2 days Ago By [email protected] (Kirsten McStay)
Prince Charles and Princess Diana tied the knot back in 1981 but one staff member at Balmoral has revealed that their marriage began to deteriorate whilst spending time in Scotland. The Balmoral attendant made the claims in royal author Tom Quinn's new book Yes, Ma'am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants , which is to be released next month. According to The Daily Mail, the book details accounts from royal servants over the years and an extract also revealed how the late Princess of Wales hated Balmoral.
Speaking anonymously, unnamed gilly, which is a hunting and fishing expert, said that Diana hated the Scottish residence because she disliked the traditional outdoor activities and often complained of boredom. Diana preferred to be in the city and really wasn't a fan of country sports, which came as a surprise to the then Prince of Wales, who enjoyed all things outdoors and fox hunting. However, the princess couldn't be less interested and this is what is said to have caused problems in their marriage from the beginning - and not his friendship with Camilla Parker Bowles.
The insider added: "I think, was the start of the deterioration of their relationship, whatever people say about it being entirely about the other woman!' As Diana continued to entertain her husband's hobby, she became fed up and often made jokes. During one outing together, Diana was so bored that she found herself teasing a group of local fishers, the guide claimed. The gilly said: "I remember once she was sitting quietly watching all the casting and discussions about which flies to use.
"She looked a little bored and when everything fell quiet for a moment she called across to Prince Charles, “Darling, wouldn’t it be easier to just use a net!”.’ The couples' differing interests apparently became a constant point of contention throughout their marriage. Their big lavish wedding nearly never went ahead according to one royal biographer who claimed that Diana was left humiliated after Charles refused to dance with her at Prince Andrew's 21st birthday.
Diana had been invited to the birthday party at Windsor Castle with Elton John providing the cabaret and hadn't seen Charles for a while so she was looking forward to quality time with him, writes author Ingrid Seward in her new book "My Mother And I". However Charles reportedly spent the evening "dutifully working the room" and engaging in conversation with as many people as possible according to the royal author which left Diana feeling "in despair" so she "threw herself into dancing frantically with one man after another - and finally just dancing by herself." She is reported to have left the party to go to her father Earl Spencer's home around 5.
30am and told him she no longer wanted to marry Charles which left her father "appalled", Ingrid explained in the book. The author said: "She was distraught, flustered, angry and had no intention of ever going back. As far as Diana was concerned, the Royal Wedding was off," adding that Diana's father was blindsided as he thought she was convinced about the marriage.
Eventually, Diana "allowed her father to talk her around" and changed her mind. Charles and Diana did go ahead with the wedding in 1981 however were unable to make their marriage work which ended in what they said at the time was a 'separation' in 1992 that was solidified in divorce by 1996. Tom Quinn's ' Yes, Ma'am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants' (published by Biteback, £20) is available for pre-order here.
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