When Princess Diana died, then-Prince Charles was reportedly utterly distraught and shattered, experiencing shock, deep grief, and an "unbearable emptiness," even collapsing and weeping uncontrollably, while also feeling immense pressure about the monarchy's future and his sons' well-being. He rushed to Paris to bring her body back, appeared "ashen and trembling," and later expressed bewilderment and loss, though some reports highlight his focus on his sons and the overwhelming public response.
' Considering how epic their marital battles had been, people were surprised at Charles' reaction. He was devastated by Diana's death, perhaps to a degree that surprised even him." "Charles was shattered," Andersen added.
“It's clear that Charles never formally apologized to Diana for his conduct because he didn't believe that he had done anything wrong. In all his comments, he merely states that the two were incompatible,” McMahon says. “Charles did acknowledge the pain in their marriage but never claimed to be in the wrong.”
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (then Sophie Rhys-Jones) did not attend Princess Diana's funeral in 1997, reportedly because her strong resemblance to Diana would have been too upsetting for the grieving crowds, a decision made thoughtfully by Sophie herself. At the time, she was dating Prince Edward, but they were not yet engaged or married.
On top of everything, Diana fell for Charles hard, I wouldn't say it was real love, perhaps a whim by the end of it but even after the divorce she told her friends he would take him back in a heartbeat. And also, and I very much THE CROWN shows it, they had a truce and were on friendly terms by the time she died.
Discussing The King's divorce from Diana, one source said, "Both of them [Charles and Diana] behaved badly in that first marriage and made decisions that none of us could ever condone...But we can seek to try to understand them." As English wrote, "Charles still deeply 'regrets' the pain and sadness caused."
Diana was wearing a ring given to her by Dodi Fayed when she died. It was a £3,000 Bulgari yellow gold band with diamonds. The diamond band set in yellow gold was not an engagement ring and was worn on the fourth finger of her right hand, where her butler Paul Burrell advised her to wear it.
Princess Margaret didn't bow to Princess Diana's coffin at her funeral primarily due to a deep-seated resentment stemming from Diana's 1995 tell-all Panorama interview, which Margaret saw as a severe betrayal of the Royal Family and the Queen; Margaret never forgave Diana for publicly airing grievances and challenging royal decorum, viewing her as a disloyal figure, leading to her snub during the funeral procession despite their initially warm relationship.
Camilla did not attend Diana's funeral on September 6, 1997.
I omitted obey from my vows.
After seeing how her popularity eclipsed his own as soon as she entered the spotlight, Charles was reportedly seething with jealousy.
Investigation: While much was made of Diana's propensity to wear a seat belt, she was not wearing one on the evening of the fatal crash. Both French and British examinations of the Mercedes found no mechanical issues that could have caused or contributed to the crash.
No, King Charles and Queen Camilla generally sleep in separate bedrooms, a common practice among the British upper class and royals, including the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, as it helps maintain their relationship and allows for personal space, with both having their own rooms at residences like Clarence House and private country homes.
Could Diana have been saved? Brewer believes she could have been. She was killed by a drunken driver, but an emergency medical system that was too slow did not save her. Her chances of survival were diminished by a system that took 101 minutes to get her to a hospital that was 6 kilometers away.
Diana's friends are reported to have described Hasnat as the "love of her life" and to have spoken of her distress when she ended their relationship. He, however, is said to be reticent about speaking of how much he may have meant to her or even how much she meant to him.
Princess Diana's "dark side" involved significant mental health struggles, including depression, bulimia, self-harm, and mood swings, alongside perceived manipulative, attention-seeking, and vindictive behaviors, often stemming from insecurity and an unstable upbringing, creating deep conflict within her marriage and with royal staff, despite her public image as a compassionate figure. She confessed to these struggles, including affairs and self-harm, in her famous interview, revealing a complex, wounded individual overwhelmed by pressure and emptiness.
She loved wearing brands, which included Chanel. However, the then Princess of Wales stopped wearing Chanel following her divorce. Apparently, the label's logo, the double interlocking C's, reminded her of the betrayal she had by Prince Charles because of his then-affair with Camilla Parker Bowles.
Queen Camilla was diagnosed with a form of pneumonia following a chest infection in late 2024, which caused fatigue and led to her missing some public engagements, though she continued with indoor duties and worked towards recovery, managing lingering post-viral tiredness with rest. Her illness was initially described as a "nasty bug," but she later confirmed the pneumonia diagnosis herself, requiring a modified schedule for a period.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (then Sophie Rhys-Jones) did not attend Princess Diana's funeral in 1997, reportedly because her strong resemblance to Diana would have been too upsetting for the grieving crowds, a decision made thoughtfully by Sophie herself. At the time, she was dating Prince Edward, but they were not yet engaged or married.
In the 'Ritz' episode, The Crown recreates a little-known real event when the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, then aged just 19 and 14, 'escaped' the palace on VE Day 1945. They were granted permission by their father, King George VI, to join the crowds in London to celebrate (with chaperones).
Queen Elizabeth bowing to Princess Diana's coffin.
It has not been seen or exhibited since, and now belongs to Prince William and Prince Harry. Though unconfirmed, many speculate Meghan Markle's engagement ring, which she first wore in November 2017 at her engagement announcement with Prince Harry, includes two diamonds from Diana's famous sapphire and pearl choker.
Meghan Markle's jewelry collection includes several heirloom pieces from the late Princess of Wales. The Duchess of Sussex wore Diana's iconic "divorce ring" to her 2018 wedding reception, for example. She has since stepped out in earrings, bracelets, and necklaces that once belonged to her late mother-in-law.
Emad El-Din Mohamed Abdel Mena'em "Dodi" Fayed (/ˈfaɪ.ɛd/ FY-ed; 15 April 1955 – 31 August 1997) was an Egyptian film producer and the eldest child of the businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed. He was romantically involved with Diana, Princess of Wales, when they both died in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997.