What is your opinion about Charles visiting Diana's grave?

[Menarue]

I think visiting graves is pointless. In this case they were divorced, he is married again. Also a fact that I don´t think anyone has mentioned the fact that her grave is on private property. It is a small island on a small lake in the estate of Althorp which belongs to Diana´s brother. I have a feeling that they don´t get on that well so he may be reluctant to ask permission to go on a pointless pilgrimage. I voted I don´t care.

[Thomasine]

I think it would be nice if Charles accompanied his sons to their mother's grave and should he want to go so alone, he has my full support.

[BeatrixFan]

He probably has been alone. It's not a circus attraction, it's a grave. Of course, if you'd rather he did an Evita routine I'll happily teach him something suitably diva-ish.

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Diana was his wife for many years. She is the mother of his children. Charles should have the right to pay his respects at her grave whenever he wishes, and he should have complete privacy.

[iowabelle]

I voted "don't care." I think it's up to him, and if he goes it should be a meaningful gesture for him and their children. But I think there are many ways for him to honor her memory if he chooses.

And if he were to go, I would rather the visit be kept private, with no photographers.

[Keenie]

I voted he should visit her grave. It is out of respect for the Mother of his sons and also it would allow him time to contemplate and meditate. I believe Diana's demise left him more devastated than we think. IMO of course

[baguetteprincess]

I voted I do not care if he visits or not. As Diana is buried on Althorp, which is Spencer ground, I would venture to say it would be quite awkward. But, it is really for him to decide to do so or not.

[scooter]

Originally Posted by scooter

When the children we're young, I'm sure if they wanted to go on her birthday or Mother's Day, he would have/did take(n) them. Now that they are adults and can go on their own, I dont see any reason for Charles to go.

I found this over the weekend in Christopher Anderson's book 'After Diana' page 239-40 quoting Earl Spencer in 2002:"Spencer, who had encountered Charles only once - and then purely by happenstance at a charity event - also criticized Charles for having never visited Diana's grave "not a single time" the Princess' brother said, "in five years". Nor incidentally, had the Queen been to Althorpe. But each year on Diana's birthday, the boys did make the journey to the Spencer estate, rowing out to the tiny, 75 foot by 180 foot island on which she is buried to place flowers on her grave"

Then on page 459: "Yet the confounding truth remained after a full decade, neither the Queen nor Prince charles had visited Diana's lonely grave on the tiny island at Althorpe."
While I cant imagine why QE would go, I think it's very sad that William and Harry did not have the comfort and support of their father in what must have been such sad days.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by scooter

I found this over the weekend in Christopher Anderson's book '.

Was he the author that everyone seemed to question the accuracy of his books? This is a genuine question not a 'put down', I just have a vague recollection that his facts and quotes were questioned.

[Menarue]

A brother-in-law of mine used to visit his wife´s grave every year with the wife he married 6 months after she died. They would both stand there crying their eyes out (she had never even met my sister-in-law) pure hypocrisy.
I think if the princes asked their father to take them to see the grave he wouldn´t hesitate, you can see the love he has for his sons.
The princess´s brother seems to find any excuse he can to criticize any member of the royal family he can. In the meantime he was charging money for visitors to go a gawp across the water at the little island...

[Jo of Palatine]

Originally Posted by scooter

Then on page 459: "Yet the confounding truth remained after a full decade, neither the Queen nor Prince charles had visited Diana's lonely grave on the tiny island at Althorpe."

Spencer should have let them bury Diana at Frogmore like it was offered and she wouldn't be so "lonely" but surrounded by her sons' family and within easy reach for her sons who went to Eton and have later served at Windsor.

[sthreats]

My reply to the poll is that "I don't care" . I really appreciate the poem posted by Skydragon. It really helped me yesterday. My sister died 6 years ago at age 32. My mother and younger sister visit her grave every Memorial Day. I don't go. I always get the sense that my sister is upset. They wanted to take my children (12, 9). My children have happy memories of my sister and the week that she died-we talk about her daily and light a candle for all of our deceased relatives on Sundays. Their grandfather just died. I just did not see the point of having them stand in the rain at a gravesite watching their grandmother cry.
I think grieving is very personal and none of us should judge how another person does it--are they really 'sincere'.

[scooter]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

Was he the author that everyone seemed to question the accuracy of his books? This is a genuine question not a 'put down', I just have a vague recollection that his facts and quotes were questioned.

Not as I recall. In the acknowledgments, the author claims to have been consulted in 2005 by Scotland Yard to assist Operation Paget, the official investigation into the death of Diana et al.

[Mermaid1962]

My mother-in-law and my father died 23 days apart, and my mother and father-in-law have handled their grief in different ways. My mother stayed home and sort of nested until she felt strong enough to get involved with things again, whereas my father-in-law kept up his involvement in different organizations. My mother is much more self-conscious about grieving and harder to comfort, whereas my father-in-law wept openly and was always receptive to hugs and comforting words. Still, they both handled and are handling their grief well and are coming to terms with their loss in a healthy way. No one can judge another's grieving, I agree.

Originally Posted by sthreats

I think grieving is very personal and none of us should judge how another person does it--are they really 'sincere'.

[georgiea]

I have a question.

Does anyone know if Prince Charles visits his late uncle's grave or late grandmother's grave? That might answer if he would visit Diana, Princess of Wales' grave. It would show that he remembers loved ones by visiting their graves.

[tan_berry]

I do not think would be good for Charles, because it could be seen as if he were trying to gain something from it. For example, sympathy. They had a bitter divorce and he is married to the woman Diana thought was the cause of the divorce. But if his sons want him to accompany them, that would be another story, going with them and privately. No publicity at all.

[scooter]

Also, I would like to point out that Earl Spencer was in a position to know exactly when/if his nephews and ex BIL were coming to Althorp, because of the security issues. As Earl Spencer has been directly quoted and has not refuted the quote, I can only take his remembrances to be acurately attributed.

[Skydragon]

Not everyone feels a need to visit a grave site, it doesn't mean that they are not grieving or that they feel the pain any more or less than those that do.

[Odette]

I doubt P Charles ever visited the grave after the funeral. I admired him for going off to Paris to escort Diana's body back to London and standing by his sons. However after that Spencer brow beating during the ceremony, I doubt these two Charles have any desire to communicate or accomodate each other.