Princess Di’s letters made public

AP

Princess Diana died following a car accident in Paris, France, Sunday Aug. 31, 1997. Extracts from personal letters penned by the princess give a unique glimpse into her complex life.(AP Photo/Jim Bourdier)

Sep 14, 1981

Charles and Diana are on honeymoon in Balmoral after marrying in July, and within a month of this letter she was pregnant with Prince William. But Diana later claimed on tape she was already struggling with bulimia after her fiancee told her: “You’re getting a bit chubby”. She was also shocked to discover her husband was wearing a pair of cufflinks from Camilla Parker Bowles, showing two Cs entwined, and had two photos of the older woman in his diary. Here’s what she wrote to Margaret Hodge:

I have just got your letter this morning & am really thrilled with the photographs - Goodness, how smart you all looked at my - sorry “our” nuptials!

I went to Highgrove a couple of weeks ago to put pressure on basically to see it finished by the end of October! It honestly won’t look smart. Just a cosy nest for Mr & Mrs Wales to roost, with bright colours, of course!

Its [sic] heavenly up here, just having the opportunity to do what you like & walk for miles - I’ve vanished down many a hole - thehusband having not realised - typical. We are touring Wales for 3 days at the end of next month, which will be quite something. I only hope I can survive it! I expect the sooner I can get used to it, the better. I ought to finish now & give a hug to my other half!

Sept 3, 1982

Three months after the birth of Prince William and the couple seemed elated. But Diana would later say she had thrown herself down a flight of stairs while pregnant, and that she suffered from post-natal depression. In tapes smuggled out of Kensington Palace for Andrew Morton’s biography, Diana: Her True Story, she said she was “desperate”, adding: “I threw myself down the stairs, bearing in mind I was carrying a child.”

Please forgive the lateness of this letter but due to the avalanche of mail, I have only just received your card & letter! The reaction to William & my birthday has been incredibly heartwarming and certainly kept me buisy [sic] with pen & paper! William has brought such happiness to us & we are constantly found looking besotted at this small package, making strange gaga noises!

I was enormously touched that you remembered my birthday, but its [sic] typical of Margaret not to forget something thats [sic] special to me! At the first opportunity that comes, I will sneak William out, so that you can have a viewing. I am terribly sorry about appearing so rude but hopefully you’ll understand this delay.

Dec 21, 1985

Diana said Prince Harry’s birth in September 1984 was the high point of her marriage. But by 1985 she was desperately unhappy and told Andrew Morton she had attempted suicide several times. She claimed to have cut her wrists with razor blades and thrown herself at a glass cabinet in Kensington Palace.

I took William to see Father Christmas in a shop last week & he was quite undaunted by the prospect, instead he produced a list as long as your arm of presents he wanted for the 24th & nothing was left out! I do not know how parents cope with more than two children as the parents of these boys are exhausted before the event (24th/25th) trying to keep up with their pace!

W adores nursery school & luckily for us its [sic] just around the corner & Harry longs to join in too, so there weren’t any tears from big brother on taking him there the first week. [Diana then draws a smiley face]

I mustn’t bang on any more as the point of this letter was to say that I’m thinking of you a great deal & wishing you all a happy Christmas.

July 29, 1986

The Prince and Princess of Wales celebrated their fifth anniversary, but Charles later revealed to biographer Jonathan Dimbleby that he rekindled his affair with Camilla in 1986. He said he had remained faithful to Diana “until it became irretrievably broken down, us both having tried”. In her Panorama interview, Diana said her affair with Major James Hewitt also began in 1986, admitting she had been in love with him.

You are really wonderful to have sent us such a lovely card on our Wedding Anniversary Ð the five years have flown by & what with two little men to look after its [sic] not surprising!

[Two inky smudges mark the page and Diana has written “William’s Fingers!” at the side]

Charles & I were so touched by your thought, Margaret, & we just wanted you to know how much it meant to us Ð A huge thank you!! - Daily Mail