Spain’s Former King Reveals What Really Happened Between Him and Princess Diana
Princess Diana was widely regarded as one of the most beautiful women in the world. She always maintained a humble and approachable charm, even while meeting monarchs from other nations. One of them was Spain's former King, Juan Carlos, who often vacationed with her and then-Prince Charles in his home country. Given Carlos's reputation as a womanizer, he was linked to Diana due to their many public outings. Now, the former King has finally put those affair rumors to rest in his new memoir, insisting that he never crossed the line with her.
After Diana's marriage to Charles began to crumble, the rumors between her and Carlos became more rampant. In his new memoir, Reconciliation, to be published on November 5, the former King blatantly denied having an affair with Diana. According to serialized excerpts published by The Telegraph, Carlos unfavorably described the late Princess as "cold, taciturn, distant, except in the presence of the paparazzi." It was speculated that Carlos had tried to woo Diana at the Marivent Palace in Palma de Mallorca, where he accompanied her, Charles, Prince William, and Prince Harry on three consecutive summer visits between 1986 and 1988.
For her part, while Diana never addressed the rumors publicly, according to royal biographer Andrew Morton, she allegedly found Carlos 'a little too attentive.' In Morton’s book, Ladies of Spain, he claimed that Diana reportedly told her friends, "I felt uncomfortable being left alone with him [Carlos] in a room, although I can assure you that nothing happened," whom she referred to as 'a very libidinous man' Indeed, Carlos had a reputation tarnished with multiple affairs, financial misappropriation and a scandalous elephant hunting trip to Africa. Owing to his many controversies, the decision was made for him to abdicate and pass the throne to his only son, King Felipe.
Diana first met then-King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía in the early 1980s, and drew attention with her close rapport with him. Just like Diana's, Carlos's relationship with his spouse, Sofia, was strained. Multiple reports at the time claimed that Sofía allegedly found Diana's emotional openness 'undisciplined' by royal standards. Diana and Charles's many visits to Spain were part of the then-Prince of Wales's efforts to strengthen post-Franco relations between their two countries. Behind the shared holidays, there was a subtle diplomatic intent shaping those sunny Mallorca retreats.
Meanwhile, Diana's marriage to Charles was in shambles owing to his infamous affair with now Queen Camilla. Feeling isolated behind closed Palace doors, the late Princess sought affection elsewhere, admitting to affairs with James Hewitt, her former riding instructor, and including rumored links to art dealer Oliver Hoare and bodyguard Barry Mannakee. Diana and Charles's relationship became mired in jealousy, media interference, and mutual betrayal. By the time of their separation in 1992 and divorce in 1996, the illusion of their royal romance had collapsed. Sadly, just a year later, she tragically passed away in a car accident at the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris, France.