Here’s Why Princess Diana Was Determined Not To Let Queen Elizabeth Down

It’s no secret that Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s relationship was fraught with discord and temperamental differences. The domestic drama played out for the world to see, with anyone who was interested afforded a front row seat to what began as a fairytale romance and ended up a shattered dream that never was.

The wedding of the year between the Prince and Princess of Wales occurred in 1981 at St Paul’s Cathedral. The much-anticipated union was televised to an audience of over 700 million people and multiple events were held across the Commonwealth to commemorate the special day.

Charles and Diana’s union was marked by spats and eventual divorce

The bliss did not last however and just over a decade later the two were separated.

And yet, despite her unhappiness with Charles, through their tumultuous separation and even past their acrimonious divorce, Diana reportedly never wavered in her support of her mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth.

The Prince and Princess of Wales lived out a disastrous script that appeared more like a reality show debacle than a fairytale

Throughout her tumultuous epoch with Charles, Diana was committed to do right by Queen Elizabeth according to statements in the book, Diana: Her True Story, published in 1992 by royal watcher Andrew Morton.

Morton notes that Diana could be critical of the royal family following her failed marriage that was beset by reports of betrayal. The couple divorced in 1996, one year prior to her tragic demise.
Yet Diana remained steadfast in her duty to the queen.

Diana was determined to not let Queen Elizabeth down

The book relates a story in which Diana, due to attend an event on a hot day, was offered a fan. Diana refused to use the fan because she thought it might undermine the queen who would be in traditional royal dress despite the hot temps.

According to Morton, “While Diana finds the monarchy as presently organised as a crumbling institution she has a deep respect for the manner in which the Queen has conducted herself for the last forty years. Indeed, much as she would like to leave her husband, Diana has emphasised to her: ‘I will never let you down.’”

Morton further described the fan incident by saying Diana explained her situation this way: “My mother-in-law is going to be standing there with her handbag, gloves, stockings and shoes.”

According to Morton, “It was a sentiment expressed in admiring tones for the Sovereign’s complete self-control in every circumstance, however trying.”