Though it has been several decades since her passing, millions around the world still miss Princess Diana. Her sudden death shocked the world, and her funeral remains one of the most-watched television broadcasts in history.
Princess Diana’s time within the Royal Family was turbulent, as the affair between King Charles III and Camilla Parker Bowles practically tore their marriage apart. At the same time, however, Princess Diana was also rumored to have had an affair herself.
The “People’s Princess” had no issue sharing details about life inside the Royal Family and what she believed was unfair treatment. Several of Princess Diana’s letters have been rediscovered in recent years, and now two more are going up for auction.
This time, we see a side of Princess Diana most people are likely unfamiliar with—her more “naughty” side—after she sent letters to the King of Greece that would almost certainly have shocked the late Queen Elizabeth II and many other royals.
Princess Diana’s life within the Royal Family was consistently turbulent. After meeting and marrying then-Prince Charles, their relationship gradually became toxic.
The late Queen Elizabeth II is said to have tried many times to save Princess Diana and Charles’ marriage. Just a month after Princess Diana’s BBC interview aired, the late Queen reportedly sent a letter urging them to finalize their divorce.
According to royal expert and author Katie Nicholl, Queen Elizabeth II saw the “damage it was causing to the monarchy as an institution” and believed its reputation needed to be protected.
Finally, Charles and Princess Diana divorced. In 1997, she found love with Egyptian film producer Dodi Al Fayed, who also died in the same car crash later that year.
Princess Diana was known to receive many letters during her time in the royal sphere. Two of these letters were sold at auction in February for $169,663, revealing her true feelings about her divorce from Charles.
As reported by the Mirror, the 32 “emotionally raw” letters were written by Princess Diana to her close friends Susie and Tarek Kasseem during the difficult split. She described being left “on my knees” by the settlement and feared her phone was being monitored.
One letter dated April 28, 1996 revealed further details about her divorce. She explained she had to cancel a trip to Italy and apologize to friends due to her mental state.
“I am having a very difficult time, and pressure is serious and coming from all sides. It’s too difficult sometimes to keep one’s head up, and today I am on my knees and just longing for this divorce to go through as the possible cost is tremendous,” Princess Diana wrote.
A few weeks later, she wrote again: “As I don’t have a mobile, it is difficult to discuss personal issues as my lines here are constantly recorded and passed on.”
“If I’d known a year ago what I’d experience going through this divorce I never would have agreed. It’s desperate and ugly.”
Queen Elizabeth II also advised Charles and Princess Diana to proceed with divorce on December 18, 1995. The following day, Princess Diana wrote another letter included in the auction collection.
“I may have been described as a butterfly but I don’t want to fly away from this loving family,” she wrote, referring to the Kassem family.
“I’m immensely touched by how protective you both are of me… I’m not used to that,” she added, noting she had “never had such love and support from a married couple before.”
Mimi Connell-Lay of Lay’s Auctioneers called the letters “frankly astonishing.”
“Susie met Princess Diana at the Royal Brompton Hospital, and it is obvious they clicked straight away,” she told the Mirror.
“They had a very strong connection, and Diana greatly valued their friendship, support, and advice during a very emotional time.”
She added that Diana often spoke about her divorce and the lack of support she felt from the Royal Family.
At around 12:23 am, Princess Diana’s car crashed in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris. She received treatment at the scene but suffered cardiac arrest in the ambulance.
She reached the hospital at 2:06 am.
An X-ray revealed severe internal injuries, and she immediately received a blood transfusion.
Her death was a national tragedy. Shortly after the incident, one medical worker involved in her treatment later spoke out.
About 15 minutes after arriving, she suffered another cardiac arrest. Surgeon MonSef Dahman, working in Paris at the time, attempted to save her life through emergency procedures, but her injuries were too severe.
Despite repeated efforts, her heart could not restart.
“We tried electric shocks several times and cardiac massage,” Dahman said in an interview with the Daily Mail.
“Professor Riou had administered adrenaline, but we could not get her heart beating again.”
Dahman and his team continued efforts, but there was little more they could do.
In Diana’s case, he initially felt hope, but she ultimately could not be saved.
In 2003, more letters reportedly surfaced from Princess Diana’s former butler, Paul Burrell. These contained claims that she had warned him to keep her letters “just in case,” allegedly fearing a planned car accident ten months before her death.
She reportedly believed her death could be orchestrated so Prince Charles could remarry.
Over the years, speculation has continued about whether the crash was an accident. In one letter, she even predicted death by “brake failure and serious head injury.”
“I am sitting here at my desk today in October, longing for someone to hug me… This particular phase in my life is the most dangerous,” the letter read, as reported by the Daily Mirror in 2003.
“XXXXX is planning ‘an accident’ in my car, brake failure and serious head injury.”
“I have been battered, bruised, and abused mentally by a system for 15 years, but I feel no resentment… I am strong inside, and maybe that is a problem for my enemies.”
“Thank you Charles for putting me through such hell…”
The identity of the redacted name was reportedly known by the newspaper but not published for legal reasons.
“With hindsight, the content of that letter has troubled me since her death,” Burrell said.
He later spoke about releasing the letters after his 2002 trial for allegedly taking them, which collapsed after it was revealed he had informed the Queen shortly after Diana’s death.
Burrell worked for Charles and Diana at Highgrove House from 1987 and stayed with Diana until 1997. He has said she called him the “only man” she trusted.
Although Harry and William initially maintained a working relationship with him, tensions later grew.
In 2003, Burrell published a book, A Royal Duty, which angered Harry and William, who called it a “cold and overt betrayal.”
Harry later criticized Burrell, saying he was profiting from Diana’s death and that the book “made his blood boil.” He even considered confronting him before being dissuaded by his family.
Burrell responded, saying Harry had “changed fundamentally” and that Diana would be “appalled” by his comments.
“What I see now is an angry, privileged prince blaming others,” he said.
He added that Diana would be upset by revelations that undermined her family and the monarchy.
One might think there are few undiscovered Diana documents left—but more continue to emerge. In May, two greeting cards sent by Princess Diana to former King Constantine II of Greece went up for auction.
They contained playful and sexual humor, revealing a lighter, more informal side of Diana.
One card showed a naked man with the caption: “Adam came first… Men always do!”
Another read: “What’s the definition of the Perfect Man? A midget with a 10” tongue who can breathe through his ears!”
The cards were signed affectionately: “Dearest Tino, lots of love from Diana.”
Constantine II, the last King of Greece, was reportedly a close friend of Diana.
The second card read: “Dearest Tino, proudest love as always, from Diana.”
They sold for about $7,000 at auction.
“The reason for sending these cards is unclear,” the auction house noted.
It suggested they may have been sent as light-hearted jokes between friends.
Rest in peace, Princess Diana.
