How Was Prince Edward’s Relationship With Princess Diana?

Prince Edward is one of the more straightforward members of the royal family, and not much is known about him. The youngest of Queen Elizabeth II’s children stays away from controversy, maintaining a discreet position within the family and staying away from the limelight.

The Earl of Wessex is known to be very loyal to the family, so much so that he becomes overly protective even against the partners of his siblings. This has definitely gotten him in some word fights with his in-laws, placing a bit of a strain on his relationships with them. The same falls true with his relationship with the late Princess of Wales, Princess Diana.

Edward Didn’t Hold Diana ‘In High Regard’

In royal biographer Ingrid Seward’s book “Prince Edward: Biography,” Prince Edward is said to “not hold his sisters-in-law the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of York in high regard.”

This, Seward wrote, was in part due to the thoughts of Prince Philip, as he actually thought that they were “substantially responsible for many of the difficulties that have beset the royal family and so undermined their public standing.”

The author further suggests that Edward believed that his sisters-in-law had “let the side down” with their antics — marital woes, open indiscretions and public airing of private family issues.

He Was ‘Wary’ Of Diana And Stayed Away

“The Princess of Wales is a powerful force in the royal family and will remain so,” Seward wrote. “No matter how her life develops she will always be the mother of a future king.”

It is probably along this premise that caused Edward to be highly “wary” of his brother Prince Charles’ wife — as she would be the future queen. Seward further claimed that Edward “sensed the trouble she would cause,” thus proceeding to keep her at arm’s length to prepare for the “problems that lay ahead.”

She Was Out Of His Mind Until The End

When the royal family lost Princess Diana in a car crash in 1997, the public was left reeling. But some members of the royal family seemingly did not care, pushing the family into a controversial position of being called “heartless” — and one royal’s name in particular rose to the forefront.

Royal press secretary Dickie Arbiter recalled calling Prince Edward to sign Diana’s book of condolence, but Edward was more concerned if anyone was going to see him. The Earl of Wessex said that he’d rather not, instead opting to go with his brother later that evening. This really “brassed off” Arbiter, mainly because it showed how little Edward had cared for the loss.