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Unearthed letters written by King Charles following the death of Princess Diana have shed new light on the profound grief he experienced. The correspondence, sent by Charles in the aftermath of Diana’s tragic car accident in 1997, reveals the deep sense of loss and “unbearable emptiness” felt by the then-Prince of Wales.
Letters to Peter Houghton
The letters, which had been preserved in their original envelopes, were recently sold at auction for $2,000.
According to the Daily Mail, the letters were addressed to Peter Houghton, who, like Charles, was grappling with the grief of Diana’s death. In his writings, Charles expressed his heartfelt sorrow for Houghton, stating that his “heart bleeds” for him, reflecting on Houghton’s own struggles with loss and wishing he could ease the pain.
Personal Reflections and Grief
The letters provide an insight into Charles’ emotional state following Diana’s death. Charles candidly mentioned that he could not fathom the depth of Houghton’s suffering, and he wished he could “wave a magic wand” to alleviate the situation, as per the Pinkvilla report.
Complex Marriage and Public Perception
King Charles and Princess Diana’s marriage, which began in 1981 and ended in divorce in 1996, was one of the most scrutinized and controversial unions of the late 20th century. Despite their publicized conflicts, which were exacerbated by Charles’ ongoing relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles, the couple’s relationship was not devoid of affection. Royal author Ingrid Seward has noted that Diana wanted the public to understand that there were genuine moments of love between them.
Public and Private Struggles
The turbulent nature of Charles and Diana’s marriage was marked by intense personal and public struggles. A palace source revealed that the couple’s conflicts often centered around Camilla, whom Charles deeply loved.
This tension contributed to Diana’s emotional distress, including her battles with bulimia and multiple suicide attempts. According to Seward, these difficulties reflected a “lopsided romance” fraught with challenges from the beginning.
