Prince Charles Feared Diana Divorce Before Marrying Princess

Prince Charles feared divorce from Princess Diana even before he married her, according to recently released letters the heir to the British throne sent to an ex-girlfriend.

According to the Express, Charles’ handwritten letters to Janet Jenkins, who worked as a receptionist at Canada’s British consulate in Montreal, explained that he had “enormous concern” of the effect a divorce with Diana would have on his children. This came in response to Jenkins’ admittance that she was recently divorced. Charles wrote:

“Thank goodness you discovered the mistake early enough and didn’t start a family. Starting a family and making a mistake like that is frankly, something which concerns me enormously.”

It’s believed that the above response comes from a seven-page letter, which was written in Charles’ trademark scribe, that was sent in June 1980. This was 11 months before Charles eventually exchanged vows with Princess Diana.

Noting just how apprehensive he was about the build-up and media pressure surrounding his nuptials, Charles added, “I shall just have to get married as soon as possible and then all these people might relax a little.”

Five other letters between Prince Charles and Ms. Jenkins, which were penned in 1976 and Charles and Jenkins were 26 and 30, respectively, have also been unveiled.

In the other letters that Charles sent to the former Royal Navy officer, the prince also mentions meeting up together for a romantic rendezvous. Charles even proposes that they should meet in her apartment because it would be the quietest location.

“I would have thought your apartment is the quietest place. If we went out the press would be on to it in a flash and that would be misery.”

In fact, during his 1980 letter to Ms. Jenkins, Prince Charles couldn’t help but have a little flirt with his old girlfriend, as he added, “I still think my solution of marrying a girl from each Commonwealth country is the best one.”

These letters have recently been put up for auction in the United States by Alicia Carroll, a collector of British royal memorabilia. She is hoping that they will be sold for around $3,900. Carroll previously tried to sell these letters on eBay for $30,000.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana did marry in 1981, and they had two children, Prince William and Prince Harry. However, they ultimately separated in 1992, before they then divorced in 1996. Princess Diana died in a car crash in 1997 in Paris, while Prince Charles married Camilla Parker-Bowles in 2005.

(Photo by Carlos Alvarez /Getty Images)