Deborah Chan
In 1981, Prince Charles and Princess Diana honeymooned in Hampshire, Europe, and Scotland. A decade later, in 1991, the couple embarked on a trip to Italy with their family, which was dubbed a second honeymoon by the press. The trip was described as a breaking point in their marriage, and the two separated just over a year later, in December 1992.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1991 |
| Month | August |
| Destination | Italy |
| Type of trip | Yacht trip |
| Route | Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Naples |
| Yacht | Alexandra |
| Yacht owner | Prince Charles |
| Yacht size | Over 343 feet |
| Yacht guests | King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Norton Knatchbull, Penny Knatchbull, Alexandra Knatchbull, Nicholas Knatchbull, Leonora Knatchbull |
| Yacht guests' relationship to Charles and Diana | Cousins, in-laws, nephews and nieces |
| Yacht crew | Several aides |
| Purpose | Second honeymoon, 10th wedding anniversary |
| Media coverage | The Evening Standard, Shutterstock, Vogue, Town & Country, Insider, The Herald Scotland |
| Media portrayal | Romantic, "love cruise" |
| Actual atmosphere | Tense, breaking point in their marriage |
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What You'll Learn
Charles and Diana's 1981 honeymoon
In 1981, Prince Charles and Princess Diana embarked on their honeymoon after their wedding. The couple began their married life by taking a train to Romsey in Hampshire, where they stayed at the Broadlands estate, which was the family home of Prince Philip. They then enjoyed an 11-day cruise on board the Royal Yacht Britannia, which they boarded at the Rock of Gibraltar. During their cruise, they visited Algeria, Tunisia, Sicily, the Greek islands, and Egypt. To finish off their travels in October, Charles and Diana flew to Balmoral, the Scottish home of the late Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother.
A decade later, in 1991, Charles and Diana took a trip to Italy, which was dubbed a "second honeymoon" by the press. They vacationed on the Alexandra yacht off the coast of Naples with their two sons, Princes William and Harry, and several other friends and family members, including Charles' cousin, Norton Knatchbull, his wife, Penelope, and their children. This trip was portrayed in the first episode of Season 5 of "The Crown," although it took some creative liberties in its depiction of the events. While the exact details of the trip are unknown, it is believed that the couple's marriage was already in trouble at the time.
The Italy trip marked a decade of marriage for Charles and Diana, who celebrated their 10-year wedding anniversary on July 29, 1991, just before their vacation. The couple's relationship was already showing signs of strain, and the trip was later described as a breaking point in their marriage. In May 1991, just before the yacht trip, Prince Charles took a solo painting holiday to Tuscany, during which Camilla Parker Bowles stayed in a villa just 30 minutes away from him.
The "second honeymoon" was described by the press at the time as a "love cruise" intended to add some sparkle to their marriage. However, the reality was quite different, with the couple reportedly spending much of the trip avoiding each other. They had differing interests, with Charles wanting to sightsee while Diana preferred shopping. This trip would be one of the last attempts at a romantic getaway before their separation in December 1992.
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The couple's 1991 'second honeymoon'
In August 1991, Prince Charles and Princess Diana of Wales embarked on a yacht holiday to Italy with their sons, Princes William and Harry. The trip was described by the British press as a "second honeymoon", a "love cruise", and a "romantic" getaway. However, the reality of the trip was quite different from the media's portrayal.
The couple's trip was far from romantic, with Charles and Diana wanting to do completely opposite things. While Charles wanted to follow a heavily historical sightseeing itinerary, Diana was more interested in shopping. The presence of other people on the boat, including King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, as well as Prince Charles' cousin, Lord Romsey, and his wife, Lady Penelope, may have also contributed to the tension between the couple, as they served as buffers, allowing Charles and Diana to avoid each other.
The trip was a breaking point in their marriage, with Diana later sharing how unhappy she was in the relationship. The couple separated just over a year later, in December 1992. The tensions between the couple were also depicted in the first episode of the fifth season of The Crown, which portrayed the trip as a dysfunctional scenario, with creative liberties taken for dramatic effect.
Adding to the troubles in their relationship, just a month before this trip, Prince Charles had gone on a week-long painting holiday to Tuscany, claiming it was a solo vacation. However, the press discovered that Camilla Parker Bowles had flown out to stay in a villa just 30 minutes away from Charles, raising suspicions about the true nature of their relationship.
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The Crown's portrayal of the trip
The Crown's portrayal of Charles and Diana's second honeymoon in Italy in 1991 is depicted as a "breaking point" in their marriage. The show depicts the trip as far from romantic, with the couple wanting to do opposite things and avoiding each other for much of the time. The Crown also shows the presence of several other people on board the yacht, acting as buffers between the couple.
While the exact details of the real-life trip are unknown, it is likely that the Waleses' marriage was already in trouble at this point. There had been reports of the couple staying on separate floors during a trip to Czechoslovakia earlier that year, and Charles had reportedly spent time near Camilla Parker Bowles during a solo trip to Tuscany before the honeymoon. The Crown implies that the recording of tapes for Andrew Morton's book "Diana: In Her Own Words" took place over a longer period, allowing for some flexibility in the timeline.
The show depicts the trip as beginning with the couple smiling and posing for photographs, with tension building as they debate their activities. The presence of family and friends on the trip, including Charles' cousin Norton Knatchbull and his wife Penny, is also shown. The Crown portrays the honeymoon as a tense and conflict-ridden vacation, with creative liberties taken for dramatic effect.
The yacht chosen for the honeymoon in The Crown is the Christina O, previously owned by Jackie Kennedy's second husband, Aristotle Onassis. The show did not film on the actual yacht used by the royal couple, the Alexandra, which is currently available for charter. The Crown's portrayal of the trip as a "second honeymoon" reflects the press's description at the time, although it is unclear if the couple shared this sentiment. The trip was taken to celebrate the couple's tenth wedding anniversary, and they were joined by their two children, William and Harry.
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The trip's impact on their marriage
After their 1981 wedding, Prince Charles and Princess Diana honeymooned in Hampshire, Europe, and Scotland. They were joined by Princes William and Harry for their second honeymoon in 1991, which they spent sailing along the Italian coast. This trip was also referred to as a "second honeymoon" by the press, although it is unclear whether the couple shared this view.
The exact details of the trip are unknown, as it was a private vacation for family and friends only. However, it is believed that the Waleses' marriage was already falling apart by this point. Earlier in 1991, there were reports of the couple staying on separate floors during a trip to Czechoslovakia, and during a solo trip to Tuscany, Charles stayed just half an hour away from Camilla Parker Bowles. In addition, the couple had different interests and wanted to do different things during the trip. For instance, while Charles wanted to go sightseeing, Diana wanted to go shopping.
The trip was thought to have been a "breaking point" in their marriage, and they separated just over a year later, in December 1992. In May 1991, right before this yacht trip, Prince Charles went on a week-long painting holiday to Tuscany. He claimed it was a solo vacation, but the press soon found out that Camilla Parker Bowles was staying just 30 minutes away from him.
The Crown's depiction of the trip in Season 5 also shows the couple's vacation as tense, although it takes some creative liberties with the facts. The show depicts the trip as a "love cruise" to put the sparkle back in their marriage. However, in reality, the trip was far from romantic, and the couple was already having difficulties in their relationship.
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Charles and Diana's relationship in 1991
In 1991, Prince Charles and Princess Diana's relationship was strained and troubled. The couple embarked on a "second honeymoon" in Italy, which was described by the press as a "love cruise" to repair their marriage. However, the trip was reported to be far from romantic, with Charles and Diana wanting to do different activities and using other people on board as buffers to avoid each other. This trip was depicted in Season 5 of "The Crown", although the show took creative liberties in its portrayal.
In the same year, Princess Diana made secret recordings of interviews with James Colthurst, in which she discussed her marital issues and difficulties. These recordings were later used as a source for the book "Diana: Her True Story" by Andrew Morton, published in 1992, which caused a media storm. The book revealed Diana's alleged unhappiness and struggles with bulimia and depression.
In May 1991, Prince Charles went on a solo painting holiday to Tuscany, Italy. However, it was reported that Camilla Parker Bowles flew out to stay at a villa just 30 minutes away from Charles, indicating a possible secret honeymoon.
Despite their marital issues, Charles and Diana still carried out their royal duties and made several trips together in 1991. They visited Queen's University at Kingston, Ontario, where they presented a replica of their royal charter. They also travelled to Brazil, where Diana visited organisations combating homelessness among street children. Additionally, Diana made a solo trip to Pakistan to visit a rehabilitation centre in Lahore, demonstrating her commitment to fighting drug abuse.
In November 1990, the couple travelled to Japan to attend the enthronement of Emperor Akihito. Diana also visited Germany in December 1990 and January 1991 to meet with families of soldiers during the Gulf War. She later wrote an encouraging letter, which was published in military publications.
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Frequently asked questions
Charles and Diana's honeymoon in 1981 lasted 11 days.
They went on a cruise on board the Royal Yacht Britannia, starting at the Rock of Gibraltar and visiting Algeria, Tunisia, Sicily, the Greek islands and Egypt. They then flew to Balmoral in Scotland.
Charles and Diana took a trip to Italy in 1991, which was dubbed a "second honeymoon" by the press. They sailed around the Italian coast on a yacht with their two children and some family friends.
It is unclear how long Charles and Diana's second honeymoon was, but it is assumed to have been a few days to a couple of weeks.
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