Prince William and Prince Harry have found themselves briefly reunited in sorrow following the passing of a deeply cherished figure from their childhood—former royal bodyguard Graham Craker, affectionately known to the brothers as “Crackers.”
Graham Craker, who passed away at the age of 77, served as a member of the Metropolitan Police for 35 years, 15 of which he spent as a royal protection officer. His role in the royal household extended far beyond security; he became a trusted presence in the lives of young William and Harry, particularly during the formative years of their relationship with their mother, Princess Diana.
Craker held a special place in the hearts of the royal siblings, as he was closely associated with their late mother, who maintained warm relationships with those in her inner circle. His long-standing connection with the princes was reflected in the affectionate nickname they gave him—“Crackers.”
He also played a poignant role during one of the most somber moments in royal history: Princess Diana’s funeral. Craker was one of the figures who walked behind her hearse as it traveled from St James’ Palace to Westminster Abbey, accompanying the young princes in a moment that would be forever etched into the national memory, according to The New York Post.
Footage from that solemn day captures Craker stepping out of the funeral procession’s car to gently clear the windshield of flowers thrown by thousands of mourners lining the streets.
Prince Harry recounted this memory with deep affection in his memoir, Spare. “The driver had to keep pulling over so the bodyguard could get out and clear the flowers off the windscreen,” he wrote. “The bodyguard was Graham. Willy and I liked him a lot. We always called him Crackers. We thought that was hysterical.”
The warmth between the royals and their former bodyguard extended well into adulthood. In a touching gesture, Prince William invited Craker to his 2011 wedding to Kate Middleton, signifying the enduring respect and bond the future king maintained with his childhood protector.
Though the brothers remain distant amid ongoing family tensions, the loss of Graham Craker is a rare moment that has stirred shared grief and nostalgic reflection. Craker’s dedication, kindness, and unwavering presence during some of the most vulnerable times in William and Harry’s lives has left an indelible mark.
His passing is not only mourned by the royal family but by those who remember his quiet strength and commitment during a defining era for Britain’s most watched family.
