“Prince William and Harry Mourn Loss of Former Royal Bodyguard Graham ‘Crackers’ Craker at 77”

• Graham “Crackers” Craker, former protection officer for Prince William and Prince Harry, has passed away at 77
• The royal guard served during Princess Diana’s 1997 Paris car accident that claimed her life at 36
• “Willy and I adored him. We found his nickname ‘Crackers’ endlessly amusing,” Prince Harry recalled in his memoir Spare

Graham “Crackers” Craker, the trusted security specialist who guarded Princes William and Harry during their formative years, has reportedly passed away at age 77.

Craker served on the royal protection team during the tragic 1997 Paris car crash that killed Princess Diana, as noted in reports from The Telegraph and Sky News. Initial news of his death was reported by The Sun.

Then aged 15 and 12 respectively, the young princes received support from Craker following their mother’s sudden death. The Duke of Sussex detailed these memories in his 2023 memoir Spare.

During Diana’s funeral procession from St James’s Palace to Westminster Abbey on September 6, 1997, Craker accompanied the grieving brothers behind their mother’s hearse. The veteran officer retired in 2001 after 35 years with London’s Metropolitan Police and 15 years safeguarding the royal family.

Historical photos show Craker riding in the lead vehicle during Diana’s final journey to Althorp House, her resting place. Images captured then-Prince Charles and his sons bowing their heads as the procession passed.

Harry recounted in Spare: “The driver kept stopping to clear flowers from the windshield. Our bodyguard Graham handled it – we called him Crackers and adored his company,” as quoted by The Telegraph.

In a 2017 interview with the New York Post about the documentary Diana: 7 Days That Shook the Windsors, Craker reflected: “Processing Diana’s death took time. As officers, we focused on assessing the situation and maintaining protocol.”

Stationed with the royal family in Scotland during the tragedy, Craker described the somber atmosphere: “Comforting the boys fell to family. When I encountered William walking his dog the next morning, I offered condolences. He quietly thanked me before continuing his walk.”

The former guard also shared a poignant memory of William acknowledging him during Diana’s funeral procession: “From my position at the hearse, William looked up and nodded. My presence with his mother brought him comfort.”

Honored with Royal Victorian Order membership by Queen Elizabeth II, Craker later attended Prince William’s 2011 wedding. Post-retirement, he supported community initiatives like Ware’s Southern Maltings arts center.

The organization memorialized him on Facebook: “To his family, Graham was a devoted patriarch. To us, he was our real-life James Bond – a Rotary Club leader and dedicated volunteer. We’ll honor him at our bar tonight.”

Kensington Palace declined to comment when reached for a statement. Representatives for Prince Harry and the Metropolitan Police didn’t immediately respond to inquiries.

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