A new book has revealed that Princess Diana harboured a secret crush on Prince Andrew during her teenage years, sending him anonymous Valentine’s Day cards until she was about fifteen or sixteen. This intriguing detail is highlighted in author Catherine Mayer’s latest work, “Divide and Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles,” which explores the lives of various prominent women in the British royal family and is set to be released on June 23.
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Mayer, who is known for her insightful analyses of royal affairs, shares that a schoolfriend of Diana’s informed her of this long-held secret. According to this friend, Diana would send Valentine cards to Andrew each year, anonymously. Mayer notes the significance of this revelation, stating, “If Diana failed to spot that Charles was incapable of giving her the love she craved, it cannot have helped that the love she craved was a fiction — a modern-day version of courtly love. Before she ever met her future husband, she developed a passion at a distance for one of his brothers.”
Prince Andrew, who was famously known as the Duke of York, was linked closely to both Diana and the royal family. The young Diana was born into a family with entrenched connections to the monarchy. Her grandmother, Ruth Roche, Baroness Fermoy, had served as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Furthermore, Diana’s brother-in-law, Lord Robert Fellowes, held the distinguished position of private secretary to Queen Elizabeth II.
Diana’s introduction to royal circles was facilitated by her older sister, Sarah, who had a brief relationship with Prince Charles in the late 1970s. It was during a shooting party at Althorp House, the family’s ancestral home, that Sarah introduced Diana to Charles in 1977. Although the romance between Charles and Sarah did not flourish, it ultimately paved the way for Diana and Charles to enter into a whirlwind courtship, culminating in their marriage in 1981.
Upon her marriage, Diana became the Princess of Wales, and her role in royal society quickly expanded. Interestingly, she played a significant part in connecting her friend Sarah Ferguson with Prince Andrew, which led to their marriage in 1986. Ferguson recalled the moment fondly in a 2021 interview, recounting her conversation with Diana about Andrew’s good looks, stating, “I said to her, ‘Oh, Andrew’s really good-looking.’ And she said, ‘Duh, Fergs!'”
The bond between Diana and Sarah Ferguson was further exemplified as both women faced tumultuous separations from their husbands in 1992, which ultimately resulted in divorces. Despite their connections and experiences within the royal family, the paths of each diverged significantly after their marriages.
Diana’s life tragically came to an abrupt end following a car crash in Paris in 1997, capturing worldwide attention and sorrow. More recently, Prince Andrew faced controversy surrounding his association with Jeffrey Epstein, which culminated in King Charles stripping him of his royal title in 2020. Andrew has categorically denied any wrongdoing linked to these allegations.
Catherine Mayer’s “Divide and Rule” delves into the complexities and challenges faced by women in the royal family. It aims to shed light on the intricate dynamics involved, focusing on figures such as Diana, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Camilla. Mayer’s research reveals not only royal history but also the personal struggles and triumphs of these women, reflecting on their impact on British society and the monarchy.
With revelations like Diana’s secret affections, the book promises to provide a fresh perspective on the lives of royals and the understated connections that shape their narratives. As anticipation builds for its release, readers are eager to uncover more about the personal lives and relationships that have influenced the British monarchy through the years.