How Princess Anne Treated Princess Diana With ‘Withering Disdain’ For This Reason

Princess Anne previously treated Princess Diana with withering disdain. When the Princess of Wales was still alive, Prince Charles’ only sister was also indifferent toward her.

In the book “Prince Edward,” royal author Ingrid Seward said that Princess Anne even went as far as calling Princess Diana “silly.” One of the most memorable encounters between the two royals took place while at the Royal Ascot in June 1981, which was just a few weeks before the Prince and Princess of Wales’ nuptials.

“Sensing Anne’s apathy towards her and wanting to ingratiate herself, she ventured up to the nursery in the Queen’s Tower where Anne was settling in with her son Peter, who was three, and her 4-week-old daughter, Zara,” she said. “Diana, still on a lady, gave the princess the benefit of a full curtsy and declared: ‘Ma’am, how wonderful to see you,’” Seward added.

After hearing Princess Diana’s voice and seeing the respectful gesture she just did, Princess Anne stared at the soon-to-be royal scornfully. Princess Diana fled the room immediately.

In the past, royal expert Richard Kay said that Princess Anne never had time for the Princess of Wales. While speaking on the “Paxman On The Queen’s Children” documentary, Kay also said that the mom of two didn’t like how Princess Diana went about her royal duty.

“And the way she used the cameras to promote herself, in her eyes. Anne had a much more traditional approach to the monarchy and royal duty,” Kay added.

Kay also said that Princess Diana once told him that if Princess Anne was around, she’d be off because the latter would usually say something rather cutting to her. In the book “Diana In Search Of Herself: Portrait Of A Troubled Princess,” author Sally Bedell-Smith said that Princess Diana didn’t want to rattle into her cage, that’s why she stayed away from Princess Anne.

And during an interview with Vanity Fair in 1987, Princess Anne called Sarah Ferguson a “very, very nice girl.” However, she didn’t say something nice about Prince William and Prince Harry’s late mother.