Though King Charles and Princess Diana’s marriage ended in divorce in 1996, their relationship wasn’t always trying. In fact, recently released correspondences about their honeymoon indicate that Diana felt optimistic about the beginning of their marriage, and new revelations from a royal biographer indicate that the late Princess of Wales was in possession of even more romantic musings from her years with Charles, including love letters actually written by her former husband. “Diana told me very shortly before she died that she wished people could see the love letters that she had from Charles,” royal biographer Ingrid Seward said, according to The Times. “She really wanted people to know that she loved Charles and he loved her. And I always remembered that. And she wanted the boys to know that. There was a period of great love between them.”
According to People, Diana shared these thoughts with Seward shortly before her death in 1997, and she mentioned that it was important to her that “the early days of her romance with the heir to the throne to be properly reflected,” The Times notes. It was important to her that the public, along with her children, understood that their relationship was genuine and that they shared a real connection—at the beginning of their union, at least.
While it’s unclear what years the love letters are from—they could be from the beginning of their relationship, before King Charles popped the question, or from the months before their children were born—or where they are today, other notes from her private collection have been surfaced in recent months. There’s also no word on where the love letters are today, or if they are even still in existence.
Earlier this month, letters that Diana wrote to her former housekeeper about the honeymoon came to light, and she described the post-nuptial getaway with Charles as “a tremendous success.” “I do hope you weren’t too tired after all the wedding activities, and that you were able to see a lot from where your seats were,” Diana wrote in the letter. “The honeymoon was a tremendous success, and we had a glorious time catching up on our lost energy and sleep. I just wanted you both to know how deeply touched I am by your thoughtfulness and, again, a million thanks. Endless love and affection—Diana.”