Princess Diana Once Said Prince Charles Was Very Disappointed When Prince Harry Was Born
Princess Diana told a friend that Prince Charles was disappointed when Prince Harry was born. According to a biography of the late royal, Charles had made it clear to Diana that he wanted a daughter.
Prince Harry did plenty of not great stuff in his wild youth that could make a parent feel disappointed, but apparently his dad, Prince Charles, was bummed about him way before that.
According to royal biographer Andrew Morton, author of Diana: Her True Story, before her divorce Princess Diana confided to her close friend James Colthurst that Charles was obviously disappointed by Harry's arrival. It wasn't anything that Harry had done, of course—it was just that Charles had really been hoping for a daughter.
Diana, who claimed to have known she was having a boy before Harry was born (she said later that she saw the ultrasound when she was pregnant), said she knew how much Charles wanted their second child to be a girl and didn't share her knowledge of Harry's sex with him ahead of the birth.
"Charles always wanted a girl. He wanted two children, and he wanted a girl," she said, according to Morton's account (via Express). "I knew Harry was a boy, and I didn’t tell him."
Diana reportedly put Charles in his place when he made his disappointment clear.
“First comment was ‘Oh God, it’s a boy,’ second comment: ‘And he’s even got red hair,'" Diana reportedly told her friend. She added that she responded by telling Charles, "You should realize how lucky you are to have a child that’s normal."
Apparently, the incident prompted one of the couple's bigger rifts.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
"Ever since that day the shutters have come down, and that’s what he does when he gets somebody answering back at him," she said.
For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.
RELATED STORIES
Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with over 10 years of professional experience covering entertainment of all genres, from new movie and TV releases to nostalgia, and celebrity news. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
'Dune: Prophecy' Shows the Bene Gesserit's Rise to Power—Meet the Next Gen Actresses Leading the Max Series
And if you need a refresher on House Atreides and Harkonnen lore, we've got you covered.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
Prince Andrew's "Anxiety is Through the Roof " Amid Royal Lodge Battle
The royal "is generally very lost," a source claims.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Nicole Kidman Addresses the Popular Meme Referencing Her Divorce From Tom Cruise
"That wasn't real life."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Prince Harry Makes Surprise Appearance at Major Sporting Event—And Shares What Position He'd Play in Football
The Duke of Sussex promoted his upcoming Invictus Games.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Princess Diana's Former Lover James Hewitt Opens Up About the Royal's "Unforgivable" Martin Bashir Interview
James Hewitt spoke about the royal's controversial 1995 sit-down with Martin Bashir.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Princess Kate Takes the Lead on an Ordinary Household Task That Leaves Prince William Clueless
"I have no idea what I'm doing."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Meghan Markle's $6,050 Pendant Pays Tribute to Her "Angels" Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet
The engraved necklace features an adorable reference to the Duchess of Sussex's children.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Queen Camilla Has Helped King Charles "Loosen Up," But He Appears "Tense" Without Her
"He was quite a nervous man... Camilla has been a catalyst for change."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Princess Diana's Shocking 37th Birthday Present for Prince Charles Backfired on 'The Crown'—Here's What Really Happened
The book 'Dancing With Diana' sets the record straight.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
King Charles Might Change Some of Queen Elizabeth's Christmas Rituals as He's Less Traditional
"I don't think Charles will exactly rip up the rule book, but there's a strong chance he'll loosen some of the rules."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Princess Diana's Former Chauffeur Reflects on Her Death for the First Time After Being Fired
"She died believing I had betrayed her and that's something I can't ever forget or forgive."
By Amy Mackelden Published