On August 18, Princess Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, announced he’s releasing Swan Song, a new book about his late sister’s life, and there’s still time to explore Diana’s childhood home ahead of the tell-all’s publication in September. Although Althorp House is typically closed to the public, the 9th Earl Spencer opens his doors for two months each year, and the historic Northamptonshire estate will welcome guests through August 31.

Althorp is where Diana was raised alongside her younger brother and two older sisters, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes, but the history of the property dates all the way back to the 1500s. Charles Spencer inherited the roughly 13,000-acre estate when his father, the 8th Earl Spencer, died in 1992, and it remains a family home for the earl and his new wife, Cat Jaman.

Notably, it's also where Princess Diana was buried. Although Diana's grave sits on a small island that's inaccessible to the public, visitors can explore the nearby grounds and a temple set up in her memory.

The property was purchased by the Spencer family in 1508 and extensively remodelled in the 18th century by renowned English architect Henry Holland. During Althorp’s rare tours, visitors are invited to view 17 of the home’s rooms housing an extraordinary private collection of artwork and furniture, including works by van Dyck, Stubbs, Reynolds, Rubens and Gainsborough.

Nestled among the priceless works of art are portraits of the Spencers themselves, including one of Diana that sits next to a painting of her brother, Earl Spencer.

Highlights include Wootton Hall with its striking black-and-white checkered floor, which Princess Diana was fond of tap dancing on in her youth, and the impressive library, which at one point, held up to 100,000 books collected by the 2nd Earl Spencer.

Although it's down to 10,000 titles on its shelves today, the room is frequently used by the current earl as he works on his various projects, including Spencer's upcoming Diana book.

In addition to exploring the house, Althorp guests can book an afternoon tea picnic to enjoy on the grounds—but time is running out before the estate closes its doors for another year.

As Princess Diana’s former bodyguard, Ken Wharfe witnessed the ups and downs of the late royal’s life in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. When reflecting on Diana’s legacy, he tells Marie Claire that fans didn’t get to see some of the sides of the princess he remembers the most—and that she shared one big thing in common with King Charles.

The King is an obsessive letter writer, and in 2022, it was revealed by the palace that he writes more than 2,400 letters a year, including notes to members of the public. Speaking on behalf of Casino.org, Wharfe says that although Diana’s marriage was falling apart, she always took time to recognize others, just like her husband.

“Diana was a prolific letter writer,” he shares. “I used to encourage her not to write quite so many letters, but I think it was part of her aristocratic upbringing. She'd been brought up to believe that if somebody showed you kindness or hospitality, you always wrote to say thank you.”

“She wrote constantly, and her letters were wonderfully warm and often very funny,” Wharfe adds.

Several of Diana's cards and letters have gone up for auction in recent years. In 2025, a touching note she sent to a footman at Buckingham Palace went on the auction block, with the royal thanking him for his support in the days leading up to her 1981 wedding.

In addition to her writing hobby, Wharfe says that Diana “was also very interested in current affairs,” adding that “she always wanted to know what was happening in the world and what was going on in politics.”

Along with constantly sending thank you notes, Wharfe says that she’d frequently give small gifts to people she met in her travels, calling her "incredibly generous.”

The former royal protection officer recalls one detective who Diana “was very fond of” who'd been targeted by the IRA. “Whenever we traveled over, she'd ask me, ‘What shall we get your friend? He's such a nice man,’” Wharfe shares. “I said, ‘Well, he likes his Irish whiskey.’”

He notes that every time they headed to Northern Ireland after that, Diana would make sure they had a bottle to bring for the detective.

Wharfe also recalls a time when a Secret Service agent helped Diana walk down some stairs when she was blinded by photographers’ flashes at a fundraising gala in Washington, D.C. “She said, ‘Oh, he was very nice, Ken. Perhaps I should give him a present tomorrow for being so helpful.’”

The next day, Diana brought a signed photograph to give to the agent, but he’d “hidden himself behind one of the bushes outside the White House.”

It turns out Wharfe had mentioned to the man that people don’t typically touch members of the Royal Family, and he was too embarrassed to show his face. ”In the end I had to persuade him to come out so she could give him the signed photograph,” Wharfe shares. “It's perhaps a slightly unusual story, but it perfectly sums up the way she treated people.”

“Whether it was a police officer in Northern Ireland, a Secret Service agent in Washington or someone she'd only just met, she wanted them to leave with a happy memory,” Wharfe says.

The first thing that comes to mind when most people picture Princess Diana going to the gym is her iconic biker shorts and sweatshirts, but former royal chef Darren McGrady said that she had a lesser-known morning routine.

According to McGrady, Diana, who was frequently photographed at London gym the Chelsea Harbour Club in scrunchy socks and lycra, had a slightly odd favorite breakfast that helped fuel her workouts.

“I used to cook beans for breakfast at Buckingham Palace and Princess Diana loved them,” the chef said in a video on his YouTube Channel. “She'd actually eat a whole tin of beans for breakfast.”

“Sounds crazy, but when you think about it, there's only seven grams of sugar in the English-style baked beans, they're rich in protein, high in fiber, very low in fat,” McGrady explained.

He continued that beans were “perfect” for the late princess to get “that really big carb boost ready for going to the gym and doing a workout.”

Another fiber-packed favorite of Diana's was overnight oats, and McGrady noted that his former boss was way ahead of the trend. “She actually went to a Swiss health clinic, and there she had these overnight oats,” McGrady said on YouTube, adding that they "were actually called bircher muesli, they were invented by a Swiss nutritionist.”

“She stole the recipe, came back, and said Darren, I want these for breakfast every day,” he recalled.

Before Instagram and TikTok analyzed every detail of the Royal Family’s lives, the public had to rely on daily newspapers to get their royal fix. For Princess Diana, the news coverage was “relentless,” per her former bodyguard Ken Wharfe, and he tells Marie Claire how the late royal was able to handle the level of interest in her life.

Wharfe, who protected Prince William and Prince Harry before becoming Diana’s protection officer in 1987, shares that the princess “was constantly pursued by the media.”

“I always remember Diana would go down to the kitchens at Kensington Palace, where the chef would lay out the morning's newspapers across the deep freezer,” he says, speaking on behalf of Casino.org. “Inevitably, if she wasn't on the front page, she'd be on pages three, four or five. There would always be a story about Diana—hopefully, and thankfully, about her work—but just as often about the state of her marriage, what her children were doing, and so forth.”

Wharfe shares that even though Diana read all of the stories about her deteriorating marriage, “she lived with it” and “understood it was part and parcel of her job.”

“To read those headlines first thing in the morning, then get into a car or a helicopter, fly somewhere like Manchester, Nottingham, or anywhere else in the world, and immediately perform, that takes a remarkable level of professionalism,” he adds.

Diana kept up a steady stream of royal engagements every week when she was married to Prince Charles, and Wharfe says he “often wondered” about the “toll that constant barrage of newspaper coverage took on her.”

Wharfe recalls traveling with the late princess and wondering if she was “really going to be able to pull this off?” when Diana was going through a tough time, noting that officials “all want their part in the occasion, and if the star of the show isn't performing, the whole thing falls apart.”

However, for Princess Diana, the show needed to go on, even after a tough day.

“The Royal Family is a bit like a traveling theater,” Wharfe shares. “You move from one place to the next, and the moment that door opens, you're on stage. You're only as good as your performance. The more professional your performance, the more popular you become. And in that respect, Diana was exceptional.”

One driving motivation for Diana was not disappointing Queen Elizabeth. “At that particular time, despite the unhappiness of her marriage, her commitment was to Her Majesty the Queen,” Wharfe shares, adding that Diana “was loyal to the workings of the British Royal Family and would never let them down, despite her personal unhappiness.”

As Princess Diana’s bodyguard, Ken Wharfe had his share of tough days protecting the late Princess of Wales. He recently told Marie Claire that she “didn’t always welcome” having a royal protection officer, but when it came to carrying out her royal duties, there was one major reason why Diana never backed out.

Wharfe, who served as Diana’s bodyguard from 1988 to 1993, shares that even when the princess didn’t want him around, she never actually refused protection. “I think possibly, on some occasions, if we'd had a difficult day the night before, she might have said, ‘Oh dear, you know, I can't cope with this. I don't want you today.’ But thankfully, that never happened,” he says, speaking on behalf of Casino.org.

Wharfe continued, “And I'll tell you why I don't think it ever would have happened. At that particular time, despite the unhappiness of her marriage, her commitment was to Her Majesty The Queen.”

He adds that even though Princess Diana's relationship with Prince Charles was falling apart, “She was in a position where she was loyal to the workings of the British Royal Family and would never let them down, despite her personal unhappiness.”

Even on days when she’d say, “I don’t think I can do today, Ken,” Diana would soldier on and carry out her commitments. Wharfe says he’d suggest, "Well, okay, you don't have to. What do you want to do about it? We can find a reason not to do it. You can be ill, or we can come up with some excuse.”

“But the answer would always be, ‘Well, I can't let my mother-in-law down,’” he shares. “So there was a real sense of duty on her part.”

Wharfe stepped down from his role in 1993, and he admits that he's not sure what would have happened if Diana had ever refused his protection. “Quite how I would have dealt with that, God knows,” he shares.

Throughout her life, Princess Diana was well-known around the globe. As a result, it's entirely unsurprising that she reportedly had a private meeting with talk show legend Oprah Winfrey, which led to a "friendly tug-of-war."

In his book A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell opened up about Princess Diana's meeting with Oprah Winfrey.

Burrell shared in his book, "The princess was really nervous about meeting [Winfrey] because, she said, 'She is such a big name.' It didn't cross her mind that perhaps Oprah would be nervous too."

According to the former butler, Diana "made her typical confident entrance" to meet Winfrey. "'Sorry to keep you waiting, sorry, sorry,' [Diana] said," Burrell recalled. "I served lunch in the dining room and soon became part of the proceedings as conversation turned to America."

Sharing the private conversation, Burrell explained, "We love America, don't we, Paul?' the princess said. 'He goes there every year for a holiday.' Cue Oprah to the princess: 'So, would you ever consider living in the United States?'"

According to Burrell, he pitched in with a joke: "I would pack my bags and go and live in America tomorrow."

The butler continued, "I looked at the princess and winked. Oprah saw her opportunity. 'We could do with a butler. Why don't you come to Chicago and look after me?'"

As documented in his book, Burrell recalled Princess Diana bristling at the thought of Winfrey poaching her royal butler.

"The princess suddenly straightened in her chair," Burrell wrote. "'Look, Oprah,' she said, laughing, 'he's my butler and he's staying here.'"

Per Burrell, "It became a friendly tug-of-war all the way through to coffee: Oprah kept returning to it to embarrass me."

The joke apparently continued right up until the moment Winfrey left Kensington Palace.

"Just before she pulled away, Oprah opened the window, leaned forward and said: 'This is your last chance, Paul,'" Burrell shared. "The Boss stood beside me at the front step, threw a possessive arm round me and shouted out: 'Hey, he's mine—and he's staying here with me.'"

Luckily, the meeting reportedly ended in "laughter." Basically, Princess Diana and Oprah Winfrey appeared to develop quite the rapport during their alleged meeting.

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As the daughter-in-law of the late Princess Diana, Meghan Markle regularly wears special pieces of jewelry from the royal's collection. To attend a gala in honor of the 40th anniversary of the David Foster Foundation, Duchess Meghan paired a long black dress with a rarely-seen pair of Princess Diana's earrings.

On August 7, Meghan walked the red carpet with husband Prince Harry, and also posed alongside close friend Katharine McPhee. For the occasion, the Duchess of Sussex wore Canadian designer Greta Constantine's Fabrizio Gown, which features a caped gown draped from one shoulder. The dramatic little black dress was the perfect choice for the star-studded gala.

Notably, Meghan accessorized the stunning gown with Princess Diana's butterfly earrings.

The iconic earrings are reportedly constructed from "gold, diamonds, and dark blue gemstones," per The Court Jeweler. The late Princess of Wales wore the jewels during a visit to British Columbia in Canada in May 1986, and they've since been given to Prince Harry's wife, who has worn them on a handful of occasions.

Meghan's decision to pair Diana's butterfly earrings with a sleek little black dress was most definitely the perfect choice for a night out with Harry.

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Ken Wharfe was responsible for guarding Princess Diana’s life from 1988 to 1993, and he says that one of the toughest parts of being a royal protection officer was that the late royal “didn’t always welcome” his presence.

Speaking to Marie Claire on behalf of Casino.org, Wharfe—who is now retired from the Metropolitan Police—admits that it’s “impossible to provide 100 percent security for anybody.” However, he stresses that as a bodyguard, “You can only protect someone if they're prepared to accept that protection.”

“That wasn't always easy because, like all of us, Diana was an individual who didn't always welcome it,” he shares. “I could clearly see there were times when she became frustrated with the protection because, in part, it was an invasion of her privacy.”

Wharfe, who also served as a personal protection officer to the Duke of Kent before his retirement from the police force, shares that Diana isn’t the first person to struggle with the invasiveness of having a bodyguard.

“People do occasionally push back against that, and you learn to live with it,” he says. “Whenever there was an opportunity to discuss those frustrations, she understood the necessity of protection in her particular case and accepted it throughout her very short life.”

He shares that part of the way he provided an effective protection program was that Princess Diana would give him “a detailed program of what she was doing, both publicly and privately.”

“With that information, she allowed me and my team to maintain regular contact with the friends she was seeing so we could make sure the protection we provided was the very best it could be,” he says. “I think that approach proved itself time and time again.”

Wharfe—who was made a Member of the Victorian Order by Queen Elizabeth after Diana's 1997 death—shares that he believes a breakdown in security eventually led to her tragic demise.

“The one occasion where that continuity disappeared was when she gave up her security in December 1993, which ultimately led to the appalling accident in Paris in 1997,” Wharfe shares. “She was then relying on security which, in my view, was unprofessional and lacked the level of planning, coordination and communication that would have provided the best possible protection. Sadly, it simply wasn't there.”

Like any kids, the Wales children have been compared to a number of family members over the years. Prince Louis bears a strong resemblance to his paternal grandfather, Michael Middleton, while Princess Charlotte looks a lot like dad Prince William, as well as the late Queen and Princess Diana. But the Spencer genes are coming out strong in Prince George these days, as displayed in one video from the Wales family's trip to the Commonwealth Games on August 1.

In the clip, shared by a William and Kate fan account on Instagram, George is seen speaking with Commonwealth Games athletes alongside his family. At one point, the 13-year-old looks just like Princess Diana as he glances down before looking shyly to the side at Princess Kate and giggling.

"He definitely looks a lot like his grandma Diana here so he looks like his dad too.. that shy look! So Diana 🥹🥹" content creator Larissa captioned the post.

Royal fans couldn't help but agree, like one who wrote, "It was very brief, but the lip gesture had his Granny Diana's look!" Another commented, "He is Diana wow the resemblance uncanny 🥰👏."

"I 💯 saw Dianna 🫶🫶🫶🧡" a third Instagram user wrote.

Prince George isn't the only member of the family to bear a strong resemblance to the People's Princess. Fans have also pointed out that Princess Charlotte has inherited Diana's iconic "Spencer Stare."

Along with giving Diana energy with his mannerisms, George channeled his late grandmother a bit more literally with his outfit. Both Prince George and Prince Louis wore button up Ralph Lauren oxford shirts to the Commonwealth Games, a look Diana wore in the '90s.

Princess Diana’s wedding dress is perhaps the most iconic royal wedding gown of all time, but what many people don’t know is that a backup dress that even Diana didn’t know about once existed—and has since disappeared.

Designer Elizabeth Emanuel, who was part of the husband/wife team who created Diana’s wedding dress, told People that she and ex-husband David secretly stitched a second gown in case the worst happened 45 years ago.

“I was a bit neurotic, and I thought, ‘What happens if somebody breaks in and steals the dress or something spills or there’s a fire or it gets stolen?’” she told the magazine. “So I thought, ‘I’m gonna make a backup dress.’”

Although it was similar to the poofy creation with a 25-foot train that Diana wore to walk down the aisle, the second dress was a more subdued version without the mega train. It also differed from the original gown because the backup was crafted from bright white silk rather than the ivory taffeta of Diana’s actual dress.

Princess Diana never knew that the design duo created the dress, and in fact, they never finished sewing it.

“I just thought, ‘If anything happens, we’ll finish it off and have it ready,’” Emanuel admitted, adding, “Neither of us wanted to worry her. It was a complete secret.”

As for the whereabouts of the mystery dress, Emanuel said she actually has no idea what happened to it. “It likely ended up on some sample rail,” the designer said. “It probably got reused, torn up, thrown out, who knows?”

Members of the Royal Family live their lives in the spotlight, often becoming recognizable the world over. But according to one royal biographer, there was only one person who married into the Royal Family who had true "star power."

In an interview with People, royal expert and biographer Simon Vigar explained, "[Princess] Diana had a sense of destiny about her. The only aristocrat of the four women [Princess Diana, Queen Camilla, Princess Kate, and Meghan Markle], she knew a lot about it. She grew up [at Park House] on the Sandringham estate and knew the royals, and her big sister [dated] Charles."

Vigar also said of Diana, "But she is the biggest changemaker." Referencing particular moments in the princess's life that made a huge impact, the biographer said, "Even simply going to Tower Records on Kensington High Street was something you couldn't imagine the previous generation doing."

The author—who is set to release his new book, The Four Wives of Windsor: Rivalries, Influence, and the Real Power Behind the Crown, on July 30—also suggested that Diana "made the Royal Family more relatable and more touchy-feely."

Per Vigar, "Subjectively, [Diana] brought star power." Unfortunately, the Royal Family "didn't really know what they had," according to the author, but she "outshone them in the end."

Vigar also praised Princess Kate and Duchess Meghan, elaborating on the incredible attributes they brought to the family.

"[Meghan] was obviously a massive asset," the author said. "She was brilliant with the crowd, with the people. She would have been a major player in the Royal Family, and it is a crying shame that she's not."

Regarding Princess Kate, Vigar shared, "Catherine is no wallflower. She has her own ideas. Behind the scenes, she asks really good questions. The Royal Family doesn’t think of themselves as a brand, but they are, and a source told me she got that straight away."

But when it comes to the person with the strongest "star power," Vigar believes Princess Diana reigns supreme.

Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer on July 29, 1981, and 45 years later, the world is still fascinated by the wedding of the century. The televised ceremony drew in 750 million royal watchers around the world, and everything from her romantic, ruffled wedding dress to her flowers were copied by ‘80s brides for years to come. But even though the world fell in love with Charles and Diana, the bride wasn’t feeling quite as jubilant as the hundreds of thousands of people who lined the streets of London that day.

Speaking on behalf of SpeakOut, Princess Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell tells Marie Claire that despite her fairytale wedding and the promise of being the future Queen, it was her father, the 8th Earl Spencer, who relished walking down the aisle of St Paul’s Cathedral that day.

“Diana said to me, ‘Have you seen the footage, Paul, of me walking down the aisle?’ I said, ‘Yes, I’ve watched it many times,’” Burrell says. “She was with her father, and she said, ‘It was my father’s proudest day.’ I thought that was very odd, that it wasn’t her proudest day.”

Burrell continues that Diana was worried about seeing Camilla Parker Bowles as she walked down the aisle. “She said, ‘Do you see me looking from side to side?’ She said, ‘I was looking for her. I knew she’d be there. And she was on the fourth row at my wedding.’”

It's unsurprising that Diana—who later called her wedding day “the worst day of my life”—had nerves as she entered St Paul's Cathedral. In the 2020 documentary, The Diana Interview: Revenge of a Princess, her friend Penny Thornton revealed that Charles made a surprising confession to his future bride the night before they walked down the aisle.

“One of the most shocking things that Diana told me was that the night before the wedding, Charles told her that he didn’t love her,” Thornton said. “I think Charles didn’t want to go into the wedding on a false premise. He wanted to square it with her, and it was devastating for Diana.”

Diana “didn’t want to go through” with the marriage after their conversation, with Thornton adding that her friend “thought about not attending.”

Speaking about The King's mindset, Burrell says marriage isn't the same for the Royal Family as it is for the rest of the public.

“You’ve got to look through the lens of the time and not now,” Burrell tells Marie Claire. “Times have changed. Back then, he was being hounded by his family to find a bride. He was becoming an old bachelor, and his job was to find a bride and produce an heir and a spare.”

Burrell says that the now-King might have been “very attracted” to his wife, but at the end of the day, his ”duty to the country was to provide children. It wasn’t about love.”

Once her divorce was finalized, Princess Diana became one of the most eligible people in the world. According to the princess's former royal butler, the royal was romantically pursued by an award-winning Hollywood actor, who lost some confidence after being turned down by Diana.

In his book A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell recalled, "One Oscar-winning Hollywood actor's confident image suddenly disappeared when it proved he was too shy to ring the palace himself and ask the princess for a date: he got a friend to write a letter on his behalf."

Unfortunately for the unnamed actor, Princess Diana wasn't interested in dating him.

"When the princess wrote back, politely refusing, he returned with another request a month later," Burrell shared. "She had a drink with him and chose never to meet him again."

Of course, this particular actor wasn't alone in propositioning Princess Diana following her divorce, according to the former butler. "He wasn't the only one with honorable intentions," Burrell said.

Burrell recounted just some of the other men who attempted to date Diana after her split from King Charles.

"There was a sporting legend, who made a living out of racing in a field of competitors; a leading musician; a novelist; a lawyer; an entrepreneur; a billionaire who ran his own empire, and one extremely famous politician," the former butler noted.

He continued, "The unfortunate thing was that while they might have provided the princess with enthralling company, her heart lay elsewhere."

Ultimately, Princess Diana reportedly turned down the majority of men who tried to date her, but that didn't stop the invitations from arriving.

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It's hard to believe Princess Diana died almost 30 years ago. Since then, interest in the former Princess of Wales has only increased, and many ex-Royal Family employees have written books about their experiences. According to one of Princess Diana's former butlers, the royal kept one secret hidden in a drawer in her home.

Writing in his book A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell revealed that Princess Diana used to sell her old clothing in order to generate money to spend on her sons, Prince Harry and Prince William.

According to Burrell, Diana's old clothing included designer labels such as Chanel, Versace, Catherine Walker—a Princess Kate favorite—and Armani. "An outfit worth £2,000 [approximately $2,660] would be sold for around £200 [approximately $266], and somebody, somewhere, would be walking around in the princess's clothes," the ex-butler wrote.

Diana would allegedly generate a lot of money from selling her old clothing.

"These regular sales netted the princess around £11,000 [approximately $14,650], which she kept stuffed into an envelope in a bottom drawer," Burrell claimed.

Unsurprisingly, the princess's decision to keep a large amount of cash at home shocked some of her employees.

"[I]n April 1997, she decided to hand it over to [her financial manager] Michael Gibbins, whose jaw hit the floor when he opened the envelope," per Burrell.

The ex-butler continued, "He took the money and banked it, unaware of how such a sum had been raised. Even the accountant had been left in the dark about the princess's most private finances—until then."

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Princess Diana's marriage to King Charles has been well-documented, as has the monarch's relationship with Queen Camilla. Early in Diana and Charles's romance, the princess was photographed spending time with Camilla, leading many to wonder why the pair had been communicating with one another. According to one royal biographer, the reason might be more straightforward than many initially believed.

In the new book Divide and Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles, author Catherine Mayer explores Diana and Camilla's unexpected meetings.

"Diana interpreted her rival's overtures of friendship towards her during this period as intelligence gathering," Mayer writes. However, the royal biographer is sure that there is much more to the story.

"Camilla seems unlikely to have taken on such a mission unilaterally," Mayer explains. "A more plausible theory, suggested by sources with some knowledge of these events, is that Charles saw Camilla as the person best placed to induct his fiancée into his life."

Considering the illicit nature of Charles and Camilla's relationship during certain periods of time, the suggestion that The King might have orchestrated the meetings might sound a little scandalous. However, there might have been some common sense behind the alleged idea.

As Mayer notes, "After all, [Camilla] knew [Charles] and his ways intimately. If accurate, this is the detail among all others that comes closest to crossing the line from the disordered impulses common to such situations to something colder."

Per the author, "Even if Charles, at this stage, lacked the emotional intelligence to grasp how misguided the idea was, you might have expected Camilla to demur."

Of course, it remains unclear whether Charles did, in fact, ask Camilla to befriend Diana and teach her how to navigate royal life. Either way, it seems that Camilla remained an integral part of Charles's life from the moment they met.

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Former royal chef Darren McGrady experienced his fair share of hilarious moments while working in the kitchens at Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace, but one juicing incident might just take the cake. McGrady, who spent 11 years cooking for Queen Elizabeth before moving over to work for Princess Diana, says that Diana had a penchant for healthy eating, but one idea ended in disaster when she didn’t take his advice.

Speaking on behalf of Smooth Spins Casino, McGrady says that Princess Diana loved to eat “fresh and clean” meals like “a peach and feta salad with walnuts.” She also was a huge fan of fresh juice, and the former royal chef says Diana “was juicing before juicing was even invented.”

After Diana asked McGrady to buy a juicer, he started making “fresh orange juice every morning” for the princess, he recalls. “Then, after that, she would have a green drink mid-morning. That would be spinach, celery, cucumber and apple juice. She would have that religiously every morning.” However, one type of juice didn’t quite agree with the princess.

“One day, she came in and said, ‘Darren, I want some beet juice. I’ve heard that beetroot juice is healthy,’” McGrady shares. However, he even though he warned her that it needed to be diluted with another type of juice, Princess Diana insisted on straight beetroot juice only.

“A few hours later, she came into the kitchen and said, ‘Darren, you’ve poisoned me! Look at my face, it’s all blotchy,’” McGrady shares. “I told her it could have been the overdose of beetroot juice.”

Unfortunately this happened right before Trooping the Colour, but McGrady says that Diana solved her splotchy face situation with a fresh tan and some heavy-handed foundation.

“She went onto the sunbed, which we had at Kensington Palace back in the day, got a little bit of a tan and put on loads of makeup,” he recalls. “Thankfully, no one noticed when she went out on the balcony for Trooping, and no one picked up on it.”

“That worked fine, but after that she listened to me when I told her about juicing, what we could use and what we couldn’t,” McGrady shares.

Princess Diana became known for many things throughout her life, such as her much-envied sense of style and her adoration of her children, Prince Harry and Prince William. According to one of the late princess's former staff members, Diana even prioritized her sons when it came to managing her closet and her bank account.

In his book, A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell shared, "Some dresses were never destined for auctions or museums." Instead, some of Princess Diana's designer items were taken to thrift "stores in Knightsbridge or Chelsea [in London] where they would be handed over in exchange for cash when sold."

According to Burrell, it was entirely Diana's decision to sell some pieces of clothing, in order "to raise spending money for her because royals rarely carry hard currency." Basically, Princess Diana reportedly wanted to have a means of income, which wasn't necessarily tracked alongside her regular credit card spending.

"By generating cash, she could spend it as she wished without trace, and take William and Harry to the cinema or to McDonald's," Burrell wrote.

Burrell also elaborated on witnessing Harry and William learning about money as children.

"In the biggest paradox of their opulent royal life, the young princes were fascinated by money and how The Queen's face adorned every note of every denomination," the former royal butler shared.

He continued, "A £10 note was a 'brown Granny' and a £50 note was a 'pink Granny.' When the princess handed out money, it was a joy to watch the boys jumping up and down, clutching the notes, invariably a 'pink Granny.'"

Seemingly, Princess Diana was happy to sell her old clothing if it meant she could spoil William and Harry.

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Princess Charlotte is growing up, and so is her style. Prince William and Princess Kate’s 11-year-old daughter channeled her mother as she attended the Wimbledon men’s finals, debuting a custom Jenny Packham dress with sweet flutter sleeves. In previous years, Charlotte has shown off handmade friendship bracelets and a Pandora charm bracelet while cheering on her favorite players, but this year, she went for an updated version of the style.

Charlotte showed off a Ted Baker bracelet as she attended the final day of the tennis championships on July 12, trading her Lion King-adorned Pandora style for a goldtone design featuring dainty heart, flower, pearl and bow charms.

The $85 style is still available at Nordstrom, and while it's an adult bracelet, it's a piece of jewelry that works for any age, as Princess Charlotte proved on Sunday afternoon. The sweet symbols make this an appropriate tween accessory, but the design wouldn't look out of place on Princess Kate.

Charlotte often wore adorable smocked dresses similar to the Liberty print styles worn by Queen Elizabeth as a child, but over the past year, she's leaned into proper designer clothing. Along with her Jenny Packham Wimbledon dress, the 11-year-old wore a floaty ivory style by one of Princess Kate's favorite designers, Alessandra Rich, to Trooping the Colour last month.

As for her new bracelet, charms were also a favorite of Charlotte's late grandmother, Princess Diana. Jewelry expert Nilesh Rakholia, founder of Abelini, tells Marie Claire that Princess Diana's gold charm bracelet represented “a collection of meaningful symbols connected to her life, family and experiences.”

She rarely wore her gold bracelet in public, but it featured personal charms such as Prince William and Prince Harry's initials and an apple to represent her love of New York City.

Unlike Charlotte’s Pandora bracelet, which, like Diana's, has personal charms such as her May birthstone, an engraved heart and Nala from The Lion King, the preteen's Ted Baker style doesn't have the option to add on new designs. However, Rakholia says the style is “a beautiful example of how even small details can carry meaning.”

“The heart is one of the most recognizable symbols of love and family, while the flower represents growth, happiness and new beginnings,” he says of her charms. “The bow has a sense of connection and togetherness, often associated with gifts, celebrations and the bonds between people.”

Pearls, of course, have long been associated with the Royal Family, with Queen Elizabeth in particular known for her love of a pearl necklace and earrings. Rakholia notes that the faux pearl charm on Charlotte’s bracelet “adds a timeless quality, for pearls have long been linked with elegance, innocence and tradition.”

“For Charlotte, this bracelet may be a small, grown-up accessory, but it represents something much bigger: the idea that jewelry can tell a story,” Rakholia adds.

While Charlotte's bracelet is now sold out, shop similar options, below.

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Logan Hollowell’s exquisite gold and gemstone designs have been seen on everyone from Hollywood royalty to members of the Royal Family, and the jewelry designer, who idolized Princess Diana as a young girl, is opening up on the surreal feeling of seeing Meghan Markle wear her pieces.

Los Angeles-based Hollowell tells Marie Claire that “as an artist, we always want to feel that our beauty is being seen,” adding that it feels “validating and exciting” to have people like the Duchess of Sussex, Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber wearing her brand.

The Duchess of Sussex has worn Logan Hollowell pieces nearly a dozen times over the years, and Hollowell says she’s seen an uptick in sales whenever Meghan wears one of her designs. “Meghan is such a style maven and it’s a huge compliment,” the jewelry designer says, describing the duchess as “someone that people look to for style.”

Adding that “there are so many people who are obsessed with her style,” Hollowell says that shoppers “trust her as a guide.”

When asked what about her jewelry resonates with Meghan, Hollowell says that the duchess prefers to choose pieces with a special meaning. “I think Meghan is very intentional about her style,” the jewelry designer says. “She’s a spiritual person, and the brand is very spiritual and metaphysical, with a lot of symbolism. The jewelry is like a talisman.”

With designs inspired by metaphysics, nature, the cosmos and sacred symbols, Hollowell’s brand focuses on jewelry that gives the wearer a reminder of their purpose and strength. One such design is the "Call on Your Angels" necklace, a gold pendant featuring a diamond angel eye that Meghan has engraved with her children's names.

“I think that’s something that’s important to her—she really wants to be intentional with the pieces she wears,” Hollowell continues of Meghan. “I think she and I see eye to eye on a lot of things in that regard.”

Princess Diana also shared a strong interest in spirituality, and Hollowell says that she idolized the late royal when she was growing up. “One thing that’s really full circle for me is that I grew up in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and every school report I ever did was about Princess Diana,” she shares.

“I was obsessed with her. I would read about her, cry over her passing, and just felt like I knew her spirit somehow, so having this experience with Meghan Markle now feels incredibly full circle,” Hollowell says.

Princess Kate and Queen Camilla have both worn jewelry featuring initials, birthstones or the names of their children and grandchildren, and reflecting on members of the Royal Family wearing more personalized pieces, Hollowell says it’s an inspiring trend.

“I think women are becoming more and more free in their style, especially women like them,” she says. “They feel like they can choose for themselves. I think Meghan definitely broke out of that idea that she needed to be a particular way just because of the family. I think it’s a beautiful thing.”

Hollowell says if she had to choose three pieces to create a capsule collection for a member of the Royal Family, she’d select the necklace and the ring from her aptly-named Queen Collection with emeralds, “because Colombian emeralds are among the finest in the world.”

“Then I’d choose the Fortuna Diamond Tennis Necklace, because it’s a modern twist on something iconic,” Hollowell says. The sparkling necklace, worn on numerous occasions by Meghan, holds a special meaning.

“The different stone shapes represent different aspects of yourself,” Hollowell shares. “As a member of the royal family, you have to balance so much because you’re constantly being scrutinized by the public. The necklace represents emotion, logic, intuition, love, creativity, and fertility.”

Hollowell, who says she wears the pieces from her Queen collection the most, along with her hand chain and half stud, half huggie “stuggie” earrings, recently opened the doors to her brand’s Beverly Hills flagship store. “There are all these hidden details—shells embedded in the floor that transition into carpet like a shoreline, and constellations in the ceiling. It’s a really beautiful experience,” she says.

When it comes to dream collaborations, Hollowell points to Oura and its smart rings. Her brand carries its own diamond-studded gold cases to wear over the health tech devices, and she says, “It would be amazing to do an official collaboration with them because so many customers said they finally bought an Oura Ring because of our case.”

“As far as people I’d love to dress, Hailey Bieber,” Hollowell says. “She’s so relevant, I love what she’s done with Rhode, and she has incredible style.”

Princess Diana became internationally famous after marrying King Charles on July 29, 1981. However, according to one of her former royal staff members, Diana enjoyed sneaking out of the palace and wearing unexpected disguises to do so.

In his book A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell opened up about some of Princess Diana's secret outings.

"When she was feeling particularly daring, she opted to wear an elaborate disguise, and kitting her out soon became part of my duty," the former butler wrote.

Burrell continued, "Once, I was sent out to buy a shoulder-length straight brunette wig from Selfridges. Then I had to go to an optician in Kensington High Street and purchase a pair of large, round-rimmed spectacles...When I got back to [Kensington Palace], the princess couldn't wait to try on her new look."

According to Burrell, Diana's transformation was so huge that she looked like "a different person."

The former butler shared, "She tried to keep a straight face but I couldn't help gawping. 'Nobody's going to recognize you! Look at you!'"

Per Burrell, the former Princess of Wales began "shrieking with laughter" and had "tears rolling down her face" following his reaction.

The ex-butler shared that Diana reportedly snuck into Ronnie Scott's jazz club in London, and she did so wearing a "wig, glasses, black Puffa jacket, and denim jeans."

Princess Diana was reportedly elated by how well her disguise worked, allowing her to enjoy a normal night out with friends.

The next day, Diana apparently told Burrell, "The smoke in that club got into my eyes—even with the glasses on!" She allegedly continued, "When we were standing outside, we queued far too long for my liking. I started to chat up a man next to us and he didn't have a clue who I was. It was so funny. I could be me in a public place!"

Basically, according to a former royal butler, Princess Diana loved wearing disguises to enjoy everyday experiences, which is completely understandable.

Paul Burrell’s royal career ended when Princess Diana died in 1997, but the former palace butler originally worked as a footman to Queen Elizabeth before moving to Highgrove House in 1987. King Charles’s country retreat was a welcome escape for the then-Prince of Wales, but as Burrell tells Marie Claire, life in Gloucestershire became increasingly “difficult” as Charles and Diana led separate lives.

Burrell, speaking on behalf of Champions Speakers Agency, said Camilla would visit Prince Charles during the week, when Princess Diana, Prince Harry and Prince William were in London.

“Now, I was finding my job very difficult by this time because I realized that my duties were to be split between my princess and her boys at the weekend and Charles and his friend during the week,” Burrell says. “So it was difficult to keep those two worlds apart.”

When Diana came to stay at Highgrove, Burrell says he would join the family for “lovely outings to Alton Towers, to Bristol Zoo” and events like birthday parties. “William would drive his replica Aston Martin car down to our house to give my boys a ride around the estate,” he shares, describing his relationship with them as “kind of one big family.”

However, tensions between the prince and princess made working at Highgrove less “fun” for the butler. He describes one incident when Diana called “late at night” asking to speak to Prince Charles.

“I said, ‘I'm sorry, Your Royal Highness, he's not in,’” Burrell recalls. After Diana asked where her husband was, the butler said he wasn’t sure.

“She said, ‘You do know, Paul, because you know where he is 24-7. So either you're not telling me or you're lying for him,’” Burrell says, sharing that he asked her to not “drag” him into the situation.

“This was long before you knew there were troubles,” he says of Diana and Charles's marriage, sharing that the call put him in a tough spot because his “whole world” depended on his job.

After Diana called Charles the next morning, the now-King called Burrell in to speak with him. The former butler claims that Charles was livid, asking, “But why couldn't you lie? Why couldn't you say that you couldn't find me? Why couldn't you say I'd gone for a walk at 11 o'clock at night?”

After telling his boss that it wasn’t his “job to tell lies,” Charles allegedly showed off his “legendary temper” and “picked up a book and threw it” at the butler.

Following Charles and Diana’s separation in 1992, Burrell relocated to Kensington Palace to live with Diana and the boys, with Burrell sharing that the princess “rescued” him from the uncomfortable situation at Highgrove House.

“I thought, my time's up. My time is up. Diana rescued me,” he says.

Darren McGrady served as a chef to Queen Elizabeth before moving over to work for Princess Diana, and the former palace employee has shared the stark differences between the two households. Speaking to Heart Bingo Online, McGrady used the example of Prince William’s favorite ice cream to show how “relaxed” it was at Kensington Palace versus Buckingham Palace.

When William had a craving for ice cream, it was available to him at the press of a button at Buckingham Palace, McGrady shared, but it entailed a rather long wait.

“When I worked for The Queen, Prince William loved dark chocolate and asked for chocolate ice cream,” McGrady said. “The Queen would press a button, the page would come, she’d ask for the ice cream, and it triggered a long chain: head chef, pastry chef, silver pantry, glass pantry, linen room. Finally, 20 minutes later, William got his homemade ice cream presented to him.”

However, Diana ran a more casual kitchen environment. “At Kensington, it was much more relaxed,” McGrady said. “William would walk into the kitchen and say, ‘Darren, can I have some chocolate ice cream, please?’ I’d say, ‘Help yourself.’”

McGrady continued that William would “grab Haagen-Dazs chocolate chip, that was his favorite, open it, and sit in the windowsill eating it.” Princess Diana was also known to have a kitchen catch-up with Darren and the rest of the staff, often hanging out for snacks and gossip.

As for Queen Elizabeth, the former chef said that the late royal “had a sweet tooth and loved dark chocolate, especially anything over 60 percent cocoa,” adding, “Any dessert with chocolate on the menu was sure to be chosen.”

King Charles, on the other hand, isn't so much a cocoa fan. “Charles doesn’t like chocolate, and goes more for the fruit options,” McGrady revealed. “He would much rather have an orange olive oil tea cake or banana bread.”

Princess Diana experienced both negative and positive press throughout her life, and endured a number of personal challenges in the public eye. Namely, the former Princess of Wales split from King Charles, an event which was voraciously reported on by the tabloids. According to her former butler, there was one particular thing that Princess Diana really wanted "people to understand" about her life.

In his book, A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell claimed, "All she had ever wanted was for the British people to understand what she had gone through, how difficult it had been. And while she felt that [King] Charles had truly made her suffer, she had learned from her suffering."

According to Burrell, the princess's divorce knocked her confidence in a major way, after a lifetime of self-doubt.

"She felt her low self-esteem had taken root in childhood when she had acquired many of her ideas about herself," the former butler wrote. "She had taken that poor self-image into the marriage with [King] Charles."

Burrell continued, "In [Charles], she focused solely on deriving a boost to her ego, through his recognition of her achievements. When it was not forthcoming, she said she felt rejected."

According to the former Royal Family butler, Diana also had to learn to come to terms with the emotions she was experiencing.

"The princess also needed to realize, and I think many people told her this, that anger was a natural emotion, but she felt many women found anger distressing," he wrote.

Burrell further explained, "She even hired a boxer to come to [Kensington Palace] with his punchbag so that she could rid herself of her anger. Diana, Princess of Wales, could certainly pack a mean punch."

Ultimately, Princess Diana had to go through some incredibly difficult moments in her life, while navigating her role as a famous person, which can't have been easy.

Princess Diana would have celebrated her 65th birthday on Wednesday, July 1, and her twin nieces, Lady Amelia Spencer and Lady Eliza Spencer, are keeping her fashion legacy alive. Earl Spencer’s daughters wore very Diana-esque linen vests to the Wimbledon championships on June 30, and they returned for the action on July 2 in breezy white dresses by a Princess Kate-approved brand.

The Princess of Wales has long been a fan of Holland Cooper, and Amelia and Eliza both sported dresses by the British fashion label as they attended day four of the championships.

Joined by Lady Amelia's husband, Greg Mallett, the twins posed outside Centre Court in their coordinating outfits, with Amelia wearing Holland Cooper's crisp Aimee shirt dress. The sleeveless style features a wide belt and full skirt, and she paired her dress with pearl-studded Holland Cooper heels.

In terms of accessories, Lady Amelia added delicate gold jewelry and black cat-eye sunglasses to her Wimbledon outfit.

Meanwhile, Lady Eliza, who announced her engagement to boyfriend Channing Millerd last August, added some contrasting pops of black to her tennis whites. She wore Holland Cooper's sleeveless Chatsworth dress, with the sleeveless design featuring princess seams and pockets with a twirly skirt.

Eliza went for black Holland Cooper slingback kitten heels, carrying a black lizard top-handled bag by the British brand and wearing dark shades like her sister.

For their first Wimbledon appearance of 2026 earlier this week, the Spencer sisters went in a different direction, wearing linen sets by Intimissimi. Lady Amelia chose a blue vest and matching linen shorts, while Eliza went with another white outfit in a linen vests and coordinating pants.

Princess Diana would have turned 65 on Wednesday, July 1, and her twin nieces Lady Amelia Spencer and Lady Eliza Spencer channeled their late aunt’s style while hitting the Wimbledon championships on June 30.

Diana was the original Wimbledon it girl, and her brother Earl Spencer’s twin daughters are no different, arriving at the championships in coordinating linen sets by Intimissimi. Eliza, dressed in white, and Amelia, wearing blue, brought to mind the vest and white pants the late Princess of Wales wore while vacationing in Barbuda in 1995.

Amelia paired her linen vest with matching blue drawstring shorts by Intimissimi, while Eliza chose a pair of loose white trousers.

Amelia carried a vanilla-hued east/west bag by Longchamp, pairing her outfit with sparkling green jewels by Garrard and a pair of cap-toed Jennifer Chamandi pumps. Meanwhile, Eliza chose an ivory Valextra top-handled bag and Garrard jewelry that coordinated with her twin's, but featuring varying shades of blue stones.

The twins also posed in Intimissimi bras under their vests on Instagram, modeling lace styles from the lingerie brand.

Eliza's tennis whites are right on brand for the bride-to-be, who announced her engagement to boyfriend Channing Millerd last summer. The couple have not announced any wedding plans just yet, but if sisters Amelia and Kitty Spencer's wedding day looks are any indication, Eliza is sure to make her aunt Diana proud.

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Princess Diana would have celebrated her 65th birthday on Wednesday, July 1, and nearly 30 years after her death, her influence on beauty trends can still be seen around the world. New Google search analysis by Fresha, the world's leading beauty and wellness booking platform, reveals that searches for "Princess Diana hair" have risen 47 percent over the past year, with around 11,000 searches in the past month alone. Even Duchess Sophie has been inspired to chop off her shoulder-length hair into a bob, but one hair professional is warning women what to consider when thinking about a Diana-esque cut.

Hairstylist Danielle Louise, a U.K.-based beauty expert on Fresha, says that younger women are becoming more interested in Diana’s iconic hair. “Princess Diana's influence has never really disappeared, but we're definitely seeing a new generation discovering her style,” she says. “Clients are asking for hair that's elegant, healthy and full of movement rather than something that looks deliberately effortless.”

Although some might look at Princess Diana’s feathered style as very 1980s, Louise points out that it’s still a versatile look today. “Diana's haircut was incredibly flattering because it created softness around the face while adding volume and structure,” she shares. “It's one of those rare styles that feels both timeless and surprisingly modern.”

For those looking to copy Diana's hair, Louise suggests focusing on the overall shape rather than asking for an exact replica of the late princess's style. She recommends telling your stylist you want a rounded silhouette with soft feathering around the face, short to medium-length graduated layers, volume through the crown and a sweeping side fringe that blends into the layers.

However, she warns, “The biggest mistake people make is focusing purely on the cut. Diana's hair always looked healthy because it was beautifully styled and regularly maintained. The movement comes from good layering, a proper blow-dry and keeping the hair in excellent condition.”

In his book A Royal Duty, Diana's former butler, Paul Burrell, revealed that a professional blowout was key to her look. “As part of her daily routine, the princess said that her one true extravagance was having her hair washed and blow-dried every weekday morning, first by hairdresser Richard Dalton and then by Sam McKnight, and both men became trusted confidants,” he wrote.

Princess Diana would have turned 65 on July 1, and ahead of the late royal’s birthday, her former butler, Paul Burrell, is reflecting on the final years of Diana’s life. The princess shifted her style and embraced her single life following her split from Prince Charles, but Burell says that Diana’s intentions were “misrepresented” in the ‘90s.

Burrell, speaking via the Motivational Speakers Agency, says that Princess Diana’s ambition was never to make headlines, but to use her platform to help the most vulnerable people in the world. He shares, “I find the princess in these times being misrepresented, misinterpreted and misunderstood because all she wanted to be was a humanitarian. She wanted to travel the world and shine her light on people who had been forgotten. That's all she wanted to do.”

While most of the public conversation surrounding Diana centered on her personal life and romantic relationships, the Royal Insider author says that those stories overshadowed the work that meant the most to his former boss.

“She could have sat back inside a palace, worn fabulous clothes and jewels and done nothing,” Burrell adds. “But she didn't. She used her profile to help other people.”

Diana dated heart surgeon Hasnat Khan between 1995 and July 1997, just a month before she died. Burrell calls Khan Diana's “true love,” adding that he helped the princess carry out the “love affair for two years without anybody knowing.”

“I'd smuggle him into Kensington Palace in the back of my car underneath a blanket,” he reveals. “This was my world and she trusted me with everything in it.” On the topic of Dodi Fayed, who was killed alongside Diana in a car crash, Burrell calls the late Harrods heir “a summertime romance.”

“Hasnut Khan was the love of her life,” he says. “Dodi was a distraction. She met with Dodi and that path led to disaster.”

Prince Harry is scheduled to return to the U.K. in early July for the Invictus Games One Year to Go event, but a reunion with Prince William will likely not be on his schedule. The brothers are understood not to have spoken since Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in 2022, but when they were growing up, Princess Diana tried to raise them exactly the same. According to the late royal’s former butler, Paul Burrell, one decision was especially tough because of the implications it would have on her children.

The King (then Prince Charles) and Princess Diana announced their separation in 1992, and although they initially did not have plans to formally split, their divorce was finalized in 1996.

“Diana struggled with the divorce [from Prince Charles],” Burell says, speaking on behalf of Casino.org. “She didn’t want it; she wanted to stay in the Royal Family, and for her, her struggle was keeping her boys safe and keeping her position.”

The former butler adds that it was “difficult” for Diana “to accept that the boys would grow up differently,” adding, “There was no difference between them in her eyes.” Even if members of the royal household treated Prince William in a more preferential way than Harry, Diana insisted “the boys were always the same.”

Bringing both of her boys up “in a solid family unit” was a high priority for Princess Diana, according to Burrell. “That’s why she resisted the divorce, because she thought that fracture in the family would lead to problems and complications for her boys,” he says.

The former butler and author continues that although they grew up in a “similar world,” royal life wasn’t as easy for Prince Harry as it was for William. “It was a lot easier and plain sailing for William,” Burrell says. “His map was already made, and Harry’s wasn’t. So, it was a complicated relationship, but their childhood was the idyllic part of it.”

Princess Kate tackled three mountains in 24 hours as she raised money and awareness for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, and although she dressed in rugged gear for the challenge, the future Queen kept her accessories royally on brand. The Princess of Wales, 44, climbed the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales between Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28, and her jewelry sent a message about what matters most.

Wearing an olive green jacket by hunting brand Härkila with a Fjällräven baseball cap and hiking pants, the Princess of Wales “stripped everything back” for the challenge with “no occasion dressing,” says Nilesh Rakholia, engagement ring expert and founder of Abelini.

“And yet she kept her rings,” he adds. “That is not an accident. That is instinct, and instinct tells you everything.”

The Princess of Wales walked 23 miles and climbed 10,052 feet during the National Three Peaks Challenge, wearing her iconic sapphire and diamond engagement ring that originally belonged to Princess Diana.

“Catherine asked Diana's ring to sit beside her through cancer, through recovery, and now through one of the most physically and emotionally demanding things she has ever done publicly,” Rakholia says. “That tells you everything about where she finds her strength. Family. Always family.”

Although she’s been wearing a thick ring stack recently, including her Welsh gold wedding band, a sapphire and diamond ring, and two diamond bands, it appears that she wore just one diamond band along with her engagement ring in a photo shared by the princess on Instagram.

One of her diamond rings was given to Kate by Prince William after Prince George was born in 2013, and Rakholia notes, “That is not jewelry as adornment. That is jewelry as a talisman. She carried her family up every one of those peaks.”

Along with her rings, the Princess of Wales wore one of her favorite pairs of earrings from Welsh-based small business Spells of Love. The tiny gold hoops feature a dangling garnet charm, and royal and celebrity-favorite jeweler Logan Hollowell tells Marie Claire that Kate’s January birthstone “carries a deeply personal significance.”

“Garnet symbolizes strength, protection, and resilience, so seeing Princess Kate wear her birthstone during such a meaningful challenge feels especially fitting,” Hollowell says. “It's a beautiful reminder that jewelry can tell a story beyond its beauty.”

As for Kate's hiking challenge, she said that her own cancer journey inspired her to take on the climb. “Healing, whether personal or collective, is not just about fixing what is wrong. It is about finding balance in how we live,” she wrote on Instagram.

Following her divorce from King Charles, Princess Diana's life was irreparably changed. While the former Princess of Wales remained beloved by people all over the world, she was no longer allowed to use her official Her Royal Highness (HRH) titles. According to a former Royal Family staff member, an unexpected royal reached out to Diana after hearing the news.

In his book A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell revealed that Princess Diana was devastated to learn that, once her divorce was finalized, she'd no longer be allowed to use her HRH title.

"It was, she felt, part of her royal identity and she had worked tirelessly as a royal highness for many years," Burrell wrote. "When the final decision was taken behind the scenes, the princess was devastated."

According to Burrell, Diana "found support from an unlikely corner of the Royal Family" after news broke regarding the loss of her title.

"Princess Michael of Kent wrote a sincere letter," Burrell explained.

Per the royal butler, Princess Michael's letter allegedly said, "I was horrified to learn in the press that after your title was removed, you would be expected to curtsy in public when meeting me." The royal reportedly continued, "I insist that this would cause me the greatest embarrassment, so please do not even consider it."

The princess's letter also complimented Diana's "courage and strength," according to Burrell. "You will always have my support," Princess Michael of Kent reportedly shared.

Meanwhile, Burrell told the former Princess of Wales, "You don't need a title. Wherever you go in the world, you are known as Lady Di—and no one can take that away from you."

According to the former butler, having the support of Princess Michael of Kent gave Diana a boost at a time she needed it the most.

Princess Diana lived her life in an international spotlight after marrying King Charles on July 29, 1981. Unfortunately, the couple endured a somewhat tumultuous marriage, which led to divorce. And according to one of Diana's former royal butlers, the princess wasn't entirely happy with the way her mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, handled the divorce.

In his book A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell recalled Diana receiving a personal letter from Queen Elizabeth II regarding the princess's separation from King Charles.

"It began, as always, 'Dearest Diana' and ended, 'With love from Mama,'" Burrell explained. "This letter, though, was different from any other I had read and, as The Queen's former footman, I felt uncomfortable as I read it."

Burrell continued, "I was talking to the back of the princess's head as she remained on the [couch] but I needed to express my discomfort. 'I'm not sure I should be reading this, it says 'in the strictest of confidence.'"

In spite of his reservations, Burrell reportedly read the letter aloud to Princess Diana, who "jumped up, agitated, and began pacing."

According to the former butler, Diana exclaimed, "The Prime Minister and the Archbishop of Canterbury! My divorce has been discussed with John Major and George Carey before it has been discussed with me."

Burrell continued, "The princess was infuriated that The Queen had consulted the government and the church first...'This is my marriage and it is no one else's business!' she yelled."

Ultimately, Princess Diana reportedly "felt that her divorce, just like her marriage, was being handled as if it were a business matter," per Burrell.

Despite describing Queen Elizabeth's letter as "sympathetic, delicate, and devoid of anger," Burrell also suggested that the monarch was "a mother-in-law frustrated with the behavior of both parties, emphasizing that a divorce could not inflict further damage on the two sons who had suffered enough over the previous years."

Divorce is complicated, regardless of who you're married to, but it's clear that being a member of the Royal Family makes the entire process even more challenging for everyone involved.

Amazon Prime Day is here once again, and as a royal editor, one of my favorite things to do is comb the sale for royally-approved fashion finds. This year, Prime Day—which runs from June 23 to 26—includes plenty of regal style deals, including the Superga sneakers that the Princess of Wales has worn on repeat for the past decade.

Royals have been wearing the brand's 2750 Cotu classic canvas sneakers since Princess Diana first sported them in the late ‘90s, and Princess Kate has kept the tradition going, wearing hers at least a dozen times since 2016. The good news for Amazon shoppers is the black shade of Kate’s beloved $75 shoes is now marked down to just $23 for Prime Day.

The Princess of Wales owns the laid-back shoes in both olive green and white, and has worn them everywhere from the Chelsea Flower Show to a regatta. And Princess Anne’s new daughter-in-law, Harriet Sperling, has also joined the Superga fan club, wearing a white pair to the Burghley Horse Trials alongside now-husband Peter Phillips.

Although they're not an official Prime Day deal, Kate and Harriet's white Superga sneakers are currently a steal at $35, so now's the time to grab a fresh pair before they're back to their pre-Prime prices.

Princess Diana’s style influence can still be seen almost 30 years after her death, whether it’s on the runways, in high street stores or on members of the Royal Family. Princess Kate, in particular, has been inspired by her late mother-in-law’s wardrobe, and her recent outfits have been reflecting major ‘80s energy.

The Princess of Wales’s longtime assistant and stylist, Natasha Archer, left the royal household last year to launch her own personal styling business. Since Archer’s departure, Kate has been leaning into trouser suits and repeat outfits even more than usual, but she’s also been dressing in some very Diana-coded looks.

As the Daily Mail reported, “The latest fan of Diana’s style appears to be Kate’s new ‘secret stylist.’”

Whether the Princess of Wales has actually employed the help of a new stylist remains unclear, and as the Daily Mail noted, since “Archer’s role was never confirmed, it’s unlikely her replacement will ever be named either.”

Either way, it's hard to ignore that Princess Kate has been giving nods to some of Diana's iconic outfits as of late. Especially notable was the pale blue Catherine Walker coat the Princess of Wales wore to Trooping the Colour on June 13. The pastel style with white trim was nearly identical to the coat Princess Diana wore on Easter 1987, which was also designed by Walker.

Princess Kate also leaned into a very Diana-esque outfit when she wore a vintage-inspired red dotted dress by Rodarte earlier this month. The Princess of Wales chose the bold midi dress when she attended a reception for Cancer Research UK, and it brought back memories of some of the red dotted designs Diana wore in the '80s.

With Wimbledon on the horizon, will we see the Princess of Wales in another eighties-inspired outfit? Watch this space.

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Princess Diana quickly became a globally-beloved member of the Royal Family after marrying King Charles in 1981. Even following the couple's split and subsequent divorce, the former Princess of Wales still found favor with royal fans everywhere. But according to her ex-butler, Diana allegedly had some worries, which sometimes plagued her daily.

In his book A Royal Duty, former butler Paul Burrell recalled spending time with Diana at her home when her sons were away.

"It became clear, as I wheeled in her two-course evening meal, that with William and Harry at boarding school she preferred not to be left alone," Burrell wrote. "'Stay a while,' she said, more times than I can remember."

Burrell continued, "I stood, leaning against an upholstered chair and we talked about her day, my day, the week ahead...These nighttime chats might be brief or extend into a chat that lost all track of time." As the evening came to an end, Princess Diana would allegedly open up about some of her fears.

According to Burrell, Princess Diana would help him wash dishes, and they would continue their discussion.

"'What do you think tomorrow's going to bring?' she asked," the former butler recalled. "She felt every day had the capacity to bring a new drama, a fresh problem, or a particularly difficult incident."

He continued, "'Whatever happens, we'll tackle it,' I told her. When bedtime came, she disappeared down the corridor, with a girlish skip and hop, as if she was suddenly full of energy again, looking forward to the next day."

In spite of any concerns she might have had, Princess Diana seemingly remained positive about anything that would arise in the future, according to her former royal butler.

The Royal Family has access to just about any food product they could ever desire. However, many royals have been known to enjoy "down-to-earth" meals and bizarre snacks, alongside healthy dishes. And according to a former royal employee, Princess Diana was partial to eating a baked potato with a rather unusual topping.

In his book A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell discussed some of the meals he'd serve to Princess Diana when he worked for her.

"If she had been out...I would make her a cup of her favorite ginger root tea," Burrell shared.

The royal butler continued, "Dinner would be grilled trout or a pasta dish; or a plain [baked] potato with a scoop of caviar, served with a vinaigrette dressing."

As for how Diana would receive her dinner, Burrell explained, "It was often a solitary meal, served on a wheeled wooden trolley that I pushed into the sitting room before the striped sofa where the princess sat in her white toweling robe."

Burrell continued, "I had already pulled the television out of its cabinet at the bottom of the bookcase and into position. Evenings were the loneliest, quietest times for the princess. The chef had gone. Her dresser had gone."

With everyone else having left for the day, Burrell allegedly spent time becoming friends with Diana.

"At the day's end, as the princess wound down from an energetic, engagements-filled morning and afternoon, I got to know her better on a personal level," the former butler said.

He continued, "She was relaxed, not fraught, and talkative. It became clear, as I wheeled in her two-course evening meal, that with William and Harry at boarding school she preferred not to be left alone. 'Stay a while,' she said, more times than I can remember."

Princess Diana was placed firmly in the global spotlight when she married King Charles. Even following their separation, the Princess of Wales continued to have celebrity status, and was rightly adored by people around the world. As a result, she encountered "a chorus of wolf whistles" on occasion, says one royal author.

In his book A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell recalled driving with Princess Diana and surprising people they passed on the street.

"The best times when I was driving with the princess came on sweltering summer days when we stopped at traffic lights with the Mercedes roof down," Burrell wrote. "She loved the shock on motorists's faces when they glanced to one side and recognized her; glum faces were suddenly brightened with delight."

However, Princess Diana was reportedly surprised by some of the attention she received from strangers.

"Once, the traffic lights turned red and we pulled up alongside a building being renovated in the Mayfair district [of London]," the former butler revealed.

Burrell continued, "One of the builders on the lowest level of scaffolding noticed the princess. Within seconds, word had leaped up to every level and it seemed as if the entire site's staff had [put down their tools] and burst into a chorus of wolf whistles and colorful support."

According to Burrell, "The princess was embarrassed and pretended not to hear, but when we drove off, she lifted a hand into the air, waved, and giggled all the way home."

Despite allegedly being surprised by some of the attention she received, Princess Diana reportedly knew how to have fun in even the most unexpected moments.

When Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022, she left behind an incomparable legacy, having spent 70 years on the British throne. But at a number of points during her life, the late Queen was reportedly compared to other Royal Family members, often unfairly, per one royal expert.

In the book Queen Elizabeth II: Pocket Giants, royal expert Victoria Arbiter examined one instance in which the late monarch was pitted against a younger family member.

"In 1983, Charles and Diana were lauded for taking their 9-month-old son Prince William on their 6-week tour to Australia and New Zealand," Arbiter shared. "Pundits took to their columns, comparing the cold unfeeling Queen who left her children behind, to Diana, who defied convention and broke with tradition."

But as Arbiter noted, the comparison isn't necessarily equitable due to a number of factors.

"In order to do a fair comparison, however, one must consider the generational divide," the royal expert explained. "30 years had passed between The Queen's tour and that of the Waleses's, during which time advances in modern aviation made travel significantly speedier."

Discussing some of the reasons why Queen Elizabeth II shouldn't have been compared to her daughter-in-law, Arbiter wrote, "People's attitudes towards royalty had shifted and, adored as she was, Diana was merely a princess, not The Queen."

Importantly, when the monarch arrived in Bermuda in November 1953 following a 17-hour flight, she faced a huge welcome party and incredible pressures.

"News reports declared that nearly every one of the island nation's 38,000 residents had turned out for a glimpse of their new sovereign," the expert explained. "Conversely, when Charles and Diana landed in Alice Springs...a handful of local officials waited to greet them."

Arbiter continued, "After a brief photo call, William and his nanny left for Woomargama, a working sheep and cattle ranch in South West Australia. He remained there for the duration of the tour, and his parents visited him several times."

Charles and Diana spent a total of 6 weeks in Australia and New Zealand. Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth was away for 6 months—from November 1953 until May 1954—visiting everywhere from Jamaica, Fiji and Tonga, Australia and New Zealand, with a return sailing stopping in Ceylon, Aden, Uganda, Malta, and Gibraltar, per Cambridge University.

With very different remits and expectations placed upon them, Diana and Elizabeth arguably had very separate aims during their respective trips, leading to unfair comparisons.

Princess Diana quickly became a beloved member of the Royal Family after marrying King Charles on July 29, 1981. Unsurprisingly, the former Princess of Wales was inundated with gifts every year on her birthday—including from one unexpected royal.

In his book, A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell reflected on Princess Diana's birthday celebrations throughout the years.

"If the princess dreaded July 1, so did her butler," Burrell joked. "I would be running up and down those stairs for hours on end. A delivery from Selfridges, from Harrods, from the royal grocers Fortnum & Mason, from Harvey Nichols."

Despite announcing her separation from King Charles in December 1992, one member of the Royal Family always celebrated Princess Diana's birthday, according to Burrell.

"And then, without fail, a bunch of flowers from Prince Charles who addressed every letter and card he sent, every year until her death, 'Dearest Diana,'" the royal butler revealed.

Of course, King Charles wasn't the only person to send Princess Diana gifts every year on her birthday.

"24 long-stemmed yellow roses, boxed from Edward Goodyear, the florist in Mayfair, from a secret admirer the world never got to know about," Burrell revealed. "Red roses arrived from friends. Then white flowers—tulips from Elton John and more roses from Gianni Versace."

The former butler continued, "All her female friends sent flowers or presents. At the police box, well-wishers left cards, presents, and flowers. By the end of the day, [her apartment] resembled a florist's shop and every conceivable flat surface was covered with cards."

Basically, it sounds as though Princess Diana was shown a lot of love on her birthday from everyone around her.

Princess Diana was just 36 years old when she died on August 31, 1997, following a devastating car crash in Paris, France. Since then, friends and colleagues have shared a multitude of stories about the former Princess of Wales. For instance, one of her royal butlers recalled a particularly strange moment when he feared an acupuncture needle might have been left in the princess's body.

In his book A Royal Duty, former butler Paul Burrell wrote, "Once, an acupuncturist from whom the princess had just returned telephoned. If acupuncturists are meant to be calming, this call was anything but. In fact, the practitioner was on the verge of panic. 'I'm a needle short. I think I may have left one in the princess's head!'"

Unsurprisingly, Burrell was extremely concerned about the prospect of finding an errant acupuncture needle in Diana's head.

"I walked up the staircase and into the sitting room where she was writing at her desk, half expecting to find an antenna protruding from her scalp," he wrote. "'I've just taken a call,' I said. 'Apparently, you might have an acupuncturist's needle still in your head.'"

Thankfully, there was no such object sticking out of Princess Diana's head, which they were extremely relieved to discover.

"The princess patted it all over, then burst out laughing," Burrell explained. "'Put the poor woman out of her misery and tell her I'm okay. I feel a lot better for seeing her again!'"

According to Burrell, "The princess never failed to see the funny side of her therapies and treatments." Even when a practitioner worried they'd made a possible mistake, Diana reportedly handled the issue with grace and humor.

Princess Diana lived an extraordinary life, both as a member of the Royal Family and as a private individual. And according to her royal butler, the former Princess of Wales had a fairly rigid daily routine, which almost always included one beauty ritual.

In the book A Royal Duty, former butler Paul Burrell recalled one of Princess Diana's dealbreakers.

"As part of her daily routine, the princess said that her one true extravagance was having her hair washed and blow-dried every weekday morning, first by hairdresser Richard Dalton and then by Sam McKnight, and both men became trusted confidants," Burrell shared.

The former butler continued, "All women gossip to their hairdresser and the princess was no different. There were many light-hearted moments between princess, hairdresser and butler and she always SPOKE LOUDER SO HER VOICE COULD BE HEARD OVER THE HAIRDRYER!"

As Princess Diana became known for her iconic hairstyles, amongst other things, it's entirely unsurprising that she stuck to a particular beauty routine.

Remembering Princess Diana's hair appointments, Burrell wrote, "When she saw my reflection behind her in the oval mirror on the dressing table, she would shout, 'LOOK AT THIS!' It might be kind correspondence—or otherwise—a magazine photograph or a comment by a newspaper columnist."

As for who was allowed to see the princess in these special moments, Burrell explained, "Nobody but dresser, butler, hairdresser, and housemaid was ever invited into this inner sanctum. At these times, she was at her most natural, most relaxed, most easygoing: the princess the world never got to see."

Paying tribute to the late royal, Burrell said, "To me, at home, she was a fresh-faced girl stripped of the mask of royalty, as vulnerable as the next person. As soon as she was outside the front door, immaculate in one of her many stunning outfits, she drew on her inner reservoir of strength and strode out with majestic confidence."

Decades later, Princess Diana is remembered for a plethora of things, including her unforgettable hairstyles and enduring fashion.

After marrying King Charles on July 29, 1981, Princess Diana became a member of the British Royal Family. As a result, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip became her in-laws. After Charles and Diana separated, Elizabeth and Philip reportedly weighed in on the couple's issues, and some of their comments allegedly made the former Princess of Wales's "blood boil."

In the book A Royal Duty, former butler Paul Burrell recalled Princess Diana's reaction to some of Prince Philip's accusations about her marriage.

"But what stunned the princess was when Prince Philip raised the thorny issue of her husband’s mistress," Burrell shared in his book. "He wrote that she should have been grateful that her husband had, initially, cut himself off from Camilla Parker Bowles. Prince Charles felt he had made 'a considerable sacrifice' in cutting ties with her and that the princess had 'not appreciated what he had done.'"

According to Burrell, Prince Philip seemingly delivered a "knock-out blow that had left the princess sobbing."

In a letter to Princess Diana, the former Duke of Edinburgh reportedly wrote, "Can you honestly look into your heart and say that Charles's relationship with Camilla had nothing to do with your behavior towards him in your marriage?"

As noted by the former royal butler, "The princess was being accused of driving Prince Charles into the arms of the one woman she had tried to keep him away from. Even a year on, the idea made her blood boil."

Per Burrell, the accusation caused Princess Diana to rant, "They are all the bloody same—looking after one another!"

Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson knew each other long before they married into the Royal Family—it was Diana who set Ferguson up with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, after all. Although they were close friends at one time, their relationship fell apart for one major reason, as royal biographer Andrew Lownie shared in a new video.

Lownie, who recently released an updated version of his book Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, told the Daily Mail that Sarah and Diana’s relationship was “a very complex one.” The women were friends from growing up in aristocratic circles, and once they were both married, Diana “would go to Sarah Ferguson every Sunday and they would moan about the Royal Family,” per Lownie.

As royal wives, they experienced similar struggles, with the author noting that they “felt very restricted within the confines of the Royal Family.” Sarah, for one, was often called a breath of fresh air by the press during the earlier days of her relationship with Andrew, but they soon turned on her, writing headlines like “the Duchess of Pork.”

Lownie said that although Diana related to her sister-in-law’s problems, she also had “concerns” about Fergie’s behavior. He noted that the late royal wondered whether “perhaps Fergie was too boisterous” and “that she was kind of undermining Diana’s own reputation,” which caused her to “distance herself” from the former Duchess of York.

The author also claimed that Diana "played a tough trick" on Ferguson. Instead of getting divorced at the same time, as she'd promised her sister-in-law, Diana waited to see how Sarah and Andrew's split played out and "learned from how the Royal Family treated" Fergie.

It’s long been claimed that the former friends stopped speaking over a shoe incident that was detailed in Fergie’s memoir, My Story. Ferguson claimed that she got plantar warts (also known as verrucas) from borrowing a pair of Diana’s shoes, but Lownie said that wasn’t the reason for their fallout.

“In fact, the reality was that Diana was very concerned that Sarah Ferguson might well be selling stories about her, and that relationship was never repaired,” he said in the Daily Mail’s video, adding that Fergie “pretended it had.”

Princess Diana’s former butler, Paul Burrell, also backed up the wart story in his book The Royal Insider.

“When the book was published, Diana was furious that throughout its pages, there were references to her, William and Harry,” Burrell said. “Many thought that the fallout was caused by Sarah suggesting that she had contracted verrucas from shoes given to her by Diana, but that was not the case,” he added. “Diana felt used and refused to speak to Sarah.”

After four decades, a letter King Charles wrote to a member of the royal household has been sold at auction, and in the never-before-seen note, he mourned the death of his old dog, Harvey. Although the yellow Labrador retriever was a fond companion of the then-Prince Charles, Princess Diana reportedly talked him into giving the dog away to a member of their staff.

The letter sold for £656 by London-based Chiswick Auctions, according to the Telegraph, and was sent to Lt Col Phillip Creasy, comptroller to Prince Charles and Princess Diana at the time. Creasy, who adopted Harvey from Charles, had to put the dog to sleep in 1987 and wrote to him to share the news.

“You were absolutely right to take the decision you did, although it is always a desperate one to have to take,” The King responded in his letter.

King Charles continued, “I am so pleased you all loved him so much. He was a splendid character and when we were both a bit younger, he made me laugh so much by his dotty antics.”

“As you say, he was a loyal old friend and I cannot thank you and your wife enough for your great kindness in agreeing to look after him and for giving him such a happy retirement away from those damp kennels,” Charles added.

Per the Telegraph, author Penny Junor wrote in The Firm that Princess Diana was the reason for Harvey’s departure. “He even gave away his faithful old Labrador Harvey because Diana thought he was smelly,” Junor wrote in the book.

Giving a dog away is quite possibly the last thing Queen Camilla would suggest, as the King and Queen share a huge passion for animals. Together, the couple own two rescue dogs, Bluebell and Moley, along with The King's Italian truffle hunting dog, Snuff, who is a Lagotto Romagnolo.

Since his death in April 2021, Prince Philip has been remembered for a plethora of things. For instance, the former Duke of Edinburgh reportedly told grandson Prince Harry that "everything crumbles" in life without work. He also allegedly disliked Sarah Ferguson's "attitude to royal life." And according to a former royal butler, Philip was vocal about his disappointment following the release of a book about Princess Diana.

In the book A Royal Duty, former butler Paul Burrell recalled the Royal Family's reaction to the release of Andrew Morton's famous Princess Diana biography.

"At Windsor, Prince Philip made it clear that everyone was upset by the biased account in the Morton book," Burrell explained. "He told [Princess Diana] that everyone was suspicious of her involvement."

Burrell continued, "The princess, by then in denial, insisted that she had not assisted the author. I honestly believe that she was taken aback by the scale of what she had unleashed."

Princess Diana famously collaborated with Morton for the book, secretly recording herself answering questions for the author. Following her death, Morton released an updated version of the biography and confirmed the former Princess of Wales's involvement. But during her life, both Morton and Diana staunchly denied that she'd contributed to the book, presumably due to the backlash from the Royal Family and the general public.

According to Burrell, Diana had said, "The publication of that book was an unbearable time. Only my friends guided me through." The royal butler also alleged that Diana's behavior had been "rash, impulsive, and confused." But, without a doubt, Morton's biography remains a unique insight into the life of a much-loved royal who died too young.

Princess Diana was just 19 years old when she got engaged to King Charles. When the pair married on July 29, 1981, Diana had just turned 20; at the time, Charles was 32. As a result, the couple learned to navigate their age gap, and according to Diana, she sometimes felt like a child within the Royal Family.

In a letter written to former classmate Katherine Hanbury in September 1981, Princess Diana discussed a myriad of topics, including her recent honeymoon with Charles.

"We had a blissful honeymoon with endless sun and luckily calm seas," Diana shared (via the Telegraph). "[W]e are now up in Scotland until the end of October, which is a big treat for us—I adore being outside all day and hate London!"

Diana also praised her husband in the letter, writing, "[It's] wonderful being married—I think [it's] safe to say that after two months!"

As for how she felt about joining the Royal Family, Diana told Hanbury, "[It's] a case of playing with grown-ups!"

The letter, along with a collection of other memorabilia, is set to be auctioned by Gorringe's Fine Art and Interiors in July 2026.

Of the sale, Gorringe's books and manuscripts specialist, Albert Radford, told the Telegraph, "This intimate archive offers a rare glimpse of Diana, Princess of Wales, before duty and fame had the final say."

Radford continued, "She appears here as a young woman suspended between love and history—hopeful, unguarded, and not yet entirely claimed by the institution that would come to define her. In these small, fragile traces, innocence lingers—along with a quiet stubborn belief in something as simple and elusive as love."

King Charles and Princess Diana had somewhat of a tumultuous marriage. Having tied the knot on July 29, 1981, the couple went on to welcome two children together—Prince William and Prince Harry—before announcing their separation on December 9, 1992. The couple's divorce was finalized on August 28, 1996, and according to one former royal butler, Charles and Diana attempted to be civil during that time.

In his book A Royal Duty, former butler Paul Burrell recalled a surprise visit Princess Diana received from The King following their split.

"The last person I expected was the heir to the throne," Burrell shared. "Charles had popped in, unannounced. 'Hello, Paul, may I come in?' he said. He had been due to catch a helicopter...but was early, so he had decided to visit his estranged wife."

Noting his own shock at Charles's arrival, the former butler wrote, "If I was surprised, I couldn't wait to see the reaction of the boss [Princess Diana]."

After climbing the stairs inside Diana's residence, Charles called out to his ex, and "was met by the rather stunned princess on the first-floor landing and they greeted each other with a kiss on both cheeks."

According to Burrell, Diana was every bit as surprised as he was.

"She looked over his shoulder at me and her eyes widened with mock horror," the former royal employee explained. "Then she couldn't resist breaking the ice with her usual humor."

Per the ex-butler, Diana reportedly remarked, "I suppose you've come to take the furniture away, then, Charles!"

Remembering the strange moment, Burrell wrote, "Husband and wife, in the throes of a rather awkward divorce, laughed together for the first time in an age. If only they could have done that more in public, I thought."

Surprisingly, even during their difficult split, there were occasional moments of levity between Charles and Diana, according to a former staff member.

Princess Kate received a rock star welcome during her two-day visit to Reggio Emilia, Italy—her first big overseas trip since being diagnosed with cancer in 2024. From hugging school children to tickling tiny babies, the Princess of Wales was in her element as she took on engagements related to her early childhood development projects. After seeing the incredible reception Kate received in Italy, one royal expert said the trip reminded her of Princess Diana’s star power.

Speaking to the Mirror, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said that the massive crowds that gathered to see Kate felt very much like the “mass hysteria” she witnessed on the royal beat in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

“Seeing the throngs who turned out to cheer Catherine in Italy gave me a sense of déjà vu from all the years I spent traveling with her late mother-in-law Diana, Princess of Wales,” Bond said.

“Some had queued for hours just to get a glimpse of Catherine; they screamed in excitement when they saw her, and teachers at a school she visited cried when she left,” Bond said. “It was the sort of near mass hysteria I witnessed pretty much wherever Diana went.”

Bond noted that she saw how crowds reacted to Diana everywhere from the United states to “France, Japan, India, Nepal and Australia.” She added, “Back then they called it Di-mania. This has already been dubbed Kate fever.”

The Princess of Wales took a gradual approach when it came to returning to royal duties, with her trip to Reggio Emilia being called a big step in her cancer recovery journey. Now that she’s crossed Italy off the list, it’s been reported by the Mirror that Kate is planning to travel to India with the Prince of Wales for the 2026 Earthshot Prize this November.

Bond said that Kate's “extraordinary glamour and youthful star quality” was missing from the Royal Family's arsenal while she was recovering, and that the success of her visit to Italy will keep people wanting more. “The PR team will not, of course, be putting any pressure on Catherine, but they must be hoping that the success of this trip to Italy is a precursor to more overseas tours, flying the flag for Britain and the British monarchy,” she said.

Much has been written about the allegedly tumultuous nature of King Charles's marriage to Princess Diana. And according to a former palace employee, insults between the pair led to a depletion of confidence as the years went on.

Writing in the book A Royal Duty, former butler Paul Burrell shared, "I saw the confidence-crushing effect [King] Charles had on her in Japan when she tried to win his approval."

Referencing Diana and Charles's royal tour of Japan, which took place in November 1990, Burrell recalled a particularly upsetting moment for the princess.

"Charles and his staff were checking their watches as they milled in the grand hallway ahead of an official function when the princess, looking radiant, came downstairs wearing a Catherine Walker red tartan coat dress with red velvet collar and cuffs," the former butler explained.

Discussing the striking outfit, Burrell wrote, "It was loud but elegant and she was smiling. I was waiting at the bottom of the stairs when she walked to the prince's side and said, 'So, do you like my outfit, Charles?'"

Unfortunately, King Charles allegedly made a joke about his wife's outfit, which completely changed her mood, according to Burrell.

"His reply was soft and devoid of bitterness, but its effect was brutal," the ex-royal butler said. "'Yes. You look like a British Caledonian air stewardess.'"

Per Burrell, after Charles delivered his quip about Diana's outfit, "he turned and walked out of the front door to an awaiting car."

The former royal employee's account continued: "The smile vanished from the princess's face and she looked down. Then she did what she became expert at: she mustered confidence from somewhere and followed him out of the door."

Burrell further alleged, "It was not the only time he crushed her confidence, intentionally or otherwise."

Princess Kate’s silly sense of humor has been revealed in a new podcast, and it turns out she takes after her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, with her love of a good prank. In the latest episode of “Catching Up With the Royals,” longtime royal journalist Emily Andrews shared what the Princess of Wales was really like behind the scenes—and the very Diana-esque joke she played on a staff member.

“She’s got a great sense of humor,” Andrews told her co-host, Reverend Richard Coles. Recalling the 2014 tour William and Kate took to Australia, the royal expert continued that the couple had to stand in a certain place for an appearance, which had been “marked out on the floor with a plastic spider.”

Kate then “crept ‘round the back of the sofa to where one of her aides was sitting, and she knew that he didn’t like spiders,” Andrews shared. The princess then dropped the spider into the man’s lap. “I mean, he nearly hit the roof, and obviously, everyone thought it was very funny, including, I should say, the aide,” Andrews said.

The prank brings to mind Princess Diana’s fondness for practical jokes. Her former butler, Paul Burrell, previously told Marie Claire about the pranks she’d play on her kids, including a very R-rated Christmas gift.

Speaking of the presents she’d put in their stockings, Burrell said, “Of course, Diana was very jokey and she would put rude things in there too to embarrass them. William had a calendar one year with naked ladies on it just to make him blush and it worked.”

Diana’s former hairstylist, Richard Dalton, told People that the princess also got a kick out of pranking her staff. “She always had plastic vomit or plastic dog poop in her bag to place on people’s seats when we traveled on long flights," Dalton recalled. "She was hysterically funny and loved playing jokes on all of us.”

Fake spiders, it seems, would have been right up Diana’s alley.

Princess Diana was just 20 years old when she married King Charles on July 29, 1981. As a result, it reportedly took the young royal some time to adjust to her new role within the Royal Family. And according to one of her former employees, not everyone responded well to Diana's approach to running a household.

In his book A Royal Duty, former butler Paul Burrell revealed what it was like working for Princess Diana and King Charles in the "early days" of their marriage.

"[T]he prince and princess were known for living a quiet life," Burrell wrote. The former butler continued, "The princess did not yet have the confidence she became renowned for, or the assertiveness some staff would one day fear. She was still timid and finding her feet in a royal environment but she recognized how lucky she was to be in such a position."

Unfortunately, not everyone responded appropriately to Diana's "timid" nature.

Recalling a fairly horrifying incident that took place, Burrell revealed that a "member of staff provided [Diana] with a short, sharp shock, and she realized she had not found favor with everyone."

According to Burrell, the alleged altercation took place during a conversation Diana was having "with a member of the household about staff timetables." During the discussion, "a few choice words were exchanged about who was and was not pulling their weight," Burrell wrote.

Remembering the upsetting incident, Burrell shared, "The member of staff stood opposite the princess, who was blushing as she tried to take command. He felt he knew better than the nursery-assistant-turned-princess, his new boss. He began to rant and rave."

The situation quickly got worse, according to Burrell's account.

"As [Diana] stood against the wall, he leaned in and put his hands at either side of the princess's head, palms on the wall," the former royal butler explained. "'If you weren't so fucking boring, then we would be doing more,' he said."

Following the scary incident, the staff member was allegedly fired, according to Burrell, which must have been a relief for the young princess. In the moment, Diana must have been scared and intimidated after being spoken to in such a way.