A newly revealed letter from Princess Diana is shedding light on one of her hopes for sons Prince William and Prince Harry years before their now well-documented royal rift.
According to People, the late Princess of Wales wrote a two-page letter to a supporter named Michael Barratt in November 1995, just days after her headline-making BBC “Panorama” interview. The correspondence, which has never been publicly seen before, is now heading to auction through Reeman Dansie’s “Royalty, Antiques & Fine Art” sale.
The most notable detail from the letter centers on William and Harry. According to the auction house, Diana looked forward to teaching her sons “the importance of communication on a deeper level.”
The letter also revealed Diana’s hopes that her “Panorama” interview would help other women facing difficult circumstances. Per Reeman Dansie, she was deeply touched by Barratt’s supportive message and connected with his thoughts about self-knowledge and moving forward in life.
Diana described the fan’s support as “invaluable” and concluded the note with, “With my best wishes, Yours sincerely, Diana.”
Written on personalized Kensington Palace stationery and dated Nov. 27, 1995, the letter offers a rare glimpse into Diana’s mindset during a pivotal chapter of her life.
The Letter Has Renewed Interest in William and Harry’s Relationship
The newly surfaced correspondence is drawing attention in part because of where William and Harry’s relationship stands today.
The brothers have been estranged for years following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to step back from royal duties in 2020. Tensions later escalated through a series of interviews, the Netflix documentary “Harry & Meghan” and Harry’s 2023 memoir, “Spare.”
In a March interview with People, royal author Omid Scobie claimed the situation between the brothers remains largely unchanged.
“Nothing has changed,” Scobie said, adding that Harry still hopes for accountability and honest conversations with his older brother.
Scobie also alleged that Harry has made multiple attempts to reach out over the years but has not received the response he was hoping for.
Meanwhile, a source cited in Russell Myers’ book “William and Catherine: The Monarchy’s New Era” said William felt deeply betrayed by Harry, particularly after the release of “Spare.”
Diana Wrote the Letter Months Before a Major Turning Point
Diana’s letter was written just one week after her famous “Panorama” interview aired on Nov. 20, 1995.
During that interview, Diana candidly discussed her marriage to then-Prince Charles and delivered one of the most quoted lines in royal history: “There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.”
At the time, Diana and Charles had already been separated for several years. Their divorce would be finalized in August 1996.
According to People, the upcoming auction also includes other Diana memorabilia, including documents from a 1996 Madame Tussauds sitting that detailed everything from her hairstyle to her makeup preferences.
Still, it is Diana’s words about William and Harry that have generated the most attention, particularly given the distance that remains between the brothers today and her wish to teach them “the importance of communication on a deeper level.”
