When Did Charles and Diana Divorce?
The fifth season of The Crown focuses on the breakup of the marriage between the Prince and Princess of Wales and their subsequent divorce. This is an honest account of what took place in the event. The divorce between Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, was finalized in 1996 after the couple had been living apart for four years.
On December 9, 1992, just a few years earlier, then-Prime Minister John Major made the following declaration: “It has been determined that the Prince of Wales and the Princess of Wales will no longer be living together, according to a statement released by Buckingham Palace. The Royal Highnesses do not have any plans to end their marriage, so their constitutional roles will not change.”
The most crucial term in this context is “no plans to divorce,” as it is believed that Princess Diana did not desire a divorce. In an interview with Jonathan Dimbleby, which took place in the interim period between the formal separation and the divorce, Prince Charles revealed that he had an affair with Princess Diana after the couple’s marriage had broken down.
Princess Diana, like her sister, also gave a controversial interview in which she acknowledged having an affair. She also discussed her battles with postpartum depression, self-harm, and bulimia in this interview.
During an interview with Panorama in 1995, Diana famously stated, “there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.” She alluded to her marriage to Prince Charles and his relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles. In reference to the topic of divorce, the interviewer, Martin Bashir, inquires of her as follows: “Would it be your wish to divorce?” The response that Diana gives is, “No, it is not my wish.”
But by February 1996, Diana had already decided to end the marriage. Anthony Julius, Diana’s attorney, stated in an interview with BBC News following the announcement that they were divorcing that “it was a tough decision and one which the Princess of Wales has taken with immense sadness and regret.” Julius made these comments in response to the news of their separation.
What is different?
Late in 1995, Queen Elizabeth pushed for her son and Princess Diana to end their marriage. “After giving the matter some thought, Her Majesty the Queen penned a letter to Her Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales earlier this week. In it, she expressed her opinion that an early divorce is preferable, and the Duke of Edinburgh echoed her sentiments.
This perspective is shared by the Prince of Wales, who has communicated with his sister, the Princess of Wales, over this matter ever since the letter was received. “On December 21, 1995, Buckingham Palace issued a statement regarding the matter. “During this trying time, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will continue to do everything in their power to assist and lend support to the Prince and Princess of Wales, and most especially to their children,”
On February 29, 1996, Diana officially said she was okay with the impending divorce. A spokesperson for Diana issued a statement confirming that the Princess of Wales would keep her title and continue to be addressed as Diana, Princess of Wales.
In accordance with the divorce settlement terms, Diana was allowed to keep the apartments she had at Kensington Palace, and Charles and Diana had joint custody of their two children, William and Harry. On August 28, 1996, Prince Charles and Princess Diana finalized their divorce from one.
