Prince Harry Thought Princess Diana Faked Her Own Death for 11 Years
He believed this to be true until he was 23 years old.
In perhaps one of the saddest revelations during Prince Harry’s 60 Minutes interview with Anderson Cooper, the Duke of Sussex revealed that, for 11 years, he believed his mother Princess Diana’s death was a hoax, and that any day she would call him and brother Prince William and ask them to join her somewhere.
“For a long time, I just refused to accept that she was gone,” Harry said. “Part of [it was] she would never do this to us. But also, part of it maybe [felt like] this is all part of a plan. For a time [I believed she was alive] and then she would call us, and we would go and join her.”
Harry said it took “many years” to accept that his mother was really gone, adding “I had huge amounts of hope.”
Diana died on August 31, 1997 from injuries sustained in a car crash in Paris. Harry was just 12 at the time, a couple of weeks shy of his thirteenth birthday on September 15.
Us Weekly reports that, during the CBS broadcast, Harry spoke of attempts to see proof of the car accident, which took her life as well as the lives of driver Henri Paul and her boyfriend, Dodi al-Fayed. The only survivor was her bodyguard, Trevor Rhys-Jones, who sustained substantial, life-threatening injuries.
“[I was looking mainly for] proof that she was in the car,” Harry said. “Proof that she was injured and proof that the very paparazzi that chased her into the tunnel were the ones that were taking photographs of her lying half dead in the back [of the car]. The pictures showed the reflection of a group of photographers taking photographs through the window and the reflection on the window was them.”
Harry’s private secretary stopped him from seeing the more gruesome images, he said.
Stay In The Know
Select the newsletters you’d like to receive. Then, add your email to sign up.
“All I saw was the back of my mom’s head slumped on the backseat,” he said. “I will be eternally grateful to him for denying me the ability to inflict pain on myself by seeing that. Because that’s the kind of stuff that sticks in your mind forever.”
Rachel Burchfield is a writer, editor, and podcaster whose primary interests are fashion and beauty, society and culture, and, most especially, the British Royal Family and other royal families around the world. She serves as Marie Claire’s Senior Celebrity and Royals Editor and has also contributed to publications like Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, People, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and W, among others. Before taking on her current role with Marie Claire, Rachel served as its Weekend Editor and later Royals Editor. She is the cohost of Podcast Royal, a show that was named a top five royal podcast by The New York Times. A voracious reader and lover of books, Rachel also hosts I’d Rather Be Reading, which spotlights the best current nonfiction books hitting the market and interviews the authors of them. Rachel frequently appears as a media commentator, and she or her work has appeared on outlets like NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, and more.
-
Princess Beatrice's New Baby Will Inherit a Unique Royal Title
Her new little one will arrive in spring 2025.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
The Most Amazing Celebrity Career Renaissances
Including some literal "rags to riches" trajectories.
By Katherine J. Igoe Published
-
The quantum physicist and the clean-energy consultant have become one of season 7's fan-favorite couples.
The quantum physicist and the clean-energy consultant have become one of season 7's fan-favorite couples.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
Prince Harry Meets Up With Another Royal Family During His First Stop in Africa
The Duke of Sussex spent time with some old friends in Lesotho on Oct. 1.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Royal Expert Says Princess Diana "Would Have Giggled With Delight" at Prince Harry's Choice to Fight Back Against Palace
"Diana would, I'm sure, have been very supportive of the choices Harry has made.”
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince Harry Received the Sweetest Gift From a 10-Year-Old Girl to Use “If He Feels Down”
The Duke of Sussex called the present "a lovely gesture."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince Harry Reveals the One Thing His Daughter Princess Lilibet Can't Live Without
"Every parent has a spare. I’ve got at least six spare."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Prince Harry Is Heading on a Solo Trip to Africa in October
The duke will work with his charity Sentebale to highlight youth programs in Lesotho and South Africa.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince Harry Shocks Haunted House Employees During Surprise Jimmy Fallon Appearance
Can't blame them.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Princess Diana Would Trick Her Staff with "Fake Vomit," Former Royal Hairdresser Reveals
Hairstylist Richard Dalton said the late royal had "a wonderful sense of humor."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince Harry Shares What He Finds "Absolutely Terrifying" as a Parent
The Duke of Sussex wrapped up his trip to NYC by speaking out on an issue close to his heart.
By Kristin Contino Published