Despite their explosive and ultimately failed marriage, King Charles and Princess Diana maintained a complex and evolving relationship that was marked by both affection and regret. From the beginning, their union was overshadowed by Charles' love for Camilla Parker-Bowles, leading to intense conflicts and Diana's subsequent bulimia and suicide attempts. However, after their split, they found newfound respect and even affection for each other, united by their shared love for their sons.
In the annals of royal matrimony, the marriage of King Charles and Princess Diana stands as a cautionary tale of love lost and relationships marred by infidelity and emotional turmoil. From the moment their engagement was announced in 1981, the world was captivated by the fairy-tale wedding that seemed to embody the hopes and dreams of young women everywhere. However, behind the public facade of marital bliss, the couple's union was a ticking time bomb, plagued by Charles' enduring love for his former mistress, Camilla Parker-Bowles.
The Tumultuous Marriage of King Charles and Princess Diana: Love, Loss, and Grudging Respect
As author Christopher Andersen reveals in his shocking biography "The King," the relationship between Charles and Diana was a constant battleground, fueled by Diana's desperate attempts to win her husband's affection and Charles' refusal to fully commit to her. Andersen alleges that their screaming matches were legendary, driving Diana to the brink of despair and leading her to develop bulimia and contemplate suicide on several occasions.
The lopsided nature of their romance was evident from the outset. As Andersen explains, "Charles and Diana spent their entire married life locked in mortal combat over Camilla, the woman Charles truly loved." Diana's pain was amplified by the fact that she was younger and less experienced than her husband, making her feel like an outsider in the royal family.
The Tumultuous Marriage of King Charles and Princess Diana: Love, Loss, and Grudging Respect
The arrival of their sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, brought some respite to their tumultuous relationship, but it was not enough to mend the fundamental rift between them. Diana's popularity with the public and her growing confidence and independence only served to alienate Charles, who felt threatened by her newfound fame and influence.
In 1992, Charles and Diana's marriage reached its breaking point and they announced their separation. The decision was met with shock and disbelief, but it was clear that their relationship had become irrevocably damaged. Their eventual divorce in 1996 brought a measure of closure, but the scars of their failed marriage would continue to haunt them both.
The Tumultuous Marriage of King Charles and Princess Diana: Love, Loss, and Grudging Respect
However, in the years that followed their split, Charles and Diana underwent a profound transformation. The constant pressure and scrutiny surrounding their relationship lifted, and they were finally able to find a new level of peace and understanding. Andersen notes that "after they split – when there was no longer the pressure of maintaining the charade as husband and wife – Charles and Diana were finally free to be themselves."
Diana, in particular, grew to respect Charles for his steadfast love for Camilla and his devotion to his sons. She even began to accept that their relationship had been doomed from the start. Andersen quotes Diana as saying, "When you find a true, deep love like that, it's a precious thing. You've got to hold on tight to it."
The Tumultuous Marriage of King Charles and Princess Diana: Love, Loss, and Grudging Respect
In the final months of Diana's life, the bond between her and her ex-husband grew even stronger. Andersen reveals that when Gianni Versace was gunned down outside his Miami Beach estate, Charles called Diana to express his condolences, and she was deeply moved by his gesture.
Their last conversation took place in August 1997, when Charles invited Diana and their sons to join him aboard the royal yacht Britannia for a segment of its final voyage. Diana was touched by the invitation, and it marked the last time they spoke.
The Tumultuous Marriage of King Charles and Princess Diana: Love, Loss, and Grudging Respect
A few days later, on August 31, 1997, Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris. Her sudden and tragic death sent shockwaves around the world, and Charles was devastated. He flew to Paris to retrieve her body and, according to Andersen, nearly collapsed at the sight of her.
In the wake of Diana's death, it was Charles who stood up to his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and palace officials, demanding that she be given a royal funeral. Diana received a ceremonial funeral that was attended by 2,000 people and watched by over 2 billion people worldwide.
The Tumultuous Marriage of King Charles and Princess Diana: Love, Loss, and Grudging Respect
Andersen believes that Charles has had many regrets about his marriage to Diana over the years. He notes that "to understand just how heartbreaking Diana's marriage to Charles was, you have to go back to the beginning." Diana was only 19 when she got engaged to Charles, and it was clear that she was in love with him, while he was still in love with Camilla.
The marriage was doomed from the start, but Charles undoubtedly regrets that he ever allowed himself to be bullied by his father, Prince Philip, into marrying Diana. As Andersen points out, "the sad truth is Camilla was the love of Charles' life all along, and Diana knew it."
The Tumultuous Marriage of King Charles and Princess Diana: Love, Loss, and Grudging Respect
In 2005, Charles finally married Camilla, and in 2022, he ascended to the throne upon the death of his mother. Camilla was crowned queen in 2023. Despite the pain and turmoil of their past, Charles and Diana's relationship evolved into one of mutual respect and even affection, a testament to the complex and enduring nature of human emotions.
