Editing Charles III (section)

====Lady Diana Spencer====
{{Further|Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer}}
[[File:Charles and Di. Uluru. March 83.JPG|thumb|upright=0.75|With Diana during their visit to [[Uluru]] in Australia, March 1983]]

Charles first met [[Lady Diana Spencer]] in 1977, while he was visiting her home, [[Althorp]]. He was then the companion of her elder sister Sarah and did not consider Diana romantically until mid-1980. While Charles and Diana were sitting together on a bale of hay at a friend's barbecue in July, she mentioned that he had looked forlorn and in need of care at the funeral of his great-uncle Lord Mountbatten. Soon, according to Dimbleby, "without any apparent surge in feeling, he began to think seriously of her as a potential bride" and she accompanied him on visits to [[Balmoral Castle]] and [[Sandringham House]].{{sfn|Dimbleby|p=279|1994}}

Charles's cousin [[Norton Knatchbull, 8th Baron Brabourne|Norton Knatchbull]] and his wife told Charles that Diana appeared awestruck by his position and that he did not seem to be in love with her.{{sfn|Dimbleby|pp=280–282|1994}} Meanwhile, the couple's continuing courtship attracted intense attention from the press and paparazzi. When Charles's father told him that the media speculation would injure Diana's reputation if Charles did not come to a decision about marrying her soon, and realising that she was a suitable royal bride (according to Mountbatten's criteria), Charles construed his father's advice as a warning to proceed without further delay.{{sfn|Dimbleby|pp=281–283|1994}} He proposed to Diana in February 1981, with their engagement becoming official on 24 February; the wedding took place in [[St Paul's Cathedral]] on 29 July. Upon his marriage, Charles reduced his voluntary tax contribution from the profits of the Duchy of Cornwall from 50 per cent to 25 per cent.<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 July 2009 |title=Royally Minted: What we give them and how they spend it |volume=138 |work=[[New Statesman]] |issue=4956–4968 |location=London |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VPdNAQAAIAAJ |access-date=7 May 2023 |archive-date=16 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516181019/https://books.google.com/books?id=VPdNAQAAIAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> The couple lived at [[Kensington Palace]] and [[Highgrove House]], near [[Tetbury]], and had two children: [[Prince William|William]], in 1982, and [[Prince Harry|Harry]], in 1984.<ref name="time 1988"/> As of 2025, Charles has an estranged relationship with his son Harry, who has relinquished royal family obligations  and moved to the United States in 2020.<ref>{{cite news|first=Victoria|last=Ward|date=14 May 2025|title=Prince Harry's popularity sinks after BBC interview attacking King|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2025/05/14/prince-harrys-popularity-sinks-after-attack-king-bbc/|work=The Telegraph|access-date=14 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Mark|last=Landler|date=11 May 2025|title=Can King Charles Heal a Royal Family Crisis Before It's Too Late?|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/11/world/europe/charles-harry-royal-family-crisis.html?smid=url-share|access-date=14 May 2025}}</ref>
[[File:Royal Visit of Prince Charles and Princess Diana to Edmonton, Alberta - Prince Charles speaking at the Alberta Legislature, 30 June 1983 - 52679621118.jpg|thumb|left|With Diana at the [[Alberta Legislature Building]] in Edmonton, Canada, June 1983|alt=Charles giving a speech at a podium, with Diana standing to his right]]

Within five years, the marriage was in trouble due to the couple's incompatibility and near 13-year age difference.{{sfn|Brown|p=720|2007}}{{sfn|Smith|p=561|2000}} In 1986, Charles had fully resumed his affair with Camilla Parker Bowles.<ref name="RadioTimes01">{{Cite web |last=Griffiths |first=Eleanor Bley |date=1 January 2020 |title=The truth behind Charles and Camilla's affair storyline in The Crown |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/the-crown-charles-affair-camilla-cheating |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908213027/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/the-crown-charles-affair-camilla-cheating |archive-date=8 September 2022 |access-date=9 September 2022 |publisher=Radio Times}}</ref> In a videotape recorded by [[Peter Settelen]] in 1992, Diana admitted that, from 1985 to 1986, she had been "deeply in love with someone who worked in this environment."<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 December 2004 |title=Diana 'wanted to live with guard' |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4074545.stm |url-status=live |access-date=31 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731164728/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4074545.stm |archive-date=31 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="Telegraph_12Dec2004">{{Cite news |last=Langley |first=William |date=12 December 2004 |title=The Mannakee file |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1478804/The-Mannakee-file.html |url-status=live |access-date=31 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731210646/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1478804/The-Mannakee-file.html |archive-date=31 July 2017}}</ref> It was assumed that she was referring to [[Barry Mannakee]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lawson |first=Mark |date=7 August 2017 |title=Diana: In Her Own Words – admirers have nothing to fear from the Channel 4 tapes |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/aug/06/diana-in-her-own-words-burnishes-rather-than-tarnishes-her-image |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920223352/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/aug/06/diana-in-her-own-words-burnishes-rather-than-tarnishes-her-image |archive-date=20 September 2017 |access-date=22 October 2017 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> who had been transferred to the Diplomatic Protection Squad in 1986, after his managers determined his relationship with Diana had been inappropriate.<ref name="Telegraph_12Dec2004"/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Milmo |first=Cahal |date=8 December 2004 |title=Conspiracy theorists feast on inquiry into death of Diana's minder |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/conspiracy-theorists-feast-on-inquiry-into-death-of-dianas-minder-8002517.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801031824/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/conspiracy-theorists-feast-on-inquiry-into-death-of-dianas-minder-8002517.html |archive-date=1 August 2017 |access-date=31 July 2017 |work=The Independent (UK) |publisher=Independent Digital News & Media Ltd |issn=1741-9743 |oclc=185201487}}</ref> Diana later commenced a relationship with Major [[James Hewitt]], the family's former riding instructor.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Duboff |first=Josh |date=13 March 2017 |title=Princess Diana's Former Lover Maintains He Is Not Prince Harry's Father |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2017/03/james-hewitt-prince-harry-father-princess-diana |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626210124/https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2017/03/james-hewitt-prince-harry-father-princess-diana |archive-date=26 June 2019 |access-date=25 November 2018 |magazine=Vanity Fair}}</ref>

Charles and Diana's evident discomfort in each other's company led to them being dubbed "[[Take It from Here#The Glums|The Glums]]" by the press.<ref name="Quest">{{Cite web |last=Quest |first=Richard |date=3 June 2002 |title=Royals, Part 3: Troubled times |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/05/29/people.royals.3/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715061326/http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/05/29/people.royals.3 |archive-date=15 July 2016 |access-date=22 January 2023 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> Diana exposed Charles's affair with Parker Bowles in a book by Andrew Morton, ''[[Diana: Her True Story (book)|Diana: Her True Story]]''. Audio tapes of [[Squidgygate|her own extramarital flirtations]] also surfaced,<ref name=Quest/> as did persistent suggestions that Hewitt is Prince Harry's father, based on a physical similarity between Hewitt and Harry. However, Harry had already been born by the time Diana's affair with Hewitt began.<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 September 2002 |title=Hewitt denies Prince Harry link |work=[[BBC News]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2273498.stm |url-status=live |access-date=24 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215161416/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2273498.stm |archive-date=15 February 2009}}</ref>

In December 1992, [[John Major]] announced the couple's legal separation in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]]. Early the following year, the British press published transcripts of a passionate, bugged telephone conversation between Charles and Parker Bowles that had taken place in 1989, which was dubbed "[[Tampongate]]" and "Camillagate".<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 December 1989 |title=The Camillagate Tapes |url=http://www.textfiles.com/phreak/camilla.txt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701002359/http://www.textfiles.com/phreak/camilla.txt |archive-date=1 July 2010 |website=Textfiles.com |series=Phone Phreaking |type=phone transcript}}; {{Cite news |date=29 November 2006 |title=Royals caught out by interceptions |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5258604.stm |url-status=live |access-date=27 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828024600/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5258604.stm |archive-date=28 August 2017 }}; {{Cite magazine |last=Dockterman |first=Eliana |date=9 November 2022 |title=The True Story Behind Charles and Camilla's Phone Sex Leak on The Crown |url=https://time.com/6226657/crown-charles-camilla-tampongate |access-date=17 November 2022 |magazine=Time |archive-date=16 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116194130/https://time.com/6226657/crown-charles-camilla-tampongate |url-status=live }}</ref> Charles subsequently sought public understanding in a television film with Dimbleby, ''[[Charles: The Private Man, the Public Role]]'', broadcast in June 1994. In an interview in the film, Charles confirmed his own extramarital affair with Parker Bowles, saying that he had rekindled their association in 1986, only after his marriage to Diana had "irretrievably broken down".<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Princess and the Press |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/royals/etc/cron.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310043520/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/royals/etc/cron.html |archive-date=10 March 2017 |access-date=7 January 2017 |website=PBS}}; {{Cite news |date=6 April 2005 |title=Timeline: Charles and Camilla's romance |work=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4410551.stm |url-status=live |access-date=7 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202161625/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4410551.stm |archive-date=2 February 2017}}</ref>{{sfn|Dimbleby|p=395|1994}} This was followed by Diana's own admission of marital troubles in [[An Interview with HRH The Princess of Wales|an interview]] on the [[BBC]] current affairs show ''[[Panorama (British TV programme)|Panorama]]'', broadcast in November 1995.<ref>{{Cite news |title=1995: Diana admits adultery in TV interview |publisher=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/20/newsid_4341000/4341436.stm |url-status=live |access-date=1 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126055307/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/20/newsid_4341000/4341436.stm |archive-date=26 January 2021}}</ref> Referring to Charles's relationship with Parker Bowles, she said, "well, there were three of us in this marriage. So, it was a bit crowded." She also expressed doubt about her husband's suitability for kingship.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 November 1995 |title=The Panorama Interview with the Princess of Wales |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/diana/panorama.html |url-status=live |access-date=8 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304163240/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/diana/panorama.html |archive-date=4 March 2011}}</ref> Charles and Diana divorced on 28 August 1996,<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 December 1995 |title='Divorce': Queen to Charles and Diana |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/20/newsid_2538000/2538985.stm |url-status=live |access-date=12 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223152102/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/20/newsid_2538000/2538985.stm |archive-date=23 December 2010}}</ref> after being advised by the Queen in December 1995 to end the marriage.<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 December 1995 |title=Charles and Diana to divorce |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://newsroom.ap.org/editorial-photos-videos/detail?itemid=85e31961323ecc3686d0e7324b12170b&mediatype=video&query=UK+ROYALS%C2%A4t=8&orderBy=Relevance&hits=147&search=%2Fsearch%3Fquery%3DUK%2520ROYALS%26allFilters%3DMedia%2520and%2520entertainment%3ASubject&allFilters=Media+and+entertainment%3ASubject&productType=IncludedProducts&page=1 |url-status=live |access-date=23 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402160109/http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/UK-Various-Queen-Orders-Charles-amp-Diana-To-Divorce/85e31961323ecc3686d0e7324b12170b?query=UK+ROYALS&current=8&orderBy=Relevance&hits=147&search=%2Fsearch%3Fquery%3DUK%2520ROYALS%26allFilters%3DMedia%2520and%2520entertainment%3ASubject&allFilters=Media+and+entertainment%3ASubject&productType=IncludedProducts&page=1 |archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> The couple shared custody of their children.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Neville |first=Sarah |date=13 July 1996 |title=Charles and Diana Agree to Terms of Divorce |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1996/07/13/charles-and-diana-agree-to-terms-of-divorce/9e3bbdab-5f04-4edc-a395-1b64f6ea888d |url-status=live |access-date=12 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326033200/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1996/07/13/charles-and-diana-agree-to-terms-of-divorce/9e3bbdab-5f04-4edc-a395-1b64f6ea888d |archive-date=26 March 2023}}</ref>

Diana was [[Death of Diana, Princess of Wales|killed in a car crash]] in Paris on 31 August 1997. Charles flew to Paris with Diana's sisters to accompany her body back to Britain.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Whitney |first=Craig R. |date=31 August 1997 |title=Prince Charles Arrives in Paris to Take Diana's Body Home |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=http://partners.nytimes.com/library/world/diana/uk-diana-crash-updated.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206170457/http://partners.nytimes.com/library/world/diana/uk-diana-crash-updated.html |archive-date=6 December 2013 |oclc=1645522}}</ref> In 2003, Diana's butler [[Paul Burrell]] published a note that he claimed had been written by Diana in 1995, in which there were allegations that Charles was "planning 'an accident' in [Diana's] car, brake failure and serious head injury", so that he could remarry.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 October 2003 |title=Diana letter 'warned of car plot' |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/10/20/diana.letter |url-status=dead |accessdate=14 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031212002303/http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/10/20/diana.letter |archive-date=12 December 2003}}; {{Cite news |last=Eleftheriou-Smith |first=Loulla-Mae |date=30 August 2017 |title=Princess Diana letter claims Prince Charles was 'planning an accident' in her car just 10 months before fatal crash |work=The Independent (UK) |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/princess-diana-death-letter-prince-charles-accident-plan-car-paris-tunnel-crash-10-months-a7918671.html |url-status=live |access-date=14 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012172116/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/princess-diana-death-letter-prince-charles-accident-plan-car-paris-tunnel-crash-10-months-a7918671.html |archive-date=12 October 2019}}; {{Cite web |last=Rayner |first=Gordon |date=20 December 2007 |title=Princess Diana letter: 'Charles plans to kill me' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1573170/Princess-Diana-letter-Charles-plans-to-kill-me.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1573170/Princess-Diana-letter-Charles-plans-to-kill-me.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |access-date=28 November 2020 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref> When questioned by the [[Metropolitan Police]] inquiry team as a part of [[Operation Paget]], Charles told the authorities that he did not know about his former wife's note from 1995 and could not understand why she had those feelings.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Badshah |first=Nadeem |date=19 June 2021 |title=Police interviewed Prince Charles over 'plot to kill Diana' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jun/19/former-met-chief-interviewed-prince-charles-over-alleged-plot-to-kill-diana |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619105520/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jun/19/former-met-chief-interviewed-prince-charles-over-alleged-plot-to-kill-diana |archive-date=19 June 2021 |access-date=8 September 2021 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>