Princess Diana Reportedly Always Wanted a Daughter

Comparisons are often made between Kate Middleton and Princess Diana. They both married the heir to the English throne—Kate to Prince William, Diana to Prince Charles. But apparently, according to Diana's former butler Paul Burrell, the two princesses diverged in at least one key way, and it's a sweet and sad look at the former royal's life.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

By Katherine J. Igoe

published 26 January 2019

in News

Comparisons are often drawn between beloved princesses Kate Middleton and Princess Diana. They both married the heir to the English throne—Kate with Prince William, Diana with Prince Charles. Both of them weren't born royalty. Both are fashionable in a classic way. Both of them have been wonderful moms, and have had to transition to living their entire adult lives in the spotlight. According to Diana's former butler Paul Burrell, the two princesses' lives diverged in a key way—in the Express, Burrell explains, "Diana always wanted a girl."

40 Rarely-Seen Photos of Princess Diana

Of course, Diana only had sons, William and Prince Harry—and by all accounts, she was an incredible, doting mother. William and Harry always speak warmly of her compassion and love, and William has been reportedly trying to create the same "loving, caring, fun home" that his mother provided to them. Meanwhile, after marrying William, Kate gave birth to Princess Charlotte in 2015. The world has had a chance to watch Charlotte grow up under the watchful eye of her parents.

Burrell also had some advice for Meghan: "She needs to stay close to Harry and get to know his Granny."

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Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.