Squadron Leader Graham Laurie, who served as personal pilot to Prince Charles (now King) for nearly two decades, has died aged 80. Laurie is perhaps most remembered for piloting the aircraft that repatriated Princess Diana's body to the United Kingdom from Paris following her fatal car crash on 31 August 1997. His role in this historic moment, witnessed by millions around the world, became defining to his military legacy.

Over 19 years with the Queen's Flight at RAF Benson between 1981 and 2000, Laurie accumulated 13,500 flying hours and 2,214 royal flights, ferrying King Charles (then Prince of Wales) to 767 engagements. On the day of Diana's repatriation, Laurie estimated the round trip would take until 7pm but demonstrated his characteristic precision by landing at precisely 6:51pm. The article also recalls a controversial 1994 incident when Laurie permitted Prince Charles to take the aircraft's controls at Islay in the Inner Hebrides, resulting in a crash that damaged the £10million aircraft and drew Ministry of Defence criticism.