On the day Princes William and Harry learned of their mother’s terrible car accident, the royal bodyguard who was with them passed away.
Nicknamed ‘Crackers’ by the two Princes, Graham Craker, 77, had served 35 years as a Metropolitan Police officer.

Before retiring in 2001, he had been the lads’ personal protection officer for 15 years.

Craker went behind William and Harry on the day of the funeral as the hearse carrying their mother’s remains traveled from St. James’s Palace to Westminster Abbey.

He said: “I was standing at the rear of the hearse and William looked up and acknowledged me. I looked toward him and nodded. William was comforted that I was with his mum on her final journey.”

“There were people in tears, on their knees crossing themselves, throwing flowers at the hearse.”

“The bit that amazed me is when we got on the northbound M1, even the southbound traffic had stopped and people got out of their cars and bowed in respect.”

Even in their own correspondence, the Princes’ affection for Craker was clear in their descriptions of their protection officer.