A Royal Photographer Reveals the Moment He Knew Prince Charles and Princess Diana's Marriage Was Doomed
Royal photographer Arthur Edwards revealed that he knew Prince Charles and Princess Diana's marriage was really over during their last official trip together, to Korea in 1992.

Sometimes love doesn't last and relationships end. It's a pretty normal (if sad) part of life. But, when you're royal, even the normal parts of your life are examined and debated, sometimes for decades after they happen. Case in point: Prince Charles and Princess Diana's relationship and eventual separation and split, which still fascinates royal fans today, more than 20 years after the ink dried on the divorce documents.
Hindsight is 20/20, so it's easy to say, "Oh, it was so obvious things weren't going to work out" now, but what about back in the day? Back when the cracks in the relationship were growing and breaking apart Charles and Diana's love? Turns out, it was pretty clear back then, too—at least to people who spent a lot of time watching the couple.
Outside of the actual royal family and their aides and bodyguards, the people who probably spend the most time looking at royals are royal photographers, who spend their careers documenting the family's lives and travels. In a resurfaced interview, royal photographer Arthur Edwards, who photographed the royals for 44 years, talked about his experiences following the family—and getting a front row seat to watch the breakdown of Charles and Diana's marriage, according to Express.
Edwards said he knew during Charles and Diana's final tour, to Korea in 1992, that divorce was inevitable, describing them as "miserable" together and saying that "no one was surprised" when their plan to divorce was announced a month later.
"It was only when we went to Korea, the last tour, when you knew it was all over then because they couldn’t bear to be in each other’s company. It was so miserable," Edwards said. "The tour was called the Glums' tour, and that was so miserable. And a month later the Prime Minister announced in the House of Commons, and I suppose no one was then surprised, we watched them in Korea."
It was during this trip that an iconic "Charles and Diana low-key hating each other" picture was taken. You've probably seen it before:
Diana was also snapped looking generally unhappy throughout the trip:
So, yeah, it seems accurate that the people taking these pictures could tell there was trouble in paradise.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
RELATED STORIES
Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with over 10 years of professional experience covering entertainment of all genres, from new movie and TV releases to nostalgia, and celebrity news. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
Kate and Charlotte Showcase Their Mother-Daughter Style
The little princess twinned with her mom in the best way.
-
Kate Middleton Channels Princess Diana at Trooping the Colour 2025
The Princess of Wales even wore the same designer as her late mother-in-law.
-
Taylor Swift Styles a Breezy Loewe Dress for a Special Surprise Visit
She made their day.
-
Kate Middleton Channels Princess Diana in a Catherine Walker Coat Dress at Trooping the Colour 2025
The Princess of Wales even wore the same designer as her late mother-in-law.
-
Princess Diana's "Favorite" Royal Photographer Says There's One Photo He "Regrets" Taking of Her
"They didn't see me as I was hiding in the bushes."
-
Why Princess Diana Once "Canceled Lunch" at Kensington Palace to Take Prince William and Prince Harry to McDonald's
A former royal chef revealed the relatable reason Diana took her kids to the popular fast food chain.
-
Why Princess Diana Felt "Let Down Terribly" on Her Wedding Day When Her Mother "Kept Crying"
"She kept...saying that she couldn't cope with the pressure."
-
I Dressed Like Princess Diana For a Week—and Something Unexpected Happened
Call it the Diana Effect.
-
Princess Diana "Wound Down Her Window" and Gave a Bride Some Brutal Advice After Her Divorce From Prince Charles
Someone track this couple down ASAP.
-
Prince William and Prince Harry Could Be "Tempted" to Secretly Bid on Their Mother's Outfits in New Auction
Who could blame them?
-
Princess Diana's Wedding Dress Designer Stored a Secret "Sister Dress" of One Famous Design at Hampton Court Palace
The dress is up for auction in the largest Diana fashion sale ever.