Prince Charles “still feels guilty at bringing Diana into a royal world she couldn’t handle” according to new reports.
A “long standing courtier” has spilled their insider views on the Prince, revealing that Charles, 66, still feels responsible for bringing Diana into the ‘pressure-cooker’ world of the royal household.
“When Diana died, his instinctive reaction was to feel a terrible guilt because of everything that had led to that dreadful moment,” the insider told The Daily Mail.
“But he no longer feels guilt for her death because he has come to accept that he had nothing to do with where she was or who she was with at the time.
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“Where he does still feel guilty, of course, is that it was him who brought Diana into the royal world and a life she couldn’t handle.”
With an unofficial biography about the Prince being released by Time magazine journalist Catherine Mayer, there has been renewed interest in the Prince, his relationship with Camilla and his prospects as the future King.
Titled ‘Charles: The Heart of A King’, the book examines Charles and Diana’s marriage and how, as it deteriorated, Diana grew stronger and ever-more popular in the public eye while Charles felt he was growing weaker and less popular.
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“The prince felt under pressure from all directions: Diana, his parents, the press,” the book claims.
The book also addresses concerns, reportedly even held by the Queen herself, about whether Charles would be able to sustain the monarchy as ruler.
“In defining his role as heir apparent, the prince has signalled a redefinition of the monarchy. Some courtiers – and the sovereign herself – fear that neither the Crown nor its subjects will tolerate the shock of the new.”
Clarence House has commented on the book with a spokeswoman saying: “This is not an official biography, therefore, we have no comment to make.”
Meanwhile, Diana’s brother Earl Spencer believes that it is Charles and Diana’s sons, William and Harry, and their enormous popularity, that will ultimately be the saving grace for the monarchy.
“I think that they are unbelievable ambassadors for the country and also for their mother. So the legacy that she left, from fine mothering, is very evident in both of her sons,” he told The Daily Beast.
“Given the popularity of William and Harry, and William’s family, I could see it going on for another hundred years.”