Royal secrets. What was real relationship between Elizabeth II and Princess Diana
Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth II (photo: Getty Images)
The relationship between Elizabeth II and Princess Diana was shown in detail by the creators of the Netflix series The Crown. Of course, we shouldn't forget that this film work is a fictional drama that describes royal events according to its own narrative. Therefore, it is difficult to understand how accurate the portrayal of the relationship between these two women was, and whether their communication was really as complicated as fans were led to believe.
Elizabeth II made it clear that she approved of Diana
Although the filmmakers of The Crown made the audience believe that Diana was a kind of outsider, she was brought up in close royal circles from childhood. Her father worked as a groom for the late Queen, and both of her grandmothers were maids of honor to Queen Mother Elizabeth II.
As a child, Diana herself lived on the Sandringham estate and played with Princes Andrew and Edward, who were closer to her in age than Charles. Therefore, the future daughter-in-law of the queen understood the intricacies of etiquette and the rules of behavior in an environment of this level - it was not such a new world for her as they sometimes want to show.
This means that we can understand that Princess Diana met Elizabeth II long before she started a relationship with her son Charles.
Princess Diana (photo: Getty Images)
In 2001, the royal biographer Ingrid Stewart wrote that "although the monarch never addressed the issue of marriage, she made it clear by her behavior that she approved of Diana."
Andrew Morton, the author of the 1992 biography of the royal, wrote that "the relationship between these women was polite but formal."
"They were regulated by the fact that Diana was married to the eldest son of the Queen and the future monarch. In the early days, Diana was simply afraid of her mother-in-law. She kept to her official obligations, made a deep curtsy whenever she met the Queen, and otherwise continued to keep her distance," it also said.
Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the royal family (photo: Getty Images)
Diana was entrusted to represent the royal family
This happened after the death of Queen Grace Kelly of Monaco, who passed away in 1982. It was Diana who attended her funeral. For the mother of Prince William and Prince Harry, this was the first time she had ever attended a funeral for the entire royal family.
Spencer met Grace at a gala concert a year earlier. They reportedly became good friends. Upon hearing the news of the American actress's death, Lady Dee asked her husband if she could represent the family at the funeral. According to Morton, both Charles and palace officials said that she was unlikely to be granted such permission. Then Diana told Morton:
"I went to her private secretary, who was Philip Moore at the time, and he said he didn't think it was possible because I had only been working for three or four months. I went to the Queen and said: "You know, I would like to do this." And she said, 'I don't see why not. If you want to do it, you can do it.
At the age of 21, the princess was allowed to travel abroad and was praised for her "dignified behavior during an extremely intense and sometimes ridiculous funeral service."
Princess Diana (photo: Getty Images)
Elizabeth II's reaction to the breakup of Diana and Charles's marriage
As the couple's relationship became more and more complicated over time, biographer Ingrid Stewart wrote that Diana often appeared in the palace unannounced for an audience with the Queen. At first, the monarch was tolerant of such unplanned visits.
"Usually, Diana was in a better mood when she left than before she arrived," recalled one of the palace staff.
However, over time, according to experts, Elizabeth began to fear such meetings. After one of them, the footman said: "The princess has cried three times in the last half hour while waiting for you." The Queen replied: "She was there for half an hour and cried without a break."
Queen Elizabeth II (photo: Getty Images)
In Morton's biography, Diana also recalled a conversation with the Queen, who indicated that "the reason for the breakdown of the marriage was that Charles was going through a difficult time because of her bulimia." However, Morton also wrote that the princess was "supported by the monarch and Prince Philip," adding that "she may have found an ally in the palace in the queen."
How Diana succeeded Queen Elizabeth
After Diana's death, the royal family found itself at the center of a public scandal, as many believed that the princess had never been properly received at the palace.
In the 2017 anniversary edition of his biography, Morton wrote:
"One of the many ironies of the Queen's life is that Diana's influence on the royal family can be measured by how much more accommodating the House of Windsor is now to newcomers. It is noticeable that Queen Elizabeth often supported Prince William's fiancée, Kate Middleton, at the beginning of her royal career. Of course, lessons were learned, but they came at a price."
Queen Elizabeth II (photo: Getty Images)
What is known about the death of Princess Diana
The Princess of Wales died at the age of 36. The accident that ended her life occurred on August 31, 1997. She died in Paris along with Dodi al-Fayed. Al-Fayed and the driver died on the spot, and Diana died a few hours later in the hospital.
The cause of the accident has not been determined, but there are a number of theories, including the driver's intoxication, the need to drive at speed to get away from the press, and various conspiracy theories.
The only passenger in that Mercedes to survive was security guard Trevor Rees-Jones. He sustained severe facial injuries that had to be repaired with surgery. After recovering, the man said he had no memory of the incident.
Princess Diana is buried at the Spencer family estate, Elthorpe, Northamptonshire, on a secluded island in the middle of the lake where she was born.
Princess Diana (photo: Getty Images)
What is known about the death of Elizabeth II
The life of the British monarch ended on September 8, 2022. The state funeral took place on September 19, and the Queen was buried in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
By the afternoon of September 8, 2022, doctors reported that Elizabeth II's health was deteriorating and took her under medical supervision. After this information, anxiety began in Britain. The death was officially announced at 18:30 local time.
Queen Elizabeth II (photo: Getty Images)
Read also how Camilla went from "third wheel" to Queen of Britain.
Sources: information about Elizabeth II and Diana Spencer from Wikipedia, information about the death of the British Queen from Wikipedia, article by Tatler.
