Netflix’s The Crown has captivated audiences with its dramatization of the lives of the British Royal Family, and its portrayal of Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s tumultuous marriage has been a central storyline. As the series enters its final season, viewers are presented with a nuanced depiction of their relationship after their divorce, prompting many to ask: Did Charles Love Diana, especially in the years following their separation?
In the sixth season, The Crown illustrates a period of relative calm between Charles and Diana after their official split in 1996. The show portrays them navigating co-parenting Prince William and Prince Harry, engaging in civil exchanges, and even expressing a degree of mutual respect. One scene highlights Charles commending Diana for her impactful work with a landmine charity, suggesting a possibility of them being “brilliant” co-parents and even friends, despite their marital failures. Diana herself reflects on this evolving dynamic, noting she might have gained a valuable friendship, if not her fairytale romance.
This portrayal aligns with accounts from royal experts who suggest that Charles and Diana did achieve a more amicable relationship post-divorce. Hugo Vickers, a royal expert who consulted on The Crown, told TIME that their relationship “mellowed onto a more civilized plain.” He clarified they weren’t “bosom friends” but, as is common with divorced parents, they found a way to coexist more peacefully. Their shared responsibility for their sons and mutual interests served as common ground, fostering a less strained dynamic.
However, the question of love is far more intricate than mere civility. Tina Brown, a biographer with personal connections to Diana, offers deeper insights in her book, The Diana Chronicles. Brown recounts a lunch with Diana where the Princess revealed that her relationship with Charles had significantly improved. According to Brown, Charles would frequently visit Diana at Kensington Palace for tea, sharing “rueful exchanges” and even moments of laughter. This paints a picture of a comfortable, almost nostalgic connection, hinting at a bond that endured beyond the bitterness of their divorce.
Brown further suggests that Diana had come to terms with Camilla Parker Bowles’s central role in Charles’s life, accepting Camilla as “the love of his life.” This acceptance could have potentially eased tensions and allowed for a more relaxed interaction between Charles and Diana. However, Brown also makes a startling claim: Diana confessed that “she would go back to Charles in a heartbeat if he wanted her.” This revelation implies that, at least from Diana’s perspective, feelings of love, or perhaps a deep-seated attachment, lingered even after the divorce. She reportedly believed they could have been a formidable “team,” indicating a sense of lost potential and perhaps unresolved emotions on her part.
While reports and The Crown suggest a post-divorce friendship and mutual respect, whether Charles reciprocated a romantic love for Diana in this period remains ambiguous. His actions may be interpreted as a commitment to co-parenting and maintaining a civil public image, rather than a resurgence of romantic feelings. The “calmer waters,” as Vickers describes it, could simply be attributed to the “passing of time” and the pragmatic realities of their shared history and children. The focus shifted from marital discord to navigating life as divorced parents in the public eye.
Ultimately, the question of whether Charles “loved” Diana is complex and open to interpretation. While their post-divorce relationship seemingly evolved into a more amicable one, fueled by shared responsibilities and perhaps a degree of nostalgia, the depth and nature of Charles’s emotions towards Diana during this period remains a subject of speculation, much like their relationship itself. The Crown offers a glimpse into this nuanced dynamic, but the true answer, much like the lives of the royals themselves, remains shrouded in history and personal interpretation.
