mr Larcombe said: ‘Philip is the epitome of stiff upper lip – he is never photographed crying or showing emotion publicly.

‘But his relationship with [William and Harry] is much warmer.’

William and Harry’s close connection to their grandfather was solidified after the death of Princess Diana, when he reportedly jumped to their defence during a phone conference about her funeral.

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The Duke allegedly told Tony Blair’s communications team to ‘f*** off’ when they suggested that the boys, then 15 and 12, walk behind their mother’s coffin ‘to show the Royals cared’.

Anji Hunter, Mr Blair’s influential Director of Government Relations, said the moment sent a ‘tingle’ up her back.

She described the Prince’s voice as ‘really anguished’ as he shouted over the phone: ‘’F*** off. We are talking about two boys who have just lost their mother.’

Sky TV political commentator Adam Boulton, who wrote about the phone call in his book, said: ‘He was trying to remind everyone that human feelings were involved.

‘No. 10 were trying to help the Royals present things in the best way, but may have seemed insensitive.’

During Diana’s funeral, William and Harry walked alongside their uncle, the Earl of Spencer, father Charles and Philip.

The Duke was said to be instrumental in encouraging William to take part in the march, as the teenager had reportedly wanted to grieve in private.

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He reportedly asked his grandson: ‘If I walk, will you walk with me?’

It was also said that staff on the Balmoral estate, where the boys were staying at the time with the Queen and Philip, were impressed by the Duke’s ‘gruff tenderness’ when dealing with his grandchildren.

It was noted that the Prince had also lost his own mother, Princess Alice, at the age of 10, when she was committed to an asylum in Switzerland.

The Duke of Cambridge has spoken of his grandfather with affection, and is said to have called him a ‘legend’ during a conversation with actor Matt Smith, who played the younger Philip in The Crown.

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William also made sure to visit the grave of Princess Alice on a trip to the Middle East in 2018.

Harry and Philip’s relationship was strained by the younger prince’s decision to leave his royal duties behind and move to the US with wife Meghan Markle.

Philip reportedly couldn’t understand why Harry, sixth in line to the throne, wanted to step aside.

Harry has not been able to return to the UK to see his family due to the pandemic but told chat show host James Corden earlier this year that he spoke with his grandparents regularly on Zoom.

He said: ‘My grandfather, instead of, like, pressing “leave meeting”, he just goes “doof”,’ he laughed, mimicking someone slamming down the laptop. ‘I’m like, “OK, bye!”’

The Queen and Prince Philip also have 10 great-grandchildren, including Lucas Philip Tindall who was born last month and named in tribute to his great-grandfather.

Philip was the longest-reigning consort in British history, and completed 22,219 solo engagements before he resigned from royal duties.

Over the coming days funeral arrangements will be made for the Duke, who will be buried in Frogmore Gardens, in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

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