Diana

In the memoir, Earl Spencer writes of his sister’s troubled marriage – claiming a friend of Diana’s had told him that on the eve of their wedding in July 1981, Prince Charles had told her he was “very happy to marry her, but… not actually in love with her”.

Things became “very difficult indeed” in the marriage early on, Earl Spencer writes, adding that he is “sure that both spouses despaired of the other at times”.

He now believes his sister had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, external (ADHD), and as part of her condition suffered from Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria – describing the latter as an “intense emotional pain in the face of others’ rejection or criticism”.

In her later years, he writes, Princess Diana considered taking her own life on more than one occasion but love for her sons “stopped her from going further”.

The former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II described the latest claims serialised in the Daily Mail of Charles sounding “giddily elated” as “hogwash”.

Dickie Arbiter, who was press secretary to the late Queen at the time of Princess Diana’s death and funeral, told BBC Newsnight that Charles was “devastated at the time” and that “it’s not in his character”.

“There’s no way he could have ever said anything like that. Charles Spencer is just talking hogwash,” he added.

Royal commentator Jennie Bond meanwhile said Earl Spencer’s “vindictive account” was “extraordinary”.

“I have no reason to disbelieve this is his memory of what happened, but there are usually two sides to a conversation and a story,” she told BBC Breakfast.

Amid the royal drama, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, attended the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards in Greenwich on Thursday evening.

In his first public appearance since moving back to the UK, Prince Harry posed for photographs for the press and selfies with veterans, before delivering a speech.

THE daughter of late actress Dame Diana Rigg has admitted to an unusual tribute of eating her ashes prior to live shows.

Rachael Stirling, 49, followed in her acclaimed mother’s footsteps by becoming an actress.

Viewers may have seen Rachael pop up in shows including The Bletchley Circle, Detectorists and an episode of Doctor Who alongside Diana.

In her new book, All About My Mother, Rachael opened up about a surprising pre-show ritual.

She wrote, as quoted by Daily Mail: “I would love to have a nightly glass of champagne before going on stage, but these days it would equate to a drinking problem.”

Rachael’s alternative on a new play’s opening night, however, is “a grain or two of my mother’s ashes“.

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She added: “Although it shocks people when I tell them, it feels absolutely natural to me.”

Her mother Diana died in September 2020, at the age of 82 and it was later confirmed she had lung cancer.

The former Bond Girl famously played secret agent Emma Peel in 51 episodes of the Avengers in the 1960s.

She was also the only Bond girl to marry 007 – getting hitched to George Lazenby in Her Majesty’s Secret Service – only to be killed moments after.

In her later career, Diana appeared in shows such as Game of Thrones and ITV‘s Victoria.

She also played Mrs Pumphrey in series one of Channel 5‘s All Creatures Great and Small.

Miranda star Patricia Hodge would later take over the role after Diana’s death.