Princess Diana once spoke warmly about the early days of her marriage to the future King Charles, describing their honeymoon as “blissful” in a letter to a close friend.
The late Princess of Wales, who died in Paris in 1997, reportedly wrote the letter around two months after marrying then Prince Charles in July 1981.
Writing to a former school friend, Diana said it was “wonderful being married” and recalled enjoying “endless sun” and calm seas during the couple’s honeymoon.
She also expressed her excitement about spending time in Scotland, where the newlyweds were expected to remain until the end of October. Diana wrote that she loved being outdoors all day and was not particularly fond of life in London.
Royal author Catherine Mayer later suggested that Diana sometimes presented different versions of her life depending on whom she was speaking to.
Mayer said it was understandable that the young princess would want to reassure a school friend that everything was going well. She added that Diana may also have wanted to believe in the happiness of her new marriage for as long as possible, even if problems were already beginning to emerge.
Charles also appeared positive about married life in a letter he wrote to a friend while the couple were cruising through the Mediterranean aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia.
He described marriage as “very jolly” and said it was pleasant being together on the yacht. Charles noted that Diana enjoyed chatting with sailors and visiting the cooks in the galley, while he preferred to spend his time quietly reading on the veranda deck.
The letters offer a glimpse into the couple’s earliest months together, long before the difficulties in their marriage became public.
