(bright upbeat orchestral music) - [Narrator] It had started so well, the wedding of the century,
off to a glorious start. (crowd cheering) A beautiful princess had fallen in love with her prince charming, a man who could offer her a golden future. Yet within a decade the
fairytale had turned to ashes. For years, they had
managed to put on a show of public affection, but as
the marriage disintegrated, the mask began to slip. On an official visit to Korea, they found it impossible
to act out the charade. Weighed down by years
of a loveless marriage, they quite simply could not bear to be in each other's company. The cause of the problem was Charles's continuing relationship
with his girlfriend, Camilla Parker Bowles. For years, Diana's friends watched her self-confidence diminishing as the other woman took over. - Camilla, supposedly
much more his own age, a little older than him actually, supposedly was the only
woman he could talk to who could understand him,
who he felt understood him in ways that Diana was
too young and naive, in his view, to do. And obviously, this confidant
who could also make him laugh, it's quite clear from the tapes, if nothing else, that they had fun in bed. - There was probably no one to talk to. So he's going to lean on
the shoulder of a friend, and that friend happened to be a woman. And I think probably Camilla, (chuckling) probably saved Charles his sanity. - The Prince of Wales was
brought up by older women. He was surrounded by adoring
nannies and servants. And Camilla is a mature woman, she's round about the
same age, but you know, in terms of maturity, much, much older than the Prince of Wales. She is not the most attractive, obviously attractive woman in the world. And yet there's certain
sensuality about her, which there often is about
nannies and nursemaids. - I think what Charles
needed and still needs, is a soulmate, and I don't
think he's found that. So he certainly didn't find that in Diana. - [Narrator] Diana is relieved that the days of pretending are over. Now that everything is out in the open and she's officially
separated from her husband, she can take on a modest, but more honest role in her public duties. (bagpipe music) Her official engagements are now rare. When she does appear in public, her elegance and sense of
style is still spectacular. Drawing the spotlight away from Charles, this is her way of hitting
back at her husband, the man who betrayed her. A poisonous war still rages between them. Her suspicions linger on
that Charles has escaped from the marriage morally unscathed, despite his admission of adultery. - Anyone would be mad to say
that Charles wasn't pleased to be out of what was a very,
very unhappy relationship for both of them. And I think saying he's
pleased to be shot off, was probably rather a
cruel way of putting it. I think he is delighted that
the sham of his marriage has finally come to an end, as is she. - [Narrator] Diana is buoyed
up by public sympathy, but there is hostility towards her from Charles' friends and family. When the Queen invited Camilla to polo at Windsor Great Park,
royal unity was maintained despite all fingers pointing at Camilla as the other woman in Charles's life. Retiring to lick his
wounds is not in character for the Prince of Wales. It's not in his nature to
hide from the spotlight. Charles has never known life without it. For a man under pressure,
polo is a vital outlet for his frustration. - [Charles] Bloody horse, damn you. Don't do this to me. - [Narrator] Everything has
always revolved around Charles, with every practical need taken care of, his path continuously smoothed. As a young man, finding the right woman was a major preoccupation. - When you marry, in my position, you're going to marry
somebody who perhaps one day, is gonna become Queen. And you've got to choose
somebody very carefully who could fulfill this particular role. Because people like you perhaps
would expect quite a lot from somebody like that. And it's got to be
somebody pretty special. - [Narrator] The fairytale
princess miraculously appeared. The wedding was watched by
700 million people worldwide. (upbeat optimistic orchestral music) (crowd cheering) The young princess
captured people's hearts for her youthful manner
and fine good looks. She appeared to be
tailor-made for the job. Their romance had started
when she was just 17. They had met in a plowed field and Charles was immediately taken by
Diana's shy, bashful good looks. He dithered for years
over his choice of bride and had eaten courted Camilla
Parker Bowles in her youth. Being a Catholic ruled
her out of the running, so the arrival of the innocent
and unblemished Diana, seemed like a gift from heaven. - Devil of a time so far, isn't it? - [Narrator] At their
engagement interview, Diana was in no doubt that
she was marrying for love, while Charles doubted the
true meaning of the word. - [Interviewer] And I suppose in love? - Of course. - Whatever in love means. - Yes. (chuckling) - Diana was in love
with Charles and in love with the idea of Charles,
but in a very immature way. I mean, of course, how could she be anything else but immature? She was 19 years old. (crowd cheering) - [Narrator] The 13-year age gap was thought not to be important. - It was probably his sense of duty. After all his motto is, (speaking in foreign language), I serve. And he felt that he should get married. He felt that he'd been romancing
this innocent young girl and that really, the pressure was on. And also everybody wanted
him to get married, and I think they all got swept
away in the euphoria of it. - [Narrator] After their
wedding, Charles brought his new wife to meet the Welsh people. The weather was appalling
but the reception was warm. Thousands of people filled the
streets for a chance to see their first Princess of
Wales for more than 70 years. It was three days of
continuous walkabouts, functions and speeches, a traumatic experience
for the young Diana. - It was freezing cold,
it was pouring with rain. The Princess of Wales was pregnant and not feeling at all well,
but being very brave about it. In fact, she was being
sick every five seconds and everybody was finding the nearest loo. And we got off the royal train
and I was right behind her, and she was so frightened, she was vibrating like a tuning fork. I mean, you could see the
absolute terror of it, but she was, true Spencer
grit was coming to the fore. And we walked down this
long grim station platform, and beyond we could see
these huge, huge crowds. And it was as if she took a deep breath and plunged into icy water. She just ran forward and thrust
her hands into the crowd, and they were absolutely overwhelmed. Our next stop an hour later,
she was a changed girl. She'd broken the ice, she'd done it. She'd felt the warmth of the
crowd for the first time. - [Narrator] Determined
to make a memorable impact on the people of Wales,
a hesitant and nervous 21-year-old princess impressed them by making her first ever public speech. (audience applauding) - I am extremely grateful
to you, Lord Mayor, and to the city council,
and to the city of Cardiff for granting me the freedom of the city. I realize it is a very great
honor, and I am most grateful. (audience applauding) - [Narrator] Images after
the birth of Prince William radiated happiness and true love. - Perhaps when they first got married, they had a problems as a lot of people do. But I think when she had William
that they did have a period of when they were very, very happy, and I'm sure he was in love with her. And I think I remember
talking to him at the time and he prefaced everything
with, "My wife". He didn't want to talk
about anything except Diana, and he obviously doted
on her and the child. - At her former flatmate's wedding, Diana appeared with her
new husband Charles. To begin with, Diana had
considerable influence over her husband. She softened him up and introduced him to her circle of friends,
all in an attempt to make him feel relaxed
in the company of people more of her own age. - I think Diana did try,
and to a degree succeeded in bringing Charles up to date a bit. I mean, she certainly seemed
to change his style of clothes, and she had some impact I
think, I seem to remember on his hairstyle, but
not much. (chuckling) I mean, he's basically a
very, very conservative man. He was born aged 45. So I think she had an uphill struggle. - [Narrator] Old habits die hard. Charles found it difficult to shake off years of royal upbringing. - Prince Charles basically was brought up by nannies and by the Queen Mother. And it is interesting that the
two role models that he's had have been the Queen Mother
and his own mother, the Queen. The Queen Mother is both a
symbol before she is a mother. So he's a very, I think
a Jungian psychologist would have a field day looking at this man who can only fulfill
himself as an individual when his mother dies. - [Narrator] Charles'
relationship with his mother, the Queen, had never been a natural one. Ever since he was a baby, her royal duties had kept them apart. Charles, a sensitive and timid child, was dispatched to Gordonstoun, a rough and rugged
boarding school in Scotland where his father had been as a boy. The tough surroundings, cold
showers and early morning dips were part of the daily routine. There were doubts that this
was the right kind of school for the sensitive Charles. - He'd, in my view,
already been a victim once. You know, as a victim of his childhood and a victim of the fact that his parents had not really been available to him a great deal of the time. And so by sending him to a school where he was expected
almost to fend for himself with a very, very strong,
powerful headmaster, in many ways rather like his father, I would have thought it was
not the right thing for him. - [Narrator] Charles could
never be called a wimp. In his teens he chose to take up polo, determined to prove his
strength, fitness, and courage in this robust and dangerous sport. Royal family tradition is
steeped in horsemanship. Charles' increasing obsession with polo revealed a deep need
to impress his father. - He has tried in many,
in some ways I suppose, to emulate his father. His father is a very masculine man. He swims, he rides, plays polo. And of course, I think the
fact that Prince Charles took up this sport of polo was in some way trying to emulate his father,
and trying to make his father like him and admire him and respect him. And the only time that I've
ever heard of Prince Charles ever really standing up to his father, was at Buckingham Palace
many, many years ago, when Prince Charles was about 21 or 22, and they were having a row. And all of a sudden, this was told to me by a former private
secretary to the Queen, they heard Prince Charles
say to Prince Philip, "Just remember who you're speaking to. You're speaking to a
future King of England." - [Narrator] When Charles
was 18, the Queen presented her son to the people of
Wales at Caernarfon Castle. From an early age, Charles was prepared for his royal duties. - I think Charles was
enormously handicapped by his upbringing. He didn't have the sort
of tactile relationship with his parents that most children have, therefore he didn't really know how to behave towards other people. He didn't see his parents have
a very tactile relationship. It was all hugely formal and awkward, and there were lots of long absences. So he really had no role model. - [Narrator] Charles
found a sympathetic ear in his great uncle,
Lord Louis Mountbatten. This charismatic older figure, once the last Viceroy of India, decided to step in and nurture
this hesitant adolescent and groom him in statesmanship. It was a very special relationship. - Go and see the heads of
states, the Prime Ministers. - Mountbatten was the
sort of avuncular figure who is a figure of fun on many occasions, but they took his advice about things to do with royal relationships. - [Narrator] In 1979, Lord
Mountbatten was suddenly and tragically murdered by an IRA bomb while on holiday in Ireland. Charles had lent heavily
on him for advice. Had he lived, he would
have undoubtedly helped him to sort out his relationship with Diana. - Had Mountbatten been alive, now in full control of his faculties, we would have seen a very
different development from what we have seen. I think that Mountbatten
probably would have tried desperately hard to charm
Diana, and he could do it. He could charm the birds
off a tree, he really could. He would have charmed,
and he would have used some form of emotional
blackmail to get her on his side and explain to her that
duty was all important. Nevermind about the unhappiness
in your private life, your public duty is all important. And I believe that they probably
would have stayed together if Lord Mountbatten had been alive now. - [Narrator] In the
beginning, Charles and Diana's relationship appeared
perfectly harmonious. Diana settled into the
routine of royal duties, accompanying her husband
on foreign visits, stunning people with her beauty. The public's perception was
one of a happy young woman who had adapted to the
pressure of royal life with extraordinary ease and grace. (bright upbeat orchestral music) During an official visit to Italy, the veneer that barely
covered their troubles was slowly beginning to crack. Diana was suffering from
the eating disorder, bulimia nervosa. Despite her elegant charm, her loss of weight and
sudden change of moods was causing concern amongst her friends. (Diana speaking in foreign language) - I worked that out. (laughing) - [Reporter] Salute,
now could you translate? - My husband and I are
very happy to be here. - [Narrator] Outwardly
Diana appeared in control, but beneath her glamorous
facade was a woman in turmoil. - Just how kind and wonderful
the Italians have been to us. They've made us feel so much at home and it's a most beautiful place. - [Narrator] She confided in her friends that in her husband's presence, he made her feel intellectually
insecure and inferior. - English people have been
there for years and years. - So what we do know from
what members of their staff have revealed, that Diana could be very, very difficult to live with. And in fact, when she was
suffering from bulimia, one of the symptoms of that disease is wildly irrational behavior. She would scream and rant and
rave and throw things around. And of course, Prince Charles was not equipped to cope with this. He'd never been brought up where people showed their emotions
in public in this way. - [Narrator] Here in one of the most romantic cities in the world,
Charles' preoccupations were far too low-key for
someone of Diana's generation. She wasn't immune from
the beauty of Venice, but their basic divergence of interests was becoming more noticeable. Charles recorded his impressions of Venice from the royal yacht Britannia. By nature more serious-minded,
Charles is a deep thinker. It was the start of a great
love affair with Italy. Its beauty and antiquity
appealed to his fascination with history and his passion for painting. He later chose Italy to
host the first exclusive public exhibition of his own watercolors at Raphael's house in Urbino. Craving attention from her husband, Diana attracted love and affection from her adoring public. Her husband's status gave her the platform upon which she could flourish. (crowd shouting) Diana has always taken exceptional
care over her appearance and goes to great lengths to
stand out above her husband. - Well initially he seemed quite pleased when people wanted his wife
and everybody adored her. But then very quickly he
began to grow tired of this. I noticed it in Australia early on. Whenever they'd walk
down a street together, there'd be crowds either
side of the street. He'd go down one side,
she'd go down another. And when, on his side of the street, all the public would say, "We want Di," and poor Prince Charles
would end up saying, "I'm sorry, there's only me." At one point in England, when he went to Silverstone racetrack, a little boy came up to him
and said, "Where's Diana?" And the Prince by that stage
had got very cross about it all and said, "I'm sorry she's
not here, here's only me. So why don't you go and
ask for your money back?" - [Narrator] Charles'
action man image was dented by Diana's public adoration. He was accustomed to
having all eyes on him. As a bachelor, an early
morning swim in Australia helped to boost the image
of a man under pressure to succeed with the opposite sex. His celebrity status
made him the most exposed royal Ambassador-at-Large. His girlfriends were hounded by the press. They became the center of
wild speculation and rumor. (uptempo upbeat pop music) Instead he settled for a
shy young English aristocrat desperately in need of love and attention, and leaving behind him his
polo loving friend Camilla, who by this stage was married
to Andrew Parker Bowles. Outwardly the marriage seemed a happy one. (pensive piano music) But the cloud of Camilla remained. Reports claimed though, that
their marriage breakdown goes back to the birth of Harry. - I don't think Harry's birth per se was a cause of the beginning of the end, but I do think that it
was around that period. And I think it was largely to do with, with Charles' onset of the
real sort of midlife crisis. He felt that his contemporaries
were all reaching the pinnacle of their careers, or they were certainly
well on the way to it. And here he was still not
fulfilling any well-defined role, still sort of King-in-waiting, which he could see stretching
on for another 20 or 30 years. (uptempo upbeat orchestral music) - As guests of the Spanish
royal family, Diana and Charles enjoyed relaxed summer
holidays on Majorca. Scenes like these full of
loving care and tenderness were a far cry from Charles'
own royal childhood, and summer holidays spent in
the Highlands of Scotland, in an atmosphere which sets
him apart from his children. - He's closer to the two of them than his own father was to him, and closer than his own
father was to his father. And he tries to be a good father. He's genuinely affectionate
towards both his sons, but in the terms of what
you and I might understand a good father to be, it's
impossible for him to be so, because he cannot devote
enough time to them. Yeah, they really have
to make an appointment to see him just like anybody else. - [Narrator] Highgrove is Charles' home. Until their separation, Diana
lived here at the weekends. This was her husband's territory, a 700-acre retreat in Gloucestershire. Here in peace and quiet, Charles can indulge in
his passion for gardening. - Highgrove is particularly
important for Charles because it's his own home. It's his first home where
he can do what he likes in. And I think that some of
the things that he does in this home somehow compensate him for what he was not able to
have while he was growing up. Of course he is very,
very keen on gardening, and one can imagine that the seeds that he plants in the soil,
and the flowers and the plants that grow out of the soil are
in a way children for him, that they're growing, He nurtures them. He can mother them in a
way as he would have liked to have been mothered by his own parents. - [Narrator] His love of
nature and genuine concern for the environment has
given rise to claims that Charles is too preoccupied with saving the planet from itself. His controversial opinions have made him unpopular
in professional circles. - I would hardly be so tactless
as to impart to you my views on the architectural design
at this remarkable building. What is proposed, it seems to
me like a monstrous carbuncle on the face of a
much-loved, elegant friend. You have, ladies and gentlemen, to give this much to the Luftwaffe. When it knocked down our
buildings, it didn't replace them with anything more offensive
than rubble, we did that. Damage to the global
environment, and to become the genuine stewards of all life on Earth, not just the human bit of it. (audience applauding) - [Narrator] Meanwhile,
Diana was preoccupied with the way she looked. It was her way of expressing herself, boosting her self-confidence,
and helping her to cope with the pressure of
her marriage breakdown and restore her self-esteem. Summer Sunday afternoons were spent watching Charles play polo. It was boring, but she was
caught and scolded by her husband for using the bonnet of
his Aston Martin as a seat. (horse whinnying) Come prize giving, and there was a lot for a glamorous lady to do. Her easy friendly manner made
her the center of attention. There were times though, when she'd rebel and wear something not quite in keeping with the atmosphere of royal polo. Her style and taste has always
been at odds with Charles'. - He was a confirmed bachelor. He had a very comfortable
bachelor existence. I mean, he was surrounded by all the sort of furnishings he liked, and he had a regular routine where he saw his friends
on this day and this day. He played polo, he hunted
on this day and that day. His life was pretty complete. I don't think he realized
when he married Diana that he was actually going
to have to accommodate her in that picture, that he was going to have to account for her taste. You know, that that perhaps
his tartan furnishings weren't going to appeal to a 19-year-old who spent her life with her
nose in fashion magazines. You know, she wanted change, and I think he found that very hard to understand. - [Narrator] Diana never fitted easily into the horsey polo set. As a small child she fell off a horse and has never liked them since. As the sport of kings,
polo has provided Charles with a much-needed outlet for his energy. With little day-to-day public contact, these were rare moments
of them seen together. Polo also provided Charles with an excuse to meet up with old acquaintances. - Oh, polo provided for many years, Prince Charles' male friends, who may not perhaps be
the most sophisticated and intelligent male
company you can pick out. And obviously polo has its
groupies, female groupies, and the were rumors for a number of years, and there were occasional sightings, alleged sightings of the prince with girls from that milieu, let's say. So there's no doubt, yes
it encouraged him to see, as it were, occasional
women as part of the perks of his role, and to see other men, rich aristocratic men, treating
these women as playthings, made him think that was all
part of what life was about. - [Narrator] During an annual
skiing holiday in Switzerland, Charles narrowly escaped
death in an avalanche. His close friend, Major
Hugh Lindsay was killed, and another friend severely injured. (dramatic poignant orchestral music) Charles blamed himself for the tragedy. Losing a close friend in an accident was a traumatic and
unforgettable experience for him. - He's extremely compassionate. He's a genuine friend to people who he's known for a long time. And I know people have of,
you know male and female, who have known him for many, many years. And if they ask him for help
or even if they don't ask but he gets to hear that
they are in trouble, he will go to endless lengths
to help them if he can. So he's very compassionate in that way. He's not arrogant with people in that way, but if people ever forget
who he is for one moment, he will, the royal curtain comes
down with chilling finality because Prince Charles never, ever forgets for one moment who he is. He doesn't let anybody
else ever forget it either. - [Narrator] Long before the secret of Diana's unhappy marriage
became public knowledge, many attempts were made behind the scenes to maintain Charles' good name at the expense of the princess. Stories later emerged from
behind the palace walls about Diana's removal
from the royal family. When a crisis occurs in royal circles, the palace machine puts its full weight behind the blood royal. (bagpipe music) The Queen was sympathetic and
encouraged Diana to soldier on despite Charles' immovable
and selfish ways. - I think Charles is very much
a stickler for old protocol. I mean, I know one occasion when the table was laid slightly wrong and
I mean, he just demanded that the whole thing be
reset and laid again. And he sends very cryptic
little memos to his staff about how things should be done, and how he likes his
toothbrush in a certain place. And if it isn't there, it irritates him. I mean, but this is how
he's been brought up. He is a stickler for royal protocol. - [Narrator] Charles'
macho image of action man was shattered after polo accident suddenly left him an
invalid for several months with a badly fractured arm. It was another blow to his pride. When he emerged from a second operation, the seriousness of the injury was obvious. He made no secret of his pain. - [Reporter] How are you, sir? - [Narrator] Naturally
for peace and quiet, it was to his home at Highgrove that Charles went to convalesce, and into the arms of
Camilla Parker Bowles. - She was a really sympathetic
shoulder to cry on. I think she was a chum, a soulmate, somebody that he could relax with. Somebody who understood his
problems, was interested in him. Someone he didn't have
to perform in front of, didn't have to make any effort with. I mean, we all have people
like that in our lives. He is surrounded by staff and equerries and private secretaries, and
he has very little opportunity, it seems to me, to relax in that way. And I think that's what Camilla provided, someone that he could really
let his hair down with. - [Narrator] As a man in crisis, Charles' own upbringing
brought into focus yet again the lack of affection
he received as a child from his mother, the Queen. - She was 26 Years old, and
suddenly she had the burdens of being monarch thrust upon her. What are you supposed to do,
say, "Sorry I can't do this, I've got to go and bath Charles." She really did try and be with him, but remember we are judging, and this is a really, a point
I feel very strongly about. We are judging the Queen's
upbringing of her children by the '90s standards, and
this was back in the '50s. Charles was born in 1948, and it was very different
then for all of us. - [Narrator] Diana's
childhood was disrupted when her own mother walked
out on the family home when Diana was only eight years old. Her bulimia can be traced back
to her turbulent childhood. She was left in the care of
her father, Earl Spencer, who was bursting with
pride when his daughter became engaged to Prince Charles. - What are you doing on the
pavement outside the Palace? I thought you'd be inside. - I've been loving the
photographers. (laughing) - Well what a marvelous day for you, sir. - Lovely days, lovely
days, we're all very happy. I saw Diana last night, she
looked absolutely radiant. Radiant, very happy, I've
never seen her look better. I plan to love every event in her life. I plan on loving this one too. - [Narrator] Later Diana's
father married Raine, his second wife. - When he married Raine
Spencer, I think she felt a great sense of isolation and loneliness, in that she never got
on with her stepmother, and I think in a way that posed problems when she married the Prince
of Wales, because he was very much a bachelor by
the time he married her. There was a huge age difference. They had very little in
common and what she wanted was sort of love and
cosseting and affection, and I think he found that
very hard to give her. - [Narrator] Diana attempted
to find some satisfaction in caring for those whose circumstances were far worse than her own. Diana as one of life's victims, concerned for the sick and handicapped, the AIDS sufferers, the
homeless and the unloved, all of whom she identifies with. - What I have found, both
in my own experience, and in my visits to organizations which support couples and
children in difficulty, is that there are certain
common ingredients essential for families of all sizes and types. There must of course be love, but love in its most practical forms, commitment to each other, sharing together self-discipline and some self-sacrifice. - [Narrator] At a charity
function for AIDS sufferers, Diana pleases everybody
by looking glamorous in a way that as a child, she
had hoped to please her mother and latterly, her husband. She soon came to realize
that the person from whom she had expected the reward
of obedience and duty was too involved with his
own needs to recognize hers. As a bulimia sufferer, Diana did not admit she had a problem. She always appeared happy and spent her life trying to help others. (crowd chattering) Yet there was rage beneath the
sunny smile, and then anger, which bulimia suffers
are afraid to express. It may be futile to apportion blame, but it's hard to resist the conclusion that Charles' unique life
as heir to the throne, surrounded by sycophancy and deference, made him incapable of
treating anyone as an equal, let alone in the loving and caring way required to build a marriage. - What always puzzled me was how Charles could be so indifferent to this beautiful, glamorous, gorgeous creature
who was standing by him. It is only when you
realize that throughout the length of their marriage, she had bulimia and she
therefore was quite standoffish. She was prickly, she was difficult. It's when you understand that, that I think the whole,
the whole of the past, his behavior during those
past years falls into place. - [Narrator] On an
official visit to Canada, the mystique of royalty was maintained. Here the attention focused on the family. The young princes carefully
trained to meet the people, do exactly what is expected of royalty. (bells ringing) Despite her own marriage breakdown, Diana is determined to give her sons a happier childhood than she had. In compensating for her
own unhappy experiences, she's accused of over-mothering them. - Diana's got so many other
problems to deal with, if she's a bit
over-protective her children, I don't think any woman would blame her. Her mother, although
we perhaps unfairly say her mother left her
when she was very young, but to all intents and purposes, it looks to us as if she
was deserted by her mother. But really the closest people
to her are her children, and I think if she's smothers
and over-mothers them a bit, goodness me, I don't blame her. I think any woman would do the same. - Relaxing with her two
sons on a skiing holiday, and away from her adoring public, Diana is still the focus
of the people's attention. This is her life and it's unlikely she'll ever be able to
escape the public gaze. Charles has the comfort of his own family to give him the security he needs. Diana was now alone. Her skiing holiday was abruptly ended when her beloved father died unexpectedly. Unhappy that she wasn't at a
father's bedside when he died, she made her own way back home. (solemn orchestral music) At the funeral, her
message to him was simple. "I miss you dreadfully darling Daddy, but will love you forever." At his Memorial service
a few months later, the family appeared together, a rare occasion created
out of family grief In Egypt, the lonely
princess performed her duties to perfection, both for the photographers and as the Queen's representative. The shy Di image gone, she
was now holding an audience with the president of Egypt. (cameras clicking) (President of Egypt speaking
in foreign language) And Charles was alone in Turkey. In the past, he'd been photographed on holiday here with
Camilla Parker Bowles. On this occasion, he was by himself, escaping from the gaze
of the curious press and trying to do some painting, hidden behind a makeshift screen. Back home clouds were forming
with the imminent publication of the book, "Diana Her True Story", confirming to the world
for the first time, the sham of his marriage to Diana. Betrayal was in the air. - Once Diana realized
that she'd been betrayed by her husband, she was
extremely angry and humiliated, and what wife wouldn't be? I don't believe that her
cooperation with a book, or tacit approval of the book, if indeed there was such a thing, was a deliberate attempt to
get back at prince Charles. But I think once she
realized the publicity that surrounded the revelations, that she was not unhappy about the effect that this was going to
have upon Prince Charles. I don't think it was a
deliberate attempt upon her part to seek revenge, but once it had happened, I think that perhaps she was not unhappy that it had taken place. - [Narrator] Concerned for
Diana's health and state of mind, her friends had allegedly
gathered around her to expose the lies of the royal marriage. Her friend, James
Gilbey, was amongst those who had helped Diana through
some of her painful years, as well as Carolyn Bartholomew, who had been her best friend
since her school days. - She was not unhappy
to see that story told. I think even she was shocked and surprised by the degree of detail
that was in the Morton book, and some of her friendships
with some of the friends that talked to Morton and not
been quite the same since. So I don't think she
actually herself instigated getting the Charles story out, but she was very glad that it was told. - [Narrator] The campaign
of character assassination took on a more sinister
dimension with the publication of an illegally taped intimate
telephone conversation between Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles. The Prince and Mrs. Parker
Bowles met regularly, but it appears from these
tapes that on this occasion, they had been forced to go
without seeing each other. - [Camilla] You're awfully
good at feeling your way along. - [Charles] Oh stop, I want
to feel my way along you. - [Camilla] I can't bear a
Sunday night without you. - [Charles] Oh God. - [Camilla] It's like that
program "Start the Week". I can't start the week without you. - [Charles] I fill up your tank. - Yes you do.
- I really do. - [Camilla] Then I'm all right. - [Charles] What about me? The trouble is I need
you several times a week. - [Camilla] So do I, I need
you all the week, all the time. - [Narrator] Buckingham
Palace and the royal family refuse to comment on the
authenticity of the tapes. Outwardly unconcerned
by their publication, Charles' credibility was again questioned. - His reaction to the publication of the Camillagate tapes was total horror. It was a quiet weekend at Sandringham. He knew it was coming. Even he on this occasion knew
that this was going to be incredibly damaging, and it did open up the whole question of, was this
Mrs. Camilla Parker Bowles? What was the nature of
his relationship with her? All the questions that
journalists have quite rightly teased away at for the
last couple of years and that he is now himself
been forced to answer. - [Narrator] No denials were made, confirming beyond all doubt
Charles' adultery with Camilla. He was relieved that the story
was now public knowledge. - Charles certainly knew of the existence of the Camillagate tape for a long time before it was published, and
it was a real sword of Damocles hanging over his head,
and when it finally fell, it was a crushing blow that
he's still recovering from and will be, I think, for
a number of years yet. - [Narrator] So who
organized the illegal taping? Newspapers pointed and
accusing finger at GCHQ, the government's secret
service listening agency. - The security services, and
indeed the Queen herself, were desperate to find what
Charles' intentions were, and Charles was dashing
hither and thither, spending nights well
away from his bodyguards, and as we now know
spending much of the night talking on the telephone to his lover, Camilla Parker Bowles. - [Narrator] An experienced hand could install bugging equipment with ease. - It's not a difficult thing to do. 500 pounds for a bug, and another 1000 pounds for a receiver. It's pretty basic equipment, and almost anybody can go into a shop and buy this sort of stuff now. - [Narrator] Newspapers
claimed that the taping of Diana's intimate
telephone conversations with her friend James
Gilbey was Charles' doing, and that Camilla was
exposed by Diana's friends to get back at Charles. - Just as the release of the Squidgy tapes was entirely in Charles' interests, the release of the Camilla
tapes were in Diana's. At last everything she had
been telling her friends was proved to be true. Charles, far from being the loving husband and the caring father, had
indeed from an earlier stage of the marriage than
has ever been revealed, been a lover of Camilla Parker Bowles. - [Narrator] While
questions were being asked about the timing of the divorce, Diana took the boys away for a holiday. Given that the primary
concern is the wellbeing of the young princes, William and Harry, the complexities and reality of divorce had to be examined at
length by both parties. The separation agreement
states that Diana could lead a separate life within
the royal framework, joining Prince Charles on
formal state occasions. They would share custody of the children. At any convenient opportunity, Diana whisks her sons away
to have them to herself and keep them under her protective wing. - One can't help but feel that there are these two small boys
growing up very quickly, who are very loving and very adorable, and on can't help but feel
that she would look to them in some way to perhaps compensate her for what she's missed
out on in her marriage, and this would be not all a good thing. - [Narrator] Charles
is sometimes dismissive to his children's needs, as he feels his parents were of his. He finds great difficulty in giving others something which he never had. - It could well be that Charles could be unconsciously considering the possibility that what was okay for him would probably be all right for them. And in fact, it looks as if it's going in that
direction already you see, because his parents inevitably
were separated from him because of their involvement
with affairs of state. - [Narrator] As Charles
continues to demand respect and approval, his estranged wife continues to pull the
crowds wherever she goes. By upstaging her husband
throughout their married life, she's being forced into a lonely corner where her only consolation
comes from her adoring public. - Yeah, up till now I
suppose, she's found love in the approval of the
population in general, because people do love her. She does many good works,
she's terribly charitable. She is very concerned for
the well-being of others, and she looks very attractive and this is something that
she gets approval for, and I'm sure she feels loved
by the people of the country. (crowd chattering) - [Narrator] Within a year
of their official separation, Diana felt confident
enough to appear publicly with the royal family at
Sandringham on Christmas morning. Her sons wanted her to be part of the Christmas celebrations. She left shortly afterwards to spend the rest of the holiday alone, and perhaps recall the last 13 years, back to the moment where she and Charles were interviewed about their engagement. There was no doubt then in Diana's mind that she was marrying Charles for love. - Of course. - Whatever in love means. - Yes. (chuckling) - Prince Charles spoke often about what he wanted from marriage. He wanted to companion, he
wanted someone to fulfill a role, somebody to perform duties. As far as he was concerned, love, affection came very much, were very much secondary considerations. He wanted a partner to fulfill a function. (bells ringing) - [Narrator] Charles admitted publicly on a television program
that he had been unfaithful to his wife after their marriage. In Diana's mind he is
lying, since she knows he was unfaithful long before
the marriage was on the rocks. - I think that's the one
extraordinary omission from his confessional summer of '94, is that there's been no
apology to the British people for letting down that fairytale marriage in which they'd invested so much. No apology to his wife for his behavior and no expression of regret. No, "I'm sorry about what I did." Just a slightly mealy-mouthed
confession of adultery as if that were his
prerogative and nothing else, and a blithe determination to proceed as if nothing had happened. - [Narrator] Charles could, if he chooses, remained formally married to Diana. If they divorce, he could even marry his Catholic lover Camilla,
should she become free. - I think it's extremely difficult for the Prince of Wales to
produce Camilla Parker Bowles, who would be a divorced Catholic, as a new Princess of
Wales and a future Queen. I suspect that he still
thinks he can do that. I personally think he's wrong. I don't think that he can
marry Camilla and become King. There are too many
constitutional, religious and other complications along
the way, but he thinks he can. - [Narrator] Diana has
reduced her royal duties and effectively retired from public life. Her natural ability to capture the warmth of royalty
will be sadly missed. - The smart money would be
eventually on a divorce, and Charles remaining a divorcee with possibly female companions, such as Camilla Parker Bowles by his side. That's one scenario, another one would be that they would remain separated
a least for a decade or so. - [Narrator] Diana hasn't made up her mind what she wants to do. She certainly not in a hurry. - There's no doubt to me that
Charles' mistreatment of her, not just the adultery
that he's now admitted, but treating her like
a second class citizen below the salt, as the entire family did, when in her own immortal words, she'd done so much for that X family, was really the wrong way to treat the star member of the royal family, And it's indicative of the way that the so-called born
royals can never accept the ones that marry them as
anything like on an equal plane, regardless of the public success. - [Narrator] The magic has gone. The marriage of the Prince
and Princess of Wales is over. The royal family now faces the task of adapting to the challenges
of the 21st century. (crowd cheering) (poignant orchestral music) Diana is now out on her
own escaping the spotlight. By letting her go, the
Windsors have failed and royalty can no longer set an example of happy family life. (poignant orchestral music)
