Franklin Dean
While Prince Charles and Princess Diana were physically alone on their honeymoon, Camilla Parker Bowles was very much present. Charles and Diana's honeymoon was plagued by constant reminders that Charles was not over his ex-girlfriend, Camilla. Charles called Camilla, who was already married, on a daily basis. Diana was aware of Charles's ongoing relationship with Camilla, and the trip was further complicated by the age difference between the couple, as well as Diana's battle with bulimia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Honeymoon | 1981 |
| Honeymoon Destination | A 14-day cruise through the Mediterranean and Aegean onboard the Royal Yacht Britannia |
| Honeymoon Length | Several weeks |
| Camilla's Presence on Honeymoon | Charles called Camilla daily |
| Charles brought cufflinks with the initials "C" and "C" intertwined | |
| A picture of Camilla fell out of Charles' date planner |
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What You'll Learn
- Charles and Diana's honeymoon was a cruise through the Mediterranean and Aegean
- Charles called Camilla daily, and brought cufflinks with the initials CC
- Charles and Diana fought over Camilla, and Charles prioritised reading over spending time with Diana
- Charles and Diana's marriage was troubled from the start, with Charles telling Diana he didn't love her the night before the wedding
- Charles and Diana's honeymoon ended at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, a place Diana wasn't fond of
Charles and Diana's honeymoon was a cruise through the Mediterranean and Aegean
Charles and Diana's honeymoon was far from the romantic getaway that many would expect from a newly married couple. The trip, which took place in 1981, shortly after their lavish wedding, was a 14-day cruise through the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. They sailed on the Royal Yacht Britannia, which had a crew of over 200 men, in addition to 21 naval officers and royal staff, meaning the couple was never truly alone.
The trip was far from smooth sailing, with several factors contributing to the tension between the couple. One of the main issues was Prince Charles's ongoing relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles, who he insisted on staying in contact with throughout the honeymoon. Charles called Camilla, who was already married, on a daily basis, and his constant need to speak with her caused him to become "tetchy and ill-tempered" when he couldn't. Diana was well aware of Charles's relationship with Camilla, and the situation was only made more obvious by the presence of a pair of cufflinks with the intertwined initials "C" and "C", which Charles admitted were a gift from Camilla.
In addition to the strain caused by Charles's relationship with Camilla, the age difference between the couple, which was 12 years, and Diana's battle with bulimia, which she later admitted began around the time of their engagement, also contributed to the difficulties they faced. Diana reportedly did not enjoy the trip, using the time to "catch up on sleep" instead of enjoying the romantic cruise.
The honeymoon ended with a stay at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, one of Queen Elizabeth II's favourite royal residences. Diana was not fond of this location either and spent several hours crying when they arrived. This marked the end of a honeymoon that was described as "dismal" and "miserable", a far cry from the "love cruise" portrayed by the press at the time.
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Charles called Camilla daily, and brought cufflinks with the initials CC
The honeymoon of Princess Diana and Prince Charles in 1981 was far from the magical royal honeymoon that many might have hoped for. It was plagued by constant reminders of Charles' ongoing relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles. Charles brought Camilla up in several ways during the honeymoon, including through a pair of cufflinks with the initials CC.
Charles and Diana's honeymoon started with a 14-day cruise through the Mediterranean and Aegean onboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. The trip was already complicated by several factors, including Diana and Charles' age difference of twelve years, and Diana's battle with bulimia. However, Charles' continued involvement with Camilla further soured the trip.
Charles called Camilla daily during the honeymoon, and his valet, Stephen Barry, said that " [t]he Prince simply had to be in contact with Camilla or he couldn't function properly. If he went without his daily phone call, he would become tetchy and ill-tempered." Diana was aware of Camilla's presence in her new husband's life, and this was made even more obvious when she noticed a pair of cufflinks that belonged to Charles. The cufflinks had two C's entwined, which Diana knew stood for Charles and Camilla. When Diana confronted Charles about the cufflinks, he admitted that they were from Camilla, saying, "Yes, so what's wrong? They're a present from a friend."
The cufflinks incident was not the only time that Camilla's presence was felt during the honeymoon. On another occasion, when Charles and Diana were checking their schedules, a picture of Camilla fell out of Charles' date planner. Additionally, Charles brought along watercolors, canvases, and a pile of books that he had hoped to share and discuss with Diana in the evenings. However, Diana was not interested in reading or painting and felt that Charles was ignoring her.
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Charles and Diana fought over Camilla, and Charles prioritised reading over spending time with Diana
King Charles and Princess Diana's honeymoon in 1981 was far from idyllic. Charles's ongoing relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles cast a dark shadow over the trip. Despite being on his honeymoon with Diana, Charles reportedly continued to call Camilla, who was also married at the time. According to former royal valet Stephen Barry, "The Prince simply had to be in contact with Camilla or he couldn't function properly. If he went without his daily phone call, he would become tetchy and ill-tempered."
The tension between the couple was heightened by the discovery of a pair of cufflinks that Charles had received from Camilla. Diana noticed the cufflinks, which featured two C's entwined, and asked him about them. Charles admitted that they were from Camilla, responding, "Yes, so what's wrong? They're a present from a friend." This incident occurred against the backdrop of an already challenging time for the couple, as they grappled with their significant age difference and Diana's battle with bulimia, which she later admitted began around the time of their engagement.
The issues between Charles and Diana ran deep, and their relationship was marked by conflict and discord. Even before their wedding, there were signs of trouble, as Charles confessed to Diana the night before their wedding that he didn't love her. This revelation left Diana devastated, but the couple decided to proceed with the wedding, feeling it was too late to back out. Their marriage was fraught with difficulties, and they eventually divorced in 1996, finalising their divorce on August 28, 1996.
Adding to the complexity of their relationship, Charles prioritised his reading over spending time with Diana. In an interview with BBC in 1995, Diana revealed the extent of their marital issues, famously stating, "Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded," referring to the presence of Camilla in their relationship. This interview highlighted the ongoing tension and conflict between the couple, with Diana feeling overshadowed by Camilla in Charles's affections.
Charles and Diana's relationship was a tumultuous one, marked by public scrutiny, personal struggles, and the constant presence of Camilla in the background. The issues between them extended beyond their honeymoon and continued throughout their marriage, ultimately leading to their divorce and the tragic death of Diana in a car accident in 1997.
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Charles and Diana's marriage was troubled from the start, with Charles telling Diana he didn't love her the night before the wedding
The marriage between Prince Charles and Princess Diana was troubled from the very beginning. The night before their wedding, Charles told Diana that he did not love her. Diana considered calling off the wedding, but she went through with it anyway. The couple hosted one of the most lavish weddings of all time, and millions of people around the world tuned in to watch the ceremony. However, their honeymoon aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia was far from perfect.
Charles brought eight Laurens van der Post novels on his honeymoon, implying that he would rather spend time reading than with his new wife. Diana said, "I remember crying my heart out. I was so tired—for all the wrong reasons." The trip was further complicated by the couple's age difference, Charles' ongoing relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles, and Diana's battle with bulimia. Diana was aware that Camilla was in her new husband's life, and she found a pair of cufflinks with the initials "C" and "C" that Charles had brought on the trip. Diana later said, "One knew exactly. So I said, 'Camilla gave you those, didn't she?' He said, 'Yes, so what's wrong? They're a present from a friend.'""
Charles's behaviour on the honeymoon indicated that he was not ready to let go of his relationship with Camilla. He called her daily, and his valet, Stephen Barry, said that "the Prince simply had to be in contact with Camilla or he couldn't function properly." Charles also carried a photograph of Camilla in his date planner, which Diana discovered. These incidents caused jealousy and arguments between the couple.
The problems in their marriage continued after the honeymoon, with both Charles and Diana having extramarital affairs. In 1992, they announced their separation, and Diana revealed her deep unhappiness in her marriage and her struggles with bulimia and depression. Their divorce was messy, and Diana died just a year after the official papers were signed.
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Charles and Diana's honeymoon ended at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, a place Diana wasn't fond of
The honeymoon of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981 began with a two-week cruise of the Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea on the Royal Yacht Britannia. However, their honeymoon ended at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, a place that Princess Diana was not fond of.
Princess Diana had first visited Balmoral Castle, the Scottish castle retreat of the royal family, in September 1980, a few months before her wedding to Prince Charles. This visit was depicted in episode 2 of season 4 of the Netflix series "The Crown" as the "Balmoral Test", a rite of passage for many couples, where they meet the family.
Princess Diana reportedly did not enjoy her time at Balmoral Castle during her honeymoon. She spent her first hours at the estate crying and felt depressed and in a "very bad way" by October 1981. She also dreaded the eight-week annual trip to Balmoral, where she was surrounded by Prince Charles's family. She disliked the countryside, the rain, and the royal family's passion for horses and dogs. She also felt that her husband was avoiding intimate contact with her.
Princess Diana's unhappiness during their honeymoon at Balmoral Castle was further exacerbated by Prince Charles's ongoing relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles, who was married at the time. Princess Diana discovered a pair of cufflinks with the entwined initials "C" and "C" that belonged to Prince Charles, which he admitted were a gift from Camilla. Additionally, Prince Charles insisted on being in constant contact with Camilla, calling her daily, even during their honeymoon.
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Frequently asked questions
Although Camilla did not physically go on honeymoon with Charles and Diana, she was still very much present. Charles reportedly called her daily and wore a pair of cufflinks with the initials "C" and "C" intertwined.
Charles and Diana spent several weeks cruising the Greek islands on the Royal Yacht Britannia. They also visited Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
The honeymoon was described as "ill-fated" and "a total nightmare". Charles and Diana spent a lot of time arguing about Camilla, and Diana spent a lot of time crying.
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