Queen Elizabeth’s ‘fears’ that Prince William ‘might have a nervous breakdown’ over Princess Diana’s bombshell Panorama interview
The interview has gone down in historyQueen Elizabeth II reportedly had some serious concerns for her grandson Prince William’s well-being following Diana’s Panorama interview.
Today (Thursday, November 20) marks the 30th anniversary of the now infamous interview, which rocked the nation and the royal family.
Princess Diana’s Panorama interview
30 years ago today, an interview with Princess Diana aired on BBC One.
In the interview, Diana, who was seperated from Prince Charles but not yet divorced, spoke about her marriage to the then-future king, as well as her role within the royal family.
The Princess of Wales famously said she didn’t believe she would ever be queen.
She also alluded to there being “three people” within her marriage to Charles.
Diana also opened up about her mental health battles and her bulimia.
“You inflict it upon yourself because your self-esteem is at a low ebb. And you don’t think you’re worthy or valuable. You fill your stomach up four or five times a day. Some do it more. And it gives you a feeling of comfort,” she said at the time.
William was left ‘in tears’ after Princess Diana’s Panorama interview
At the time of the interview, Prince William was just 13 years old.
According to one book, the Prince of Wales was reportedly left in tears following the almost hour-long interview.
Writing in his book, Battle of Brothers, royal author Robert Lacey claimed: “Before the 58 minutes ended, William was weeping.”
According to the royal author, the prince’s housemaster at Eton, Dr Andrew Gailey, told Diana he found William “slumped on the sofa, his eyes red with tears”.
Lacey also claimed that “something inside him [William] snapped” when he saw Diana admit to having an affair on TV, as well as claiming Charles wasn’t fit to be king.
In her book, The Palace Papers, royal author Tina Brown claimed that the late Queen Elizabeth allegedly told a palace source that she was worried William “might have a nervous breakdown” after the interview.
William and Diana’s meeting
William’s housemaster, Gailey, reportedly urged Diana to give her son a heads-up about the interview.
However, according to paparazzo Mark Saunders, the meeting didn’t go too well.
Speaking to the Daily Mail recently, he said: “After a few more moments, he walked away from Diana, making no attempt to kiss her or say goodbye.
“I watched in amazement as she got into the car and drove off, leaving a sad William watching from the doorway.”
In Robert Lacey’s book, Prince William was “mortified” with “the idea of everything being on television”, Diana’s spiritual advisor, Simone Simmons, claimed.
“He knew his friends would poke fun at him, which they did. He felt she made a fool of herself—and of him,” she claimed.
Royal Insider has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.
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