King Charles and Princess Diana: Shattered by Tragedy

Despite their tumultuous marriage and separation, King Charles was devastated by the sudden death of his former wife, Princess Diana. According to author Christopher Andersen, Charles was "shattered" and nearly fainted when he viewed Diana's body after the fatal car crash in 1997. The tragic event marked a profound loss for Charles and brought to light the complex dynamics of their relationship.

The marriage of King Charles and Princess Diana was a whirlwind of passion, drama, and heartache. From the outset, their relationship was marred by infidelity and a deep-seated incompatibility. However, despite their differences, Charles and Diana shared a deep love for their sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.

King Charles and Princess Diana: Shattered by Tragedy

In the final months leading up to Diana's untimely death, the former couple had put aside their bitterness and reconciled for the sake of their children. Andersen notes that Diana's love for Charles never truly diminished, and Charles admired the devotion he shared with Camilla, his longtime mistress.

When the news of Diana's passing reached Charles, he was reportedly inconsolable. According to an eyewitness, he "howled like a wounded animal" upon learning that his ex-wife had died. The magnitude of Charles' grief shocked those who had witnessed the couple's marital struggles.

King Charles and Princess Diana: Shattered by Tragedy

Upon arriving in Paris to retrieve Diana's body, Charles was overwhelmed with emotion when he first saw her. Andersen quotes a nurse who recounts that Charles reeled back in apparent shock as if he had been "struck by an unseen force."

In a letter that was recently sold at auction, Charles expressed the "unbearable emptiness" he felt four months after Diana's death. Despite their rocky marriage, the loss of Diana left a profound void in Charles' life.

King Charles and Princess Diana: Shattered by Tragedy

Behind palace doors, Charles was consumed by a "whirlwind of emotion" after learning of Diana's fate. He navigated the complicated task of ensuring Diana received a fitting funeral, despite facing opposition from the monarchy and the Queen.

As Charles mourned, his mistress Camilla Parker Bowles became a "target of death threats" and was forced into hiding. While Charles was understandably heartbroken over Diana's passing, he maintained a stoic facade as a father to William and Harry.

King Charles and Princess Diana: Shattered by Tragedy

William and Harry, then young boys, were not provided with any formal grief counseling after their mother's death. They were famously compelled to walk behind Diana's coffin through the streets of London, which was later described as "a tunnel of grief."

Andersen suggests that both William and Harry have yet to fully process their mother's death and remain haunted by the tragedy. Charles, too, has been unable to escape the "shadow" of Diana's memory, which continues to linger over his reign.

King Charles and Princess Diana: Shattered by Tragedy

After Diana's passing, Charles faced the challenge of reconciling his image with the legacy of his former wife. He eventually married Camilla, but not without breaking the promise he made to the Queen that she would not be known as queen.

As Charles ascended to the throne, he carried the weight of Diana's absence and the ongoing comparisons between his reign and her iconic life. Today, battling an undisclosed form of cancer, Charles reflects on his past and the tumultuous relationship that ultimately shaped his destiny.

King Charles and Princess Diana: Shattered by Tragedy