Tragic Loss: Prince William and Prince Harry Mourn the Death of Former Bodyguard Graham Craker

Tragic Loss: Prince William and Prince Harry Mourn the Death of Former Bodyguard Graham Craker

Prince William and Prince Harry are mourning the loss of their former royal protection officer, Graham Craker, a trusted figure who played a pivotal role in their lives during some of their most difficult moments. Craker, affectionately known as “Crackers” by the princes, passed away at the age of 77.

Mr. Craker was a long-serving officer with the Metropolitan Police and served as a personal bodyguard to the royal family during the 1990s. He was notably present during the tragic days following the death of Princess Diana in 1997, providing emotional support to William and Harry as they navigated their grief.

On the day of Princess Diana’s funeral, September 6, 1997, Mr. Craker rode in the front seat of the hearse that carried her coffin. In his memoir Spare, Prince Harry recalled that moment, sharing:

> “The driver had to keep pulling over so the bodyguard could get out and clear the flowers off the windscreen… The bodyguard was Graham. Willy and I liked him a lot. We always called him Crackers.”

Even after retiring from royal service in 2001, Craker remained close to the royal family, attending events such as Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding in 2011.

Reflecting on the night of Princess Diana’s death, Craker once shared in an interview that he was at Balmoral when he received the call:

> “I crept down the stairs to the house phone and dialled the duty office at Buckingham Palace. They said there were reports of an accident—Dodi Fayed had died, and the Princess had a broken arm.”
Later, upon hearing that Diana had died, he described being in “disbelief.”

He also recalled a poignant moment with Prince William the morning after the tragedy:

> “I saw William walking his dog outside, and I walked up to him and said, ‘I’m very, very sorry to hear your bad news.’ William very sadly said, ‘Thank you.’”

Mr. Craker was honored with membership in the Royal Victorian Order by the late Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his dedicated service to the royal family. Following his retirement, he continued to give back, volunteering with several charities in his hometown of Ware, Hertfordshire.

Graham Craker’s passing marks the end of a life devoted to public service and loyalty to the royal family. His memory remains etched in the hearts of those he served and protected during his distinguished career.