On the day of Diana’s wedding, her brother Charles Spencer found her sitting quietly before a mirror in her wedding dress, unaware at the time of the emotional turmoil she was experiencing behind the scenes. In a candid reflection, Spencer revealed that Diana had confided in a close friend that Prince Charles had informed her shortly before their engagement that, while happy to marry her, he was not in love with her. This revelation, coupled with Diana’s growing awareness that Charles’s affections lay elsewhere, cast a shadow over the earliest days of their relationship.

Spencer recounted a particular moment a month after the engagement when Diana was photographed in tears as Charles departed for official duties. While the media interpreted this as the sadness of a lovestruck fiancée, Spencer said the reality was more complex. Diana had recently discovered a bracelet Charles had purchased for Camilla Parker Bowles, causing her profound distress. Her unease deepened following an episode at Prince Andrew’s 21st birthday party, where Charles, returning from a trip to New York, showed little interest in her. Feeling hurt and increasingly isolated, Diana danced with others, including Spencer.

Following that party, Diana reportedly approached Spencer’s father, Earl Spencer, expressing her desire to end the engagement. However, the Earl, bound by a strong sense of duty to the royal institution, refused to support her decision in order to avoid embarrassment to the Royal Family. This response contributed to Diana proceeding with the marriage despite her misgivings.

Spencer also described the toll these pressures took on Diana’s health. She was reportedly struggling with an eating disorder for five months by the time of the wedding, exacerbated by Charles’s critical remarks about her weight. After the wedding, Diana’s care was transferred from the family’s longtime general practitioner to Dr. John Batten, the Queen’s physician, a move Spencer characterized as a significant error, suggesting that continued care under her familiar GP might have better supported her health challenges.

Following the birth of Prince William, Diana’s feelings of isolation persisted, compounded by a sense that Charles was both busy and critical of her. Spencer suggested that Diana may have had undiagnosed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which could have contributed to her heightened sensitivity to perceived criticism, a condition known as Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria.

The marriage deteriorated rapidly, with Spencer acknowledging that both Diana and Charles likely faced moments of despair. Early attempts at reconciliation included therapy sessions and advice to negotiate compromises to preserve the relationship. Yet, palace insiders reportedly described Diana as “troubled,” while her family maintained that these difficulties had not been apparent before the wedding.

Spencer also recalled Diana’s attempts to cope with the emotional strain, including contemplating suicide but ultimately being stopped by her love for her children. In an intimate conversation at a London restaurant, Diana revealed her intention to divorce Charles, citing his purported love for a member of his staff, though she never named the individual or elaborated further.

Spencer’s reflections present a portrait of a troubled marriage marked by emotional pain, isolation, and unmet expectations under intense public scrutiny. He expressed sympathy for both Diana and Charles, emphasizing the unrelenting pressure to maintain a façade of perfection in their highly publicized union.