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.
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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.
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"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.
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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.
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