Tessa Quinn
Prince Charles was left devastated by the death of his former wife, Princess Diana, in 1997. The Prince of Wales fought for her body to be brought back to the UK on a royal flight, and he travelled to the Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris to collect her body. It was reported that he broke down in tears at the hospital, and he was also seen walking alone near Balmoral Castle, where he was staying with his two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Pitie Salpetriere hospital in eastern Paris |
| Reason for visit | To collect Princess Diana's body |
| Emotional response | Wept |
| Cause of emotional response | Sorrow, shock, nostalgia, guilt |
| People present | Princess Diana's sisters, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes |
| Time since Princess Diana's death | 24 hours |
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What You'll Learn
Prince Charles's reaction to Princess Diana's death in Paris
The Prince of Wales spent a short time in the hospital mortuary, and when he emerged, his eyes were red from weeping. One source describes how he cracked when he saw her body, and he also wept on the plane with her sisters.
In the days following Diana's death, Charles walked alone on the moors around Balmoral Castle, and he made many phone calls to Camilla Parker Bowles for comfort. He also walked with his sons, William and Harry, who were his biggest worry at that time.
In the fourth episode of the sixth season of *The Crown*, which depicts the royal family learning of Diana's death, Prince Charles, played by Dominic West, is shown dissolving into tears when he hears the news. He is also portrayed walking alone near Balmoral and speaking on the phone to Camilla before waking up his sons to tell them.
Prince Harry has since spoken about his father's response in the days following the tragedy, saying:
> "One of the hardest things for a parent to have to do is to tell your children that your other parent has died. [...] He was there for us. He was the one out of two left, and he tried to do his best and to make sure that we were protected and looked after. But you know, he was going through the same grieving process as well."
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Prince Charles's grief at the Pitie Salpetriere hospital
Prince Charles's grief was evident in the days following Princess Diana's tragic death. He had spent a third of his life with her, and they shared two sons, so it was natural that he would feel a sense of loss. He had also endured a difficult marriage with her, which added to his feelings of sorrow, shock, and nostalgia.
Within hours of her death, Prince Charles flew to Paris to retrieve his former wife's body. He was accompanied by Diana's sisters, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes. They flew on a royal flight, which was a surprising and brave move, as Diana was no longer considered part of the inner family entitled to a royal funeral, having lost that right as part of her divorce settlement.
Upon arriving at the Pitie Salpetriere hospital in eastern Paris, Prince Charles went to the hospital mortuary to collect Diana's body. It was at this moment, when faced with the reality of her death, that he broke down and wept bitterly. His eyes were red from weeping, despite his usual stoicism in public.
The group emerged from the hospital with Diana's coffin, draped in the Royal Standard at Charles's request. They returned to the UK, and Diana's body was taken to a private mortuary before being moved to St James's Palace and then Kensington Palace. Prince Charles then returned to his sons, who were still at Balmoral, to break the tragic news to them.
The days following Diana's death were filled with grief for Prince Charles, who walked the moors around Balmoral alone in the early mornings, struggling to sleep, and consoling Diana's sisters. He also sought comfort from Mrs Camilla Parker Bowles, with whom he had many phone conversations.
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The Crown's portrayal of Prince Charles's breakdown
The Crown's portrayal of Prince Charles has been a topic of discussion and controversy since the show's inception. In the show's second and third seasons, Charles is depicted as a victim—a sensitive man born to a tough father and a distant mother. This portrayal continues into the fourth season, where Charles is shown to be trapped in an unhappy marriage with a teenager, Diana Spencer, whom he barely knows and who constantly upstages him. The Crown's Charles spends his screen time sulking, self-pitying, and eventually lashing out at his young wife.
Some critics have taken issue with this portrayal, arguing that it paints Charles in an overly negative light and fails to accurately represent his dedication and achievements. Royal biographers have pointed out several errors in the show's depiction of Charles, particularly in season four. For example, in an early episode, The Crown's Charles returns from a six-week trip and rushes to be with Camilla, whereas in reality, he was dating Sarah Spencer at the time.
However, others have defended the show's portrayal of Charles, arguing that it provides a "rough idea" of the pressures faced by the royal family. In later seasons, as the show catches up with more recent history, The Crown depicts Charles's grief over the death of his ex-wife, Diana. In the fourth episode of the sixth season, the show depicts Charles dissolving into tears upon learning of Diana's passing. The episode then shows him walking alone near Balmoral, speaking on the phone to Camilla, before he wakes up his sons to tell them the news.
This portrayal of Charles's breakdown and grief over Diana's death has been generally well-received and is supported by reports from the time. It is known that Charles fought for Diana's coffin to be draped with the royal standard and brought back to London on a royal plane, despite her loss of the title "Her Royal Highness" as part of their divorce settlement. Additionally, Charles was seen with red eyes from weeping as he emerged from the hospital mortuary in Paris, despite his typically stoic public image.
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Prince Charles's guilt and sorrow over Princess Diana's death
Prince Charles's grief over Princess Diana's tragic death was evident in his actions and words. In the immediate aftermath, Charles travelled to Paris with Diana's sisters, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes, to bring back her body. At the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris, Charles wept bitterly as he saw the remains of his former wife, with whom he had shared 15 years of marriage and two sons. He also consoled Diana's sisters as they mourned.
Upon his return to the UK, Charles walked alone on the moors around Balmoral Castle, reflecting on his life with Diana. He had little sleep, staying up late and drinking gin-based martinis while making phone calls to friends. Charles also sought comfort from Camilla Parker Bowles, whom he phoned many times.
In the days following Diana's death, Charles walked in the procession at her funeral alongside his sons, Princes William and Harry, his father Prince Philip, and Diana's brother, Charles Spencer. Notably, Charles did not speak at the funeral, but his former brother-in-law, Charles Spencer, delivered a eulogy, pledging to continue Diana's loving way of steering the young princes.
Months after Diana's death, Charles wrote a letter dated December 8, 1997, expressing his "bewilderment and confusion" at the loss of someone so young. He also mentioned an "unbearable emptiness" in the letter, shedding light on his deep grief.
Charles's sorrow, shock, and nostalgia were palpable, as was his guilt. He felt culpable, albeit indirectly, for the sequence of events that led to Diana's untimely death. Despite their troubled marriage, Charles was mystified by the failure of their relationship. He recognised the unique social balance that Diana brought to the royal family and the irreplaceable role she played as a mother to their sons.
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The royal flight debate between Prince Charles and the Queen
Prince Charles was left absolutely distraught by the death of his former wife, Princess Diana, and their two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, have spoken openly about the impact their mother's death had on them.
The royal family and the world were shocked by the sudden passing of Princess Diana in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997. Prince Charles was in Paris within hours of her death to bring his ex-wife's body back to the UK.
The decision to bring Diana's body home on a royal flight sparked a debate between Prince Charles and his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen initially refused her son's request to use the royal flight, as Diana had lost her right to be called "Her Royal Highness" as part of the divorce settlement. However, Prince Charles refused to back down and ultimately used the royal plane to fly to Paris with Diana's sisters, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes.
Upon his arrival at the Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Prince Charles spent a short time in the hospital mortuary, where he consoled Diana's sisters. As they wept for their sister, Prince Charles also broke down in tears. He emerged from the hospital with red eyes, having wept bitter tears of sorrow, shock, and guilt.
Despite their difficult marriage, Prince Charles fought harder for Diana in death than he had during her lifetime. He draped her coffin with the Royal Standard and ensured that her body was brought back to the UK at the earliest opportunity.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Prince Charles cried at the Pitie Salpetriere hospital in Paris when he went to collect Princess Diana's body.
Prince Charles was devastated by Princess Diana's death. He was said to have cried a lot in the 24 hours after learning of her passing. He also fought to bring her body back to the UK on a royal flight.
No, Prince Charles and Princess Diana had a difficult and unhappy marriage. They were separated at the time of her death.
Princess Diana's death had a profound impact on her sons, who were still young at the time. They have since opened up about the effect it had on them, and Prince Harry has expressed gratitude for how his father handled the situation.
Prince Charles' reaction has been depicted in Season 6 of the Netflix show "The Crown." In the show, he dissolves into tears when learning of his ex-wife's passing and is portrayed as being absolutely distraught.
