How Diana Stunned Charles And The Queen And Threatened A Multibillion Industry

When it became apparent that Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s troubled marriage was beyond repair, the two royals’ fight spilled over to the media, which became their battleground. While the Prince of Wales had the establishment’s backing and resources at his disposal, the Princess of Wales proved to be too popular to be sidelined.

While the main reason why their marriage didn’t work out was that Charles still loved Camilla Parker Bowles, there were other factors at play as well. Diana’s growing popularity might have also contributed to the tension in their marriage, according to Radar Online.

“She quickly became the People’s Princess, but behind palace walls, Diana’s husband Prince Charles resentment of her popularity increased,” the publication wrote.

This was confirmed by the princess’ former butler, Paul Burrell. “When the royal couple were doing engagements all around the world, the crowds wanted to see Diana,” Burrell said on episode 3 of the podcast “Fatal Voyage: Diana Case Solved.”

“And they would chant Diana’s name,” the butler recalled. “And of course, Charles would come back from the engagement and be furious. ‘Why would they want to see you? I married you and made you royal?’”

According to Radar Online, Diana engaged in the “strategic manipulation of the press” to her advantage. For instance, her Panorama interview with Martin Bashir damaged Charles and Camilla’s popularity to the extent that they became one of the most hated royals for some time. “The world’s sympathy went to Diana, not to Charles,” the podcast’s host Colin McLaren said.

However, this particular victory came at a price. In the same interview, she also talked about how Charles was unfit to be king. The popularity of the royal family plunged, and Queen Elizabeth was not pleased with her daughter-in-law washing dirty linen in public. It was the point of no return, and Her Majesty suggested that they divorce shortly after.

But Diana not only used her popularity for her personal goals. The Princess of Wales also devoted more energy to the various causes she supported, such as promoting AIDS awareness.

But her work against landmine might have put her at odds with powerful international arms dealers, and she basically threatened the multibillion-dollar industry. “There were factions around the world who said that Diana was meddling in something she didn’t understand because the land mine campaign was worth billions,” Burrell noted.

It might have been interesting just how much Diana might have accomplished in the worthwhile causes she supported using her tremendous popularity. Unfortunately, the princess died in a Paris car accident just a year after she formally divorced Charles.