A royal expert claims that both Prince Charles and Princess Diana wept the night before their 1981 wedding, with Charles still in love with Camilla. Ian Pelham Turner, a royal expert, revealed to Fox News Digital that both individuals were emotionally distraught at the time of the ceremony. Turner noted that Diana was reluctant to marry Charles but was encouraged by her sister to proceed. Charles, on the other hand, reportedly felt pressured into the union by royal duty, despite his lingering feelings for Camilla.
Turner’s claims align with previous accounts, including a biography that stated Charles felt compelled by his father, Prince Philip, to marry Diana to comply with royal convention. The book also mentions that he cried the night before his wedding, a sentiment confirmed by Hilary Fordwich, a British royals expert. Fordwich recounted that she was live on set with Sally Bedell Smith, the book’s author, when the discussion of Charles’ emotional state was brought up.
While the marriage between Charles and Diana is well-documented, Fordwich suggests that the younger royals of today are grateful they won’t have to endure such heartache. The tumultuous love triangle of Charles, Diana, and Camilla is seen as a classic example of the clash between royal duty and personal happiness. According to Fordwich, Charles felt he had no choice but to marry Diana despite his deep affection for Camilla, who remained his soulmate.
Diana, however, was aware of Charles’ emotional bond with Camilla, which contributed to her own emotional turmoil. Fordwich explained that Diana initially pretended to be in love with Charles but later became jealous of his attachment to Camilla. The press, family, and public all made it clear to her that she couldn’t back out of the wedding once her face was on the tea towels.
Problems in the marriage escalated during the honeymoon, with Diana discovering a bracelet Charles had bought for Camilla before the wedding. This discovery worsened her suspicions that she had a dangerous rival. The divide between Charles and Diana was exacerbated by their age gap, differing interests, and worldviews. Their relationship eventually collapsed, leading to a divorce in 1996.
After Diana’s death in 1997, Charles and Camilla rekindled their romance and married in 2005. They were crowned King and Queen in 2023. The emotional legacy of their tumultuous marriage has had lasting effects, including the behavior of Prince Harry, who has expressed deep resentment toward Camilla and the media.