Royal biographer Ingrid Seward, author of numerous books on the monarchy including The Queen and Di, has shared a revealing insight into Princess Diana’s view of what led to the collapse of her marriage to Prince Charles — and it wasn’t Camilla Parker Bowles.
Speaking on the latest episode of A Right Royal Podcast, Seward — who had a close relationship with the late Princess and saw her just weeks before her tragic death in 1997 — opened up about a private conversation she once had with Diana.
“She said to me just before she died, ‘It wasn’t Camilla. It was the people around Charles who ruined our marriage,’” Seward recalled. “And I’ve never been able to fully unpick that, but it stayed with me.”
Seward reflected on Diana’s distrust of the royal household, echoing sentiments recently expressed by Prince Harry in both his memoir Spare and his controversial BBC interview. Diana’s father, John Spencer, also reportedly spoke of the challenges posed by palace insiders, reinforcing the idea that staff and courtiers had an outsized influence on royal affairs.
“What I’m trying to say is that Harry obviously has a point amid his morass of complaints,” Seward noted. “He does have some valid points, and I’m riveted.”
She continued by raising a broader question: “Are they just a bunch of overinflated egos in the royal household, or are they genuinely trying to help?”
Elsewhere in the episode, Seward discusses why she believes Princess Diana would have been “proud” of Harry’s decision to speak openly, even amid widespread backlash. She also suggests that Diana would have admired her son’s candour, as it mirrors her own approach to addressing personal struggles publicly.
The podcast also covers other royal updates, including Princess Charlotte and Prince Archie’s recent birthdays, the VE Day commemorations attended by senior royals, and the ongoing conversation around Meghan Markle’s continued use of the HRH title — and speculation about what could happen to the Sussexes’ titles if Prince William becomes King.
