He Was More Than a Bodyguard — He Was Family.
Though Prince William and Prince Harry’s relationship may seem strained today, those who knew them during their early years remember a very different bond — one built on deep brotherhood and shared grief in the wake of Princess Diana’s tragic death.
Few had as close a view of their lives as Graham Craker, a former Metropolitan Police officer who served as their personal bodyguard for 15 years. Known affectionately by the princes as “Crackers,” he was far more than a security detail. He was a trusted confidant, a steady presence in both their happiest and most heartbreaking moments.
Craker recently passed away at the age of 77. His sons confirmed his death, remembering him as “an incredible man” who “lived his life so selflessly.”
He was by William and Harry’s side during the most painful chapter of their youth — the loss of their beloved mother. When news broke of Princess Diana’s death in 1997, it was Craker who accompanied the boys to Balmoral, providing quiet comfort and unwavering protection during an unimaginable time.
He later walked behind Diana’s hearse during the funeral procession — a moment etched into his memory forever. “I was standing at the rear of the hearse and William looked up and acknowledged me,” Craker once told The New York Post. “I looked toward him and nodded. William was comforted that I was with his mum on her final journey.”
He never forgot the sea of emotion from the public that day — people weeping, dropping to their knees, tossing flowers onto the road. “Even traffic on the M1 came to a standstill. People stepped out of their cars and bowed in respect,” he recalled.
Craker also shared a quiet, poignant encounter with a grieving Prince William the morning after the funeral. He found the young prince walking his dog, offered a few gentle words, and William simply responded, “Thank you.”
Prince Harry would later reflect on Craker’s quiet strength in his memoir Spare, writing, “The driver had to keep pulling over so the bodyguard could get out and clear the flowers off the windscreen. The bodyguard was Graham. Willy and I liked him a lot. We always called him Crackers. We thought that was hysterical.”
But Craker wasn’t just there for the darkest days — he was present for moments of joy, too. Long after retiring, he was invited to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding, a powerful testament to the enduring bond he shared with the royal family.
In recognition of his dedicated service, Queen Elizabeth II awarded him the Royal Victorian Order — a personal honor given to those who serve the monarchy with exceptional devotion.
Graham Craker’s passing marks the end of a quiet but significant era in royal history. To the world, he was a bodyguard. To William and Harry, he was a guardian, a friend, and a gentle reminder of the unbreakable bond they once shared.