Sobering news about one of the Royal Family's most beloved associates has come in.
Hello! Magazine reports that Graham Craker, Prince William and Prince Harry's childhood bodyguard, passed away at the age of 77.
Craker's tenure as the Princes' bodyguard was especially notable because he was one of the first people to comfort the brothers after their mother, the late Princess Diana, was killed in a car crash in 1997.
In fact, Craker also guided Princess Diana on her final journey, as he sat in the front seat of her hearse during her funeral procession.
A tragic loss for the House of Windsor
Time has not been kind to the House of Windsor recently.
Before Graham's passing, King Charles had to deny that he had any involvement with a Chinese spy. This came after Prince Harry's shocking decision to step down as a member of his beloved Sentebale charity.
As unfortunate as these events are, you could at least say they are cut-and-dry affairs. We still don't know why Prince William hired the same law firm that represented his mother during her divorce from the then Prince Charles.
Fortunately, Graham Craker was a source of joy, stability, and security for the Royal Family during his lifetime.
Craker remained very close with the royals after his retirement and attended Prince William and Catherine Middleton's wedding in 2011.
Craker was also acknowledged for his years of distinguished service by Queen Elizabeth, as she made him a member of the Royal Victorian Order to commemorate his actions.
In a past interview, Craker discussed how difficult it was to watch Prince William and Prince Harry grieve after their mother died.
He was in disbelief himself as well, as he initially thought Princess Diana only suffered a broken arm during her accident.
During her funeral, Prince William and Graham Craker shared a silent moment with each other. According to Graham, "I was standing at the rear of the hearse and William looked up and acknowledged me. I looked toward him and nodded."
He continued his reflection by revealing, "William was comforted I was with his mum on her final journey."
Craker's passing is tragic enough on its own, but it's also a reminder of just how far Prince William and Prince Harry have grown apart.
One would think that Craker's funeral would be a chance for the brothers to interact with each other in neutral territory. However, the Royal Family's recent drama shows that things are never that simple.