Pilot’s ruse to avoid ‘spotters’ on final journey
IT WAS one of the most memorable images following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales: her coffin being carried from the plane, draped with the Royal Standard as the Prince of Wales and Tony Blair looked on.
The pilot who quietly orchestrated the transit of the late princess home from Paris has shared details of the journey for the first time, from top radio security to the “accidental” arrival time.
Graham Laurie, who flew the Royal family hundreds of times until his retirement in 2000, has spoken of Diana’s final journey, and pays tribute to the “composed” Prince of Wales who even in grief stopped to politely thank him.
Mr Laurie, now 71, said he was proud to be the one to transport the princess’s body, ensuring everything ran smoothly in honour of her. “I’m glad it was me, rather than someone who didn’t know her or the Royal Household,” he said.
Mr Laurie has told how he used a UHF military radio to avoid information about Diana being picked up by “spotters” who used civil ATC frequencies.
Disclosing there was a last-minute change of planes, after staff learned that space for a coffin may be required, Mr Laurie said the operation ran effectively. While plans for Royal deaths are usually laid out to the minute, he said, details of the 1997 trip were invented on the spot, and accidentally arranged around a 7pm arrival time he had “guesstimated”.
Mr Laurie has not shared details about the flight before, but has chosen the 20th anniversary of Diana’s death to lay out the facts for the historical record.