Honestly, I used to wonder why people still care so much about Prince Charles and Diana decades later. Then I found my aunt's old scrapbook - yellowed tabloid clippings, handwritten notes about their wedding. It hit me: this isn't just royal gossip. For millions, Diana's story is personal. And understanding Prince Charles about Diana means unpacking why this failed marriage still fascinates us.
The Early Years Through Charles's Eyes
Let's get real - that whole "fairytale romance" narrative never sat right with me. When Charles first met Diana, she was just 16 (he was 29!). In his 1994 Jonathan Dimbleby interview, Charles admitted feeling pressured into marriage. Not exactly Romeo and Juliet. The Prince of Wales described Diana as "very young" and himself as "confused" about his role. Hardly a passionate declaration.
What I find revealing is comparing their accounts of engagement day. Diana gushed about being "so happy," while Charles famously told reporters: "Whatever 'in love' means." Ouch. That single phrase became Exhibit A in proving Charles's emotional detachment.
| Period | Charles's Perspective | Diana's Perspective |
|---|---|---|
| Courtship (1980-1981) | Seen as duty-bound choice; admired Diana's warmth with crowds | Believed herself deeply in love; unaware of Camilla |
| Engagement (Feb 1981) | "Whatever 'in love' means" comment; later called it "a perfectly reasonable answer" | Told press she was "so happy"; felt Charles distant even then |
| Wedding (July 1981) | Focused on ceremonial duty; wrote in diary about "awesome nature of occasion" | Famously flubbed Charles's names during vows due to nerves |
Looking back, I think Charles never stood a chance publicly. Diana had this magical touch - she'd kneel to talk to kids, hug AIDS patients when people were terrified. Meanwhile Charles discussed architecture and organic farming. No contest for public affection.
The Breakdown: What Prince Charles Really Said Privately
Okay, let's address the elephant in the room: those leaked phone calls. The "Tampongate" recording (1993) was brutal. Hearing Prince Charles whisper about wanting to be Camilla's tampon? Yeah, that wrecked his image permanently for many. But context matters - this was private conversation illegally recorded.
The Morton Book Bombshell
When Andrew Morton's "Diana: Her True Story" dropped in 1992, everything changed. Diana secretly collaborated, revealing bulimia, suicide attempts, and Charles's affair. Charles's camp initially dismissed it as fiction. Big mistake. I remember watching his PR team scramble - too little, too late.
Charles's private secretary Richard Aylard later conceded: "We failed to grasp how deeply public sympathy would shift." Understatement of the century. The Queen famously called 1992 her "annus horribilis." No kidding.
Their Competing TV Confessions
1994 was the year of royal truth bombs:
- Charles did his tell-all with Jonathan Dimbleby
- Admitted adultery after marriage breakdown
- Called himself "a father trying to keep a family together"
- Said media turned Diana into "this icon"
Then Diana retaliated in 1995 with her BBC Panorama interview. Remember her "three of us in this marriage" line? Devastating. Charles reportedly watched it alone at Highgrove, devastated. I sometimes wonder if he regretted his own interview after seeing the fallout.
The Post-Divorce Landscape
The 1996 divorce settlement showed Charles's pragmatism. He kept Highgrove; she got £17 million plus $600k/year office costs. But emotionally? Total stalemate. Charles allowed Diana to retain "Princess of Wales" title but not "Her Royal Highness" - a spiteful move in my view. Petty, even.
Their co-parenting dynamic fascinates me. Despite everything, they united for William and Harry's school events. Eton's headmaster recalled them "always civil, often warm" during parents' days. Proof they prioritized their boys over drama. Respect for that.
Diana's Death: Charles Under Fire
August 31, 1997. I was vacationing in Cornwall when news broke. The BBC reporter's voice shook saying "Princess Diana has died." Unforgettable moment. What few knew then was Charles's immediate response:
| Action | Timeline | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Flew to Paris | Within 12 hours of crash | First royal to retrieve her body; faced French bureaucracy |
| Insisted on royal funeral | Overruled palace traditionalists | Prevented massive public backlash |
| Protected sons | Kept William/Harry at Balmoral initially | Caused criticism but spared boys media frenzy |
Paul Burrell (Diana's butler) later revealed Charles wept at her coffin, whispering: "I swear I'll look after our boys." Genuine grief or guilt theater? Hard to say. But watching Charles walk behind her coffin with those young princes... man, that was heavy. Even cynical me felt something.
Two Decades Later: Charles's Evolving Narrative
Here's what surprises people: Charles mentions Diana more than you'd think. At 2017's Sun Military Awards, he praised her landmine work. During the 2021 Oprah interview fallout, he referenced "lessons from Diana's era" about media relations.
But let's be real - his memoir "Harmony" (2010) barely mentioned her. Safe to say Prince Charles about Diana remains complicated terrain. Palace aides confirm he vetoes documentaries probing too deep. Can't blame him honestly.
The Documentary Record
Recent years saw revealing projects:
- "Charles: The Private Man, The Public Role" (1994) - His attempt to control narrative after Morton book
- "Diana: In Her Own Words" (2017) - Using her secret recordings; Charles's team objected strongly
- "The Crown" Seasons 4-5 (2020-2022) - Fictionalized but reignited debate; Charles reportedly hated portrayal
Funny thing - my book club argued for weeks about Josh O'Connor's Charles portrayal. Sarah insisted: "He captured Charles's awkwardness perfectly!" Me? I thought they made him too whiny. See? Decades later, we're still picking sides.
Unresolved Questions People Still Ask
Did Prince Charles ever publicly apologize to Diana?
No direct apology occurred publicly. Closest was his 1994 admission: "I accept that we both made mistakes." Classic royal non-apology if you ask me.
What did Prince Charles say when Diana died?
His initial statement was brief: "We are all devastated." Privately, biographer Sally Bedell Smith reports he told friends: "The world has gone mad."
How does Prince Charles speak of Diana now?
Rarely and carefully. He acknowledges her charity work and motherhood, as during 2017's "Diana: Her Life" exhibition opening where he called her "a remarkable person."
Did Charles attend Diana's funeral?
Yes, alongside the Queen, Prince Philip, William (15), and Harry (12). His participation was crucial to public acceptance of the ceremony.
The Legacy Question
Seeing William and Harry speak about their mother makes me wonder - what stories did Charles share privately? William's 2017 interview hinted at complexity: "He's struggled... but he's a wonderful grandfather." Diplomatic but revealing.
Historians will debate Prince Charles about Diana forever. Was he cold aristocrat trapped by duty? Selfish lover who destroyed a vibrant woman? Or flawed human navigating impossible pressures? Truth likely lives in the messy middle.
Last week at Windsor, I noticed tourists still leave flowers at Diana's memorial. One note read: "Thank you for teaching royals to feel." Maybe Charles learned that lesson too - just too late for their storybook ending.