Prince Philip’s letters to Diana show what he really thought of her
Contrary to reports, Diana had a warm relationship with her former father-in-law, Prince Philip. Letters the two had exchanged proved that despite the breakdown of her marriage with Prince Charles, the former Princess of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh remained close.
Charles and Diana announced their separation in 1992, and it was reported that Diana left the Royal family without receiving any support from them. That wasn’t the case, though, according to the unearthed letters she exchanged with Philip (via Express).
It has been revealed in the private letters they sent each other in the early 1990s that Philip showed Diana his support for what she had been going through. He also attempted to act as a mediator for the couple.
“I can only repeat what I’ve said before, if invited, I will always do my utmost to help you and Charles to the best of my ability,” Philip wrote in a letter dated July 7, 1992. “But I am quite ready to concede that I have no talent as a marriage counsellor.”
He was quick to blame his own son for the couple’s marriage collapse, expressing his thoughts on the former Camilla Parker Bowles, who is now the Duchess of Cornwall. Nevertheless, Philip, as his true to his reputation, also candidly told Diana that he and Queen Elizabeth did not approve of Charles and her having affairs.
“We do not approve of either of you having lovers,” he wrote. “Charles was silly to risk everything with Camilla for a man in his position. We never dreamed he might feel like leaving you for her.”
Despite showing sympathy towards his then-daughter-in-law, Philip also cast some blame Diana’s way.
“Can you honestly look into your heart and say that Charles’s relationship with Camilla had nothing to do with your behaviour towards him in your marriage?”
The letter was signed off with, “with fondest love, Pa.”
In response, Diana wrote Philip back, addressing the letter with “Dearest Pa,” and signing off with, “With my fondest love.”
“I was so pleased to receive your letter, and particularly so to read that you are desperately anxious to help,” she wrote.
In another letter, she wrote, “You are very modest about your marriage guidance skills, and I disagree with you!” in reply to Philip saying he had no talent as a marriage counsellor.
“This last letter of yours showed great understanding and tact, and I hope to be able to draw on y our advice in the months ahead, whatever they may bring.”
The cracks in Diana and Charles’ marriage were exposed in the media in 1992, but their problems had been present long before that. It had been claimed that their marriage started to crumble just five years after their wedding in 1981. Their divorce had been finalised in 1996.
