How Princess Diana Disappointed Princess Anne By Snubbing An Important Event But With Reason

Princess Diana previously disappointed Princess Anne after she refused to attend one important event. The Princess of Wales was invited to attend Zara Tindall’s christening in 1981 by Princess Anne and her ex-husband, Captain Mark Phillips.

Since Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ wedding was scheduled just days after the christening, the late royal told Princess Anne that she couldn’t make it to Tindall’s baptism. Princess Diana had known all along that she wouldn’t be able to attend, but it was only two days before the christening that she told Princess Anne about her decision.

In the book “Prince Edward,” royal author Ingrid Seward talked about the importance of royal christenings. She also said that the likes of Prince Edward would never miss such an occasion.

“Such occasions are a cornerstone of the Royal Family’s routine, and essential part of the theatricality of their brand of monarchy; a moment when the whole family is on parade,” Seward said. “It would never have occurred to Edward or any of his family not to turn out for one. Diana, however, chose not to attend.”

According to the royal biographer, Princess Diana had already been telling other people that she would be skipping Tindall’s christening. However, she didn’t tell Princess Anne her decision early on.

“Her excuse was that she was too busy preparing for the wedding ball that was being held in her honor that night,” Seward recalled. “The tone of Anne’s response would have chilled the Arctic.”

But the royal author also revealed that there’s a deeper reason why Princess Diana refused to attend Princess Anne’s daughter’s christening. The late royal was aware that Prince Charles’ then mistress, Camilla Parker Bowles, would be there. After all, her ex-husband, Andrew Parker Bowles, is one of Tindall’s godparents.

This wasn’t the only negative encounter that Princess Diana and Princess Anne had with each other. While at the Royal Ascot in 1981, Princess Anne reportedly treated Prince Charles’ ex-wife with disdain and called Prince William and Prince Harry’s mom a silly girl.

Princess Diana tried to reach out to Princess Anne by curtsying in front of her while at the nursery. However, Princess Anne simply stared at the late royal scornfully.