The way Princess Diana celebrated her last Christmas in 1996 without her then-husband Prince Charles and their sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, has come to light.
Diana and Charles’ turbulent marriage had ended months earlier when their divorce was completed.
Diana reportedly fired her employees so they could spend the holiday with their families, and it appears that she was by herself on Christmas Eve and Day. Working with Diana during Christmas was always “sad,” according to former royal chef Darren McGrady.
He recalled: “Princess Diana was there by herself when William and Harry were leaving for Sandringham. She insisted that we leave the food in the refrigerator and that the staff spend Christmas with their families.”
Diana had found previous Christmases spent in Sandringham difficult, believing she was met with a “frosty reception” from the rest of the royal family. Although she was there for her sons, she described the atmosphere as “tense and uneasy.”
“But she didn’t stay for lunch,” he went on. Rather, she returned home by herself to Kensington Palace, where she passed the remainder of the day before boarding a plane to Washington to spend time with friends.
“The same thing happened in 1994, but Diana felt she was given a ‘frosty’ reception by the other royals.”
“Diana didn’t feel welcome at all,” said Richard Kay, Editor at Large for the Daily Mail. She could tell how everyone was stiff and uncomfortable just by her presence. She had accompanied them because of the lads, but it was not functioning.”
Diana’s sentiments of being a “outsider” during her visits to Sandringham were described in audio recordings as “terrifying and so disappointing”.
