Tragic deaths
These royals had to die far too soon
Princess Diana (left), Princess Grace and Stefano Casiraghi – they all died far too early.
© imago images/Everett Collection / imago images/United Archives / imago/ZUMA Wire
It’s the 26th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death. These royals also died far too young and tragically.
Princess Diana and the accident in Paris
August 31st marks the 26th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana (1961-1997). The Queen of Hearts was traveling in a Mercedes sedan with her new love, businessman and Harrods heir Dodi Al-Fayed (1955-1997), and her bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones, 55, when the car arrived at 0:00 a.m. 26 o’clock at 196 km/h in the tunnel of the Pont de l’Alma in Paris crashed into a concrete pillar.
Dodi Al-Fayed and the driver of the car, Henri Paul (1956-1997), died at the scene of the accident. Trevor Rees-Jones survived with serious injuries including his head. Diana was pronounced dead at the hospital at 4am. She was only 36 years old.
Millions of people followed the funeral at the time. The images of how today’s King Charles III. (74) and the young children William (41) and Harry (38) walked behind Diana’s coffin, went around the world a little later.
Grace Kelly: A Fairy Tale That Ended Fatally
On September 14, 1982, time stood still for a moment in the small Principality of Monaco: After a serious car accident the day before, Princess Grace (1929-1982) succumbed to her injuries in hospital. She was only 52 years old.
Princess Grace and her then 17-year-old daughter Princess Stéphanie (58) were on their way home from their summer residence Roc Agel on September 13, 1982, when the princess’ car on the winding Route de La Turbie left the road off. The two women fell 40 meters down a cliff.
The princess was able to free herself with severe cervical injuries and a concussion. The Princess was taken to the Center Hospitalier Princesse Grace. On the evening of September 14, two months before her 53rd birthday, Gracia Patricia died as a result of the accident. At the funeral at Notre-Dame-Immaculée Cathedral in Monaco, Prince Rainier III wept alongside her husband. (1923-2005), and the children, Caroline (66), Stéphanie and today’s Prince Albert II (65), also Princess Diana.
Fate for Princess Caroline
Eight years later, the principality in Monaco suffered another heavy blow of fate. Princess Caroline’s husband Stefano Casiraghi (1960-1990), with whom she had three children, died on 3 October 1990 off the coast of Monaco during a world racing boat championship. He was just 30 years old.
The Italian entrepreneur and the eldest daughter of Prince Rainier III. and Princess Grace Patricia said yes on December 29, 1983. The marriage resulted in sons Andrea (39) and Pierre (35) and daughter Charlotte (37). The latter was just four years old when her father died. “I remember that he was a very brave person. Maybe it’s my father who gave me my courage,” she once told the French culture magazine “Les Inrockuptibles”.
After 18 months in a coma: Prince Friso died ten years ago
August 12th marked the tenth anniversary of the death of Prince Johan Friso of Orange-Nassau (1968-2013). The second of three sons of Princess Beatrix (85) and Prince Claus of the Netherlands (1926-2002) died a year and a half after a serious avalanche accident. He was only 44 years old.
Prince Friso was buried by an avalanche on February 17, 2012. He was revived, but was in a coma afterwards. He was first taken to Innsbruck University Hospital and on March 1, 2012 to a private specialist clinic for early neurological rehabilitation in London.
Eventually he was moved to Huis ten Bosch Castle. After a total of 18 months in a coma, he died there on August 12, 2013. A few days later he was buried in the cemetery next to Drakensteyn Castle. He left behind his wife Mabel (55) and their children Luana (18) and Zaria (17).
King Charles named his son after his great cousin who died in a tragic accident
On August 28, 1972, Prince William of Gloucester (1941-1972) died at the age of just 30. He was considered a great role model for today’s King Charles III. Prince William of Gloucester was a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) and only seven years older than his great cousin Charles.
William owned several airplanes and also performed at air shows. In August 1972, he crashed at an air show in front of 30,000 spectators. The tragic death plunged the British royal family into deep mourning, especially the then 23-year-old Charles. He eventually named his son William after his great cousin. The current Prince of Wales was born ten years after the royal’s tragic death.