Royal biographer reveals Princess Diana's first impression of Charles

In resurfaced recordings, the late Princess Diana reveals the most intimate details of what she really thought of Prince Charles back when they first met in 1977 - and the rocky start to their tumultuous relationship.

Royal biographer reveals Princess Diana's first impression of Charles
© Getty Images
Royal biographer reveals Princess Diana's first impression of Charles

Prince Charles first met the 16-year-old Diana Spencerin 1977 when he visited her family's home, Althorp, for a grouse hunt. However, it was far from love at first sight for the future husband and wife.

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Whilst Diana reportedly told her friends that day that she would marry Prince Charles because he was 'the one man on the planet who is not allowed to divorce me', she also told royal biographer Andrew Morton years later that her first impression of the prince was 'God what a sad man'.

Furthermore, Charles was actually dating Diana's elder sister Sarah at the time. However, this relationship soon fizzled out and romance flourished between Charles and Dianatwo years later when she was 18 years old.

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Lady Diana and her sister Sarah  Getty Images

In an interview recorded in 1991 and used as the basis for the Channel 4 documentary Diana: In Her Own Words, Diana revealed that she and Charles met again in Sussex shortly after the death of his close friend Mountbatten and that she was 'quite impressed' by the Prince this time.

She confided: 'He leapt upon me and started kissing me and I thought, urgh, this is not what people do. And he was all over me for the rest of the evening, following me around like a puppy.'
Royal author reveals Princess Diana didn't believe Camilla was the reason for her divorce with King Charles Royal author reveals Princess Diana didn't believe Camilla was the reason for her divorce with King Charles