Diana told me weeks before she died that Charles DID love her when they wed… she would be horrified by brother’s attacks

REVENGE, as they say, is a dish best served cold — but I personally know that Diana would not have wished for any of this. She would have hated her brother’s vengeance upon her former husband. ‘Friendly and frank’ Princess Diana pictured in 1994 Credit: PA Diana’s brother, Charles, Earl Spencer Credit: Reuters While Earl Spencer claims in his new book that Charles didn’t love Diana, I know from her own mouth that this was not the case. In 1997 — around six weeks before she died — Diana invited me to Kensington Palace and I spent the morning with her. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! I believe this was the last time she ever spoke face to face to a journalist about her personal life before her untimely death. Her secretary rang me up and said: “The Princess would like to have a girly chat.” Diana was incredibly friendly and frank. Over cups of Gold Blend in bone china teacups, she allowed me to question her about everything. At the time, I was writing a book about William and Harry and she told me: “It really upsets me when it’s said that Charles and I didn’t love each other. Charles did love me when we got married.” The popular notion, I reminded her, was that she was the only one who did the loving. She put her cup down, looked at me squarely and declared: “That’s simply not true. He did love me. Most read in The Sun Charles and Diana marry in 1981 Credit: Getty – Contributor Diana said of he sons Wiliam and Harry: ‘Charles and I have talked about how difficult their lives will be’ Credit: 2007 Tim Graham “And if anyone ever saw the love letters we wrote to each other they would believe that.” Diana also said of their sons: “Charles and I have talked about how difficult their lives will be.” She was worried that, because of their status, they would always be subjected to public scrutiny. So I know that Diana would have been horrified if her brother attacked her former husband, with whom she was once so in love. And she would have hated the idea of William and Harry reading her husband had not loved her. Then there’s the revelations of the other woman — Camilla — in Earl Spencer’s blistering attack. He knows that by punching this bruise he can bring out all the enmity, heartache and vicious accusations that Charles thought he had put to bed decades ago. But Diana, during the conversation at Kensington Palace, also talked to me about Camilla. Diana also revealed that: ‘It wasn’t Camilla who ruined our marriage’ Credit: Getty – Contributor Diana said: ‘It was the people around Charles. The only thing I worry about are the other influences around him’ Credit: Getty I asked: “What about Camilla?” She replied: “It wasn’t Camilla who ruined our marriage.” I nearly fell through the floor when I heard those words. She went on: “It was the people around Charles. “The only thing I worry about are the other influences around him.” She was referring to unknown royal courtiers and what she called the “stuffy attitude” of the Palace. She also told me: “My dearest wish is that Charles and I will be able to find a way to do more things together with our sons.” I truly believe Diana hoped for a public reconciliation with Charles. It was a wish that was never destined to be fulfilled. While this took place 29 years ago, I remember it as if it were yesterday. I also made detailed notes at the time. The driving force for Earl Spencer’s vicious and forensic attack is clear: vengeance, made all the more sweet by the financial gains that will inevitably be reaped from his book. The ninth Earl Spencer’s missive is a long-held reckoning for ancient, perceived snubs to his family and the “generations of Spencers who had served King, Queen and country”. Diana also said: ‘My dearest wish is that Charles and I will be able to find a way to do more things together with our sons’ Credit: PA:Press Association The driving force for Earl Spencer’s vicious and forensic attack is clear: vengeance, made all the more sweet by the financial gains that will inevitably be reaped from his book Credit: PA But most of all, it is revenge exacted for Diana — or “Duch” as her family called her. While some may believe this bad blood goes back to her death, in reality it goes back much further. The Spencers were royal groupies with huge wealth and even greater ambition for generations. Diana was always proud of her heritage. She had only to look at the family portraits in the grand gallery of her grandfather’s stately home of Althorp to see her numerous ancestors looking down at her and feel she too was somebody. How much she knew about her illustrious forebears, and their close royal connections, is uncertain, but her younger brother studied the family history with enormous pride. He knows it all. Prior to her marriage, a young Princess Elizabeth wrote to their father Johnnie Althorp, as he was then, while he was on active service in the war. He was even considered as a potential suitor. And Earl Spencer has now revealed that Johnnie’s ambition was quashed — as he was summoned by Lord Mountbatten and told any hopes he may have had for securing the future Queen’s affection were “out of the question”. It’s well known that Johnnie had a love of grand, aristocratic ladies. He was later due to marry Lady Anne Glenconner — maid of honour at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. She was said to have been devastated when he dumped her for Diana and Charles’ mother Frances, who later became Mrs Shand Kydd. So the twists and turns of this plot — and the vengeance now being exacted — is almost Shakespearean with its protagonists, love triangles and merciless revenge. The death of Diana was the greatest trial of King Charles’ life. He knew he had to shoulder the blame for not making their marriage work. Buckingham Palace received threatening letters, most directed at him. Before the funeral procession, Charles even wrote farewell letters to his mother and sons to be opened in the event of his death. As monarch he’s steered the choppy waters of Harry’s exit — and apparent re-emergence — as well as the public acceptance of Queen Camilla, which once seemed an impossibility. He has also had to navigate living with cancer. Now Earl Spencer is apparently trying to tear it all down by targeting his Achilles heel — the Charles, Diana and Camilla love triangle. How could he do this to the memory of his late sister? He says he got so fed up with people asking him about Diana and reading half-truths, he decided to tell her story. He has come in for enormous criticism. And the statement from the Palace was unprecedented. “His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss.” But knowing what Diana told me that day is the saddest thing of all. Ingrid Seward is author of Catherine and Diana, published by Seven Dials this week. Comment now