The Emotional Message Princess Diana's Brother Shared About Prince Philip's Funeral

Princess Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, shared an emotional message following Prince Philip's funeral, which was held on April 17, 2021. Although Charles was not able to attend Philip's funeral, he has very close ties to the royal family, and did tune in to watch the service on television. In addition to being Diana's younger brother, he is also Queen Elizabeth's godson, according to Town & Country. 

Charles was in attendance at Diana's funeral back in 1997. He walked behind the casket, flanked by his nephews, Prince William and Prince Harry, proving to be a support system for the boys. At Philip's funeral, a similar procession took hold, with Philip's sons and grandsons walking behind the casket as it was carried to St. George's Chapel. After Philip's death on April 9, 2021, Charles took to Twitter to share a poem that he hoped was "a suitable salute to a rather magnificent old sailor." In the days leading up to Philip's service Charles was fairly quiet on social media, but he did want to share some photos from George VI's funeral to Twitter on April 16. However, it's what Charles tweeted after Philip's funeral that has people talking. 

Charles Spencer posted a very thoughtful message to Twitter after watching Prince Philip's funeral. "Goodness – what a stunningly moving ceremony," he tweeted. Thousands of Twitter users appeared to agree with Charles, as the post gained more than 2,000 likes in the first hour it was posted. More than 100 people also commented on the post, many agreeing with Charles' assessment of the day's proceedings.

The ceremony for Philip lasted about one hour, and included several readings and hymns sung by a socially distanced choir. According to a 2017 report from the Independent, Philip did not want a fuss made over him after he died, thus, his funeral procession kept with tradition, but he did not lie in state. And while there were a few subtle touches and tributes made in honor of the Duke of Edinburgh that made this day very special, the simplicity of it also contributed to how beautiful and moving it was.