Princess Diana’s former chauffeur supervisor has spoken of the ‘extremely emotional’ day he was allowed to join the royal family during his private funeral.
Former Royal Protection Officer Colin Tebbutt MVO was one of the few staff allowed to attend Princess Diana’s funeral.
Speaking on the new season of Secrets of the Royal Palaces, which is due to air on Channel 5, Mr Tebbutt spoke about what he witnessed at the secret ceremony, out of public view.
He described the moment he and former butler Paul Burrell watched Princess Diana’s funeral with the Royal Family, describing the moment as “difficult to understand”.
(Image: John Stillwell / PA Wire)
Diana was buried on an island surrounded by water in the Spencer Estate of Althorp.
Mr Tebbutt said: “The army erected a bridge on the island and the army crossed the bridge carrying Her Royal Highness on her shoulders and lowered her to where she was buried.
“The family then did what every family does at a funeral and they came to the brink.

(Photo: Steve Bell)
“I stood back with Paul and I think then there were prayers said. To be included in the household, the two of us, with the very last piece of that boss’s funeral being lowered. And you know, I never really transplanted. It always has been, has it really happened to me.
Mr Tebbutt also revealed how he and Paul Burrell were invited to join the royal family and his family for lunch by Lord Spencer.

(Image: Images from PA Wire / Press)
Although he admits that he prefers not to have been there because it is “a private heartache of this family”.
Princess Diana was tragically killed in a car crash in Paris, France, after fleeing the paparazzi.
She died of internal bleeding and other injuries on August 31, 1997, at the age of 36.
Diana was traveling with her boyfriend Dodi Fayed in a car driven by Henri Paul.

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His funeral took place on September 6, 1997 at Westminster Abbey and was watched on television by 32.1 million people as fans marched through the streets as his funeral procession passed.
The Spencer family then arranged a private funeral in Althorp, which Mr. Tebbutt attended.
Diana was buried in a long-sleeved black wrap dress from her clothing designer Catherine Walker, which she had ordered just weeks before her death.
She was also interred with a loving photo of William and Harry and held a treasured gift, a rosary, from Mother Teresa, who died the day before Diana’s funeral.
Secrets of the Royal Palaces airs on Channel 5 Saturday night at 8:30 p.m.