Charles’ Reaction to Diana’s Death Changes What We Thought of Their Relationship: “He Will Be Blamed...”

Despite their tumultuous marriage and Princess Diana's candid confessions in the BBC Panorama interview that brought much humiliation, Prince Charles was utterly shocked when news broke of her accident and tragic death on August 31, 1997. Diana, who was only 36 at the time, was chased into a tunnel by paparazzi in Paris. Charles reportedly was filled with sadness at the loss. Tina Brown in her work The Diana Chronicles, described Charles's mental distress in striking detail.

As reported by Town and Country magazine, Brown wrote, "He was absolutely distraught. He fell apart. He knew, instantly, that this was going to be a terrible thing, that...he will be blamed, that they will be blamed, for the death of Diana." In King: The Life of Charles III, Christopher Andersen also described how Charles turned pale and began to shake upon hearing the news. He wrote, "He let out a cry of pain that was so spontaneous and came from the heart. Palace staff rushed over to Charles’ room and found him collapsed in an armchair, weeping uncontrollably."

Anderson added, "When he was first told over the phone...Charles...howled like a wounded animal. Later, after he rushed from Balmoral Castle in Scotland to Paris to bring her back to England, Charles nearly passed out when he first viewed her body. A nurse who was standing in the room told me he reeled back and looked as if he had been ‘struck by an unseen force.’" The author continued, "Considering how epic their marital battles had been, people were surprised at Charles’s reaction. He was devastated by Diana’s death, perhaps to a degree that surprised even him. Charles was shattered."

As reported by Fox News, Andersen further claimed that in Diana’s final months, she and Charles had put their differences behind them, focusing on the well-being of their sons, Princes William and Harry. Andersen said, "Charles had to battle his mother, the Queen, and the entire establishment of the monarchy to ensure that Diana was given the kind of funeral she deserved." In Spare, Harry also wrote about the tragic morning of August 31, 1997. He revealed that his father, who wasn't the best at expressing his emotions, struggled to comfort him as he broke the news to him and William. In a subtle gesture, Charles allegedly placed his hand on Harry's knee and reassured him that it was going to be OK.

Harry later added that Charles was there for them after their mother’s passing. Despite his grief, he did his best to protect and care for his kids. Just a week after Diana’s death, he and his sons, his father Prince Philip, and Diana’s brother Charles Spencer, all walked in the funeral procession.