The narrative of Princess Diana’s struggle to fit into the royal family is probably one of the most well-known in the world. Diana even sought counsel from royal family members but was snubbed.
Advertisement
It is well-known worldwide that Diana had many struggles within the royal family. She was in a challenging marriage; she found royal life difficult, and she had mental and physical health issues that she struggled to manage.
During Princess Diana’s time in the royal family, she struggled to juggle royal duties, being the mother of two princes, and trying to keep up with her mental health. She was suffering so much that she went to Princess Anne for advice.
Diana, Princess of Wales, sitting on a step at her home, Highgrove House, in Doughton, Gloucestershire, 18th July 1986 | Source: Getty Images
Advertisement
At the time, Princess Diana was married to Princess Anne’s brother and, by that token, may have become Anne’s Queen one day. However, Anne found it difficult to treat Diana with the respect she deserved.
Diana did her best to befriend her sister-in-law during her early years in the royal family so that she could have someone to talk to and lean on. However, Anne made it clear from the start that she was indifferent to Diana.
Diana, Princess of Wales, wears an outfit in the colors of Canada during a state visit to Edmonton, Alberta, with her husband. July 29, 1983 | Source: Getty Images
Advertisement
It became well known that Princess Anne did not like Diana, despite Diana’s best efforts to build a friendship with the woman. Sources close to the family said:
“Anne was indifferent to Diana from the very beginning. She treated the woman, who by marriage to her elder brother might have become her queen, with withering disdain.”
The reason that Princess Anne did not think highly of Diana was because of the way she conducted her royal duties. Anne had a more traditional approach to her duties and didn’t agree with all the media coverage that Diana received.
Princess Anne, The Princess Royal (in her role as Colonel-in-Chief of the King’s Royal Hussars) takes the salute after presenting Afghanistan Operational Service Medals to Soldiers of The King’s Royal Hussars at Aliwal Barracks on December 04, 2012 in Tidworth, England | Source: Getty Images
Advertisement
While Anne was always open about the disdain she had for Diana, the People’s Princess took a more gracious approach and denied any bad feelings between the two.
Anne was less comfortable with the media, and her side was therefore told through the help of advisors and those close to the family. However, Diana was happy to speak to the public about her life.
Princess Anne, Princess Royal looks out from a car window as she leaves the Braemar Highland Games at The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park on September 4, 2010 in Braemar, Scotland | Source: Getty Images
Advertisement
When Diana was asked about her relationship with her sister-in-law, although she did not speak fondly of her, she spoke respectfully. Diana shared:
“Princess Anne has been working incredibly hard for the Save the Children Fund, and I’m her biggest fan because of what she crams into a day I could never achieve.”
Britain’s Princess Anne listens to a speech after unveiling a statue of Noor Inayat Khan in a ceremony in Gordon Square Gardens, central London on November 8, 2012 in London, England | Source: Getty Images
Advertisement
Diana’s statement led people to believe that there was perhaps no feud between the sisters-in-law and that everything seen in the news was somewhat inaccurate.
ANNE AND DIANA HAD A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION
One day, when Diana was feeling particularly low, she decided that she would seek comfort from her sister-in-law. When Diana, who had not yet married Prince Charles, got to Princess Anne, she dropped into a deep curtsey.
Instead of getting the comfort that she was so desperately seeking from her sister-in-law, what Diana got was a cold shoulder and was left feeling terrible after the interaction that took place in Princess Anne’s children’s room.
Advertisement
Princess Diana, Princess of Wales, and her sister-in-law Princess Anne, attend the Remembrance Ceremony at the Cenotaph in London in November, 1984 | Source: Getty Images
The curtsey was a show of respect by Diana, who was at that time still a lady. However, Anne saw it as pretension and stared at Diana without saying a word. This upset Diana so much that she fled the room.
Advertisement
Anne had been in the room with her children, and Diana wanted to speak to her about whatever was bothering her. Yet, she fled the room because of the look of contempt that splashed across Anne’s face.
Sources close to the family said that when Anne looked at Diana, it was as if she was looking straight through her, and Diana could not handle being faced with her sister-in-law’s scorn.
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Princess Anne, Princess Royal laugh in the Royal Box during the Braemar Highland Games at The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park on September 4, 2010 in Braemar, Scotland | Source: Getty Images
Advertisement
This was another instance in which fans assumed that there was a feud between the sisters-in-law and empathized with Diana because she could not seek help in any corner of her life. This was made apparent that day in Princess Anne’s children’s room.
PRINCESS ANNE DIDN’T ATTEND PRINCE HARRY’S CHRISTENING
While it is difficult for the entire royal family to be seen together often because of the size of the family, there are some occasions when every member is in attendance. These events are those like weddings, funerals, and christenings.
Royal relatives and godparents who are amused at the antics of young Prince William, Prince Harry is christened at Windsor Castle on December 21, 1984 in Windsor, England | Source: Getty Images
Advertisement
However, because of the ongoing feud between Princess Diana and Princess Anne at the time, this was not the case when Prince Harry was christened. Princess Anne was one of the family members not in attendance at her nephew’s christening.
The christening was attended by almost all the rest of the royal family. Although it was noted that Diana and Prince Charles had little to no interaction during the christening, the rest of the event went well.
One thing that did hinder Diana’s joy that day was that she had to pick godparents for her infant son but had been given a list of people from whom she could choose, rather than being allowed to choose someone she was close with.
Advertisement
Prince Harry, Prince of Wales with his mother, father, elder brother Prince William, the Queen and the Queen Mother pose for a portrait at his christening. Windsor, England. December 21, 1984 | Source: Getty Images
The Queen and Prince Charles told her who would be appropriate and included anyone who was part of the royal establishment. This would, of course, include Princess Anne, but she was not chosen as a godparent.
Advertisement
Instead, Harry’s godparents were Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones and the infant’s uncle and Charles’ brother, Prince Andrew, Duke of York. When Anne heard that her brother had been chosen as a godparent, she was infuriated. This led to the “full-scale family row,” which resulted in her not attending her nephew’s funeral.
Anne was in attendance when William was christened, but she was not chosen as a godparent to Harry, and she was hurt to have been snubbed once again while her brother was chosen. Instead of attending her nephew’s christening, she made other plans.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana on their last official trip together to The Republic of Korea (South Korea) to attend a Presidential Banquet at the Blue House in Seoul. November 3, 1992 | Source: Getty Images
Advertisement
On the day of Harry’s christening, Anne went shooting with her then-husband, Mark Phillips. While their absence at the christening was notable, the royal family did not explain where they were.
A statement was released to explain their absence, but it did not indicate why they would not be able to celebrate with the rest of the family on their nephew’s special day. It was a brief statement.
Prince Harry, Prince Andrew, and Princess Diana pose for a portrait at Prince Harry’s christening in Windsor, England. December 21, 1984 | Source: Getty Images
Advertisement
As fans questioned what could have kept them away from the occasion, rumors swirled that it was because of the feud between Diana and Anne. However, the statement simply said:
“Unfortunately, neither of them could make it. They will be arriving in Windsor later that day.”
Amid all of the feuds that the Queen has dealt with during her reign, this was one of the biggest and least successful as the
were never able to patch up their relationship before Diana and
divorced.
Advertisement
Read More: World News | Entertainment News | Celeb News
Anomama
