Princess Diana reportedly faced an emotional struggle while trying to move on after the breakdown of her marriage to then-Prince Charles.
The late Princess of Wales, who died in 1997, is said to have found it especially difficult whenever she had to spend time away from Prince William and Harry as her life changed following the separation.
In his book A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell recalled how deeply the transition affected her.
“The wrench of leaving behind her old life, the flat in London and the children at the kindergarten [where she worked], was upsetting,” he wrote.
Burrell also shared that Diana once returned to visit the children and became emotional when they repeatedly asked where she had been and when she would return.
According to him, the experience left her close to tears and feeling as though it was a “traumatic nightmare.”
He further explained that returning to her former flat at Colherne Court was equally painful for Diana, as the home was filled with memories from her earlier life.
Burrell wrote that she spent time alone cleaning and gathering her belongings before finally leaving the flat behind, admitting she felt like crying as she closed the door one last time.
