Princess Diana She Felt Lonely After Marriage, Note Reveals

Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s nuptials were one of the most memorable royal weddings in recent history. On July 29, 1981, the two tied the knot at St. Paul’s Cathedral in front of 3,500 guests, and an estimated 750 million people around the world tuned in to watch the couple say “I do.” Later on in the day, the newlyweds appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to greet eager members of the British couple, eventually sharing a kiss, much to crowd’s pleasure. However, while much of the celebration looked (and felt) joyous, it appears that Diana was struggling to settle into her new role as a royal. In a letter written on July 31, 1981, just two days after their nuptials, she detailed the loneliness she felt on her big day. The note was addressed to Mark Simpson, a former footman at the palace.

“Dear Mark, I just wanted to thank you for all your kindness + patience you’ve showed towards me since I moved in to B.P.,” the princess wrote in the note. “My stay was made so much easier by your company as it was so terribly lonely + we had so many laughs for that I can’t thank you enough. Do hope you were able to enjoy Wednesday + that you liked my dress? I’m off to Britainia tomorrow, what with all those men around. I will have to keep/ a watchful eye on Evelyn! The bad news is that I haven’t eaten any cereal- sob. How am I going to cope without my bowls of cereal….[smiley face] A large thank you for being you- much love. Diana.” The letter, along with hundreds of other pieces, is part of an upcoming auction of the princess’ belongings, “Princess Diana’s Style & A Royal Collection.” The sale, which is hosted by Julien’s Auctions, will begin on Thursday, June 26, at The Peninsula Beverly Hills.

“This is one of my favorite pieces,” Martin Nolan, the co-founder and executive director of Julien’s Auctions, told People. “It’s like a couple of days after she got married. She’d been living in Buckingham Palace as she was transitioning from being a normal person to being a royal and the future queen.” The auctioneer also noted that the letter highlights just how lonely the princess felt in the days following her nuptials, providing a rare glimpse into her inner thoughts on palace life.

While the starting bid for the note is $1,000, it’s estimated to sell for between four and six times that. The auction also includes a number of other significant items from Diana’s collection, including a 1990 holiday card signed by Charles and Diana that features a photo of them with their two sons, a pair of her two-toned Chanel pumps, and a scarlet ski suit she donned while hitting the slopes.