How Prince Charles Devastated Princess Diana
Princess Diana is one of the most iconic women in the world: Her style, beauty, and charm captivated the world, and for years, she was the most beloved member of the royal family. Although she died tragically in 1997, people everywhere still think of her as “the people’s princess.”
Royal watchers can never learn enough about Princess Diana, and recently, there has been a greater interest than ever in her personal life. Particularly, her ill-fated marriage to Prince Charles.
When did Prince Charles and Princess Diana get married?
Prince Charles was an eligible bachelor when he first met Diana Spencer in the late 1970s. The two started seeing each other several years after that, and by February 1981, they were engaged. Spencer seemed like the perfect match for Prince Charles: She was very young, beautiful, and from a high-born family. Still, no one could know what troubles lay in store for her.
In July 1981, Prince Charles and Spencer were married. Their lavish ceremony, featuring Princess Diana in a frilly, puff-sleeved wedding dress, was the event of the year, with thousands of people lining the streets outside the cathedral to try and catch a glimpse of the prince and his new bride. People loved Princess Diana almost instantly. Her shy smile and appealing mannerisms catching the eye of both locals and reporters alike. Although their wedding might have been spectacular, the rest of their marriage would prove to be fraught with tension and heartache.
When did Princess Diana find out about Camilla Parker Bowles?
Prince Charles had dated a woman named Camilla Parker Bowles prior to the start of his relationship with Princess Diana. The two were said to be very much in love, but due to Prince Charles’ busy military schedule, the two ended their romance. Parker Bowles went on to marry another man.
Still, the two never quite got over each other. Sometime shortly after Prince Charles married Princess Diana, he and Parker Bowles resumed their romance.
Royal biographer Andrew Morton detailed the first time that Princess Diana found out about the affair, stating that she discovered a set of bracelets that Prince Charles had made especially for him and Parker Bowles, engraved with the nicknames that they had given each other. The revelation must have stung Princess Diana deeply and would kickstart a chain of events that would lead to some very troubling times within the royal family.
Princess Diana felt rejected
A recent story discusses the emotional effect that Prince Charles and Parker Bowles’ affair had on Princess Diana. The report claims that Princess Diana, who was only twenty when she married Prince Charles, became deeply jealous and very paranoid about Parker Bowles’ role in her marriage. Apparently, the entire royal family knew about the affair, which made it that much worse for Princess Diana, who felt devastated and rejected by her husband as a result.
The relationship between Prince Charles and Princess Diana would only continue to get worse over the years, and in the early 1990s, they announced their separation. Divorce in the royal family isn’t easy, and it would ultimately take a full year before their divorce was finalized. By that time, of course, the affair had become public knowledge, with fans and press alike siding with Princess Diana.
Sadly, Princess Diana died in 1997 as the result of a fatal car crash in Paris. Although she is no longer here, she lives on in the memories of her two sons: Prince William and Prince Harry.
