Princess Diana Initially Focused on Prince Andrew Before King Charles

According to recent revelations, Princess Diana’s early romantic interest was directed toward Prince Andrew prior to her well-known relationship with King Charles. These details emerge from Catherine Mayer’s book, “Divide & Rule.”

New Claims on Diana’s Early Royal Affections

During a discussion about her book “Divide & Rule,” which analyzes eight royal women and the monarchy—referred to as “planet Windsor”—Catherine Mayer disclosed surprising information about Princess Diana’s youthful feelings. Mayer described the marriage between Diana and King Charles as marked by “conflicting expectations” and expressed sympathy for Diana’s situation. The most unexpected detail involved Prince Andrew, Charles’s younger brother, which Mayer found “quite startled” and “new news.”

Mayer recounted that a schoolfriend revealed Diana sent Prince Andrew a Valentine’s Day card every year anonymously until she was around 15 or 16 years old. This practice predates Diana’s public courtship and 1981 marriage to Charles, offering a new perspective on her early private affections and incorporating Andrew into the narrative of royal relationships preceding her marriage.

Diana’s Struggle with Public Attention

The book also addresses the intense public scrutiny Diana faced later in life. Mayer quoted a close friend who likened the public’s desire for Diana’s attention to “a wedding cake,” with people wanting to consume her “bite by bite.” This metaphor highlights the invasive nature of the attention Diana endured.

It is reported that Diana sought privacy during social events, once retreating to a bathroom at a house party to have a private conversation. Mayer noted Diana’s expressed need to “escape” from the overwhelming attention. Despite these challenges, Mayer commended Kate and William for providing their children with “some taste of normality.” She emphasized that royal women succeed by adapting to a lifestyle that most would find “impossible.”