Junior Rasmussen
After their wedding in 1981, Princess Diana and Prince Charles embarked on a three-month-long honeymoon, spending several weeks cruising the Greek islands on the royal yacht Britannia. The trip was complicated by several factors, including an age difference, Charles' relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles, and Diana's battle with bulimia. In 1991, the couple travelled to Italy with their young sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, in what was dubbed by the press as a second honeymoon. However, their marriage was already falling apart, and they would announce their separation the following year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of honeymoon | 1981 |
| Honeymoon trip | A 14-day cruise through the Mediterranean and Aegean onboard the Royal Yacht Britannia |
| Honeymoon trip also included | A few days at Balmoral, the royal family's home in Scotland |
| Second honeymoon trip | Italy, 1991 |
| Second honeymoon yacht trip | Along the Italian coast, near the isle of Capri |
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What You'll Learn
Lady Diana and Prince Charles's honeymoon cruise through the Greek islands
Princess Diana and Prince Charles's honeymoon cruise through the Greek islands in 1981 was a far cry from the "fairytale wedding" they had just enjoyed. The newlyweds' trip got off to a rocky start, with Charles telling Diana the night before the wedding that he didn't love her. Despite this, the couple boarded the royal yacht Britannia for a 14-day cruise through the Mediterranean and Aegean. The trip was meant to be a romantic getaway, but it was complicated by several factors, including the couple's age difference, Charles' ongoing relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles, and Diana's battle with bulimia.
The honeymoon was also marred by reports of conflict between the couple. Diana reportedly resented Charles for spending hours painting, and they often had heated arguments. On one occasion, Diana even destroyed Charles' painting and all his materials while he was away from his easel. The trip also included some less-than-romantic guests, with King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, as well as Prince Charles' cousin, Lord Romsey, and his wife, Lady Penelope, joining the cruise.
The troubles continued when the couple returned to the UK, spending a few days at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, a place Diana was not fond of. She spent six hours crying when they arrived, and the trip ended on a sour note. The honeymoon was far from the happy start to married life that the couple had hoped for, and it set the tone for a marriage that would later be described as "unhappy" and "fulfilling". Just 11 years after their wedding, Charles and Diana separated, divorcing in 1996, a year before Diana's tragic death.
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The cufflinks gifted by Camilla Parker Bowles
Princess Diana and Prince Charles embarked on their honeymoon in 1981, starting in Broadlands, Hampshire, the family seat of Charles's late great-uncle, Earl Mountbatten. They then went on a two-week cruise around the Mediterranean and Aegean, followed by several weeks at Balmoral in Scotland.
During their honeymoon, Princess Diana discovered that Prince Charles was still in love with Camilla Parker Bowles. Diana noticed that Charles wore a pair of gold cufflinks with interwoven Cs, which had been given to him by Camilla. This discovery added to Diana's growing suspicion that Charles and Camilla were still involved in an emotional affair. She also found a photograph of Camilla in Charles's diary.
Princess Diana was distraught during her honeymoon, as she realised that her new husband was still in love with his old flame. She and Charles had different interests and little in common. While Charles wanted to swim, read, paint, and write thank-you notes, Diana wanted to spend time talking with her new husband. In her letters to her family's former housekeeper, however, Diana described the honeymoon as a "tremendous success".
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The couple's stop at Balmoral Castle, Scotland
After their wedding in 1981, Princess Diana and Prince Charles embarked on their honeymoon, starting with a cruise through the Mediterranean and Aegean onboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. However, their trip was marred by several issues, including an age difference, Prince Charles' relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles, and Princess Diana's battle with bulimia.
The last stop on their honeymoon was Balmoral Castle in Scotland, a royal estate and the family home. Princess Diana was not fond of the place and reportedly spent six hours crying when they arrived. The trip to Balmoral Castle marked the end of their honeymoon, which was described as a "honeymoon from hell".
Princess Diana and Prince Charles' relationship continued to deteriorate, and they formally announced their separation in December 1992, eleven years after their wedding. Their marriage was plagued by challenges, and they eventually divorced in 1996, a year before Princess Diana's tragic death.
The issues within their relationship were evident even before their wedding, as Prince Charles reportedly told Princess Diana that he did not love her the night before their marriage. Despite this, Princess Diana went through with the wedding, which was dubbed the "wedding of the century" and watched by an estimated 750 million people worldwide.
In 1991, the couple travelled to Italy with their sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, in what was dubbed by the press as their "second honeymoon". However, this trip also highlighted the tensions in their marriage, and they ultimately separated the following year.
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Their second honeymoon in Italy, 1991
In August 1991, Prince Charles and Princess Diana of Wales embarked on a trip to Italy with their family, including their sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. They travelled on the Prince's yacht, the Alexandra, off the coast of Naples. The British press dubbed the trip a "second honeymoon", with the media describing the trip as a "love cruise" and a romantic trip. However, the trip was far from romantic, and the couple's marriage was already strained.
The trip was a private vacation for family and friends, so the exact details are unknown. However, it is known that the couple was joined by King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, as well as Prince Charles's cousin, Lord Romsey, and his wife, Lady Penelope (then known as Lady Romsey). The yacht was over 343 feet long and belonged to billionaire Yiannis Latsis.
The trip came at a time when the couple's relationship was under strain, and it would prove to be a breaking point in their marriage. Earlier that year, 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. The conflict between the couple was rapidly escalating, and they would separate just over a year later, in December 1992.
The trip was depicted in Season 5 of the TV show The Crown, which took some creative liberties in its portrayal of the events. The show depicts the couple engaging in public displays of affection to cover up the cracks in their relationship. However, the trip is also shown to be a breaking point in their marriage, with the couple arguing and Charles leaving early for a speaking engagement.
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The Crown's depiction of the Italy trip
Season 5 of The Crown begins with Prince Charles and Princess Diana's "second honeymoon" in Italy in 1991, which proved to be a breaking point in their marriage. The couple took their sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, on a yacht holiday off the coast of Naples. The British press called the trip a "'second honeymoon," but the trip was anything but romantic. The couple's marriage was already falling apart by this point.
The Crown depicts the trip as a love cruise to put the sparkle back in their marriage. The show portrays the couple as engaging in public displays of affection and hamming up "some of the old magic" for the public. However, the facade doesn't last long, and the couple is shown breaking into a shouting match when Charles says he has to leave the trip early. The presence of other people on the boat acts as a buffer, allowing the couple to avoid each other much of the time. The episode also shows the couple having different interests, with Charles wanting to go sightseeing while Diana prefers shopping.
The Crown also alludes to the ongoing relationship between Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, which was a source of tension in their marriage. In May 1991, right before the yacht trip, Charles went on a solo painting holiday to Tuscany, where Camilla stayed in a villa just 30 minutes away.
Overall, The Crown's depiction of the Italy trip portrays the underlying tensions and conflicts in the marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, despite their attempts to present a united front to the public.
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Frequently asked questions
Lady Diana and Prince Charles spent their honeymoon sailing around the Greek islands and the Aegean on the Royal Yacht Britannia.
The honeymoon followed a lavish wedding ceremony and was several weeks long. However, it was reportedly a difficult trip for the couple, who had several disagreements.
In 1991, the couple went on what the press dubbed their "second honeymoon" to Italy. They travelled with their sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, and friends on a yacht off the coast of Naples.
