Image: National Portrait Gallery
A handwritten letter written by Princess Diana nearly three decades ago is attracting new attention ahead of an upcoming auction. Written just days after her landmark interview with BBC Panorama in November 1995, the diary offers a rare glimpse into Diana’s state of mind during one of the most turbulent periods of her life.
While the letter touches on her personal struggles and her hopes that the interview will help other women facing difficult circumstances, its most poignant passages focus on her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. In a few carefully chosen words, Diana revealed what she hoped to teach her children as they grew up in the glare of public life.The letter was written on November 27, 1995, just one week after Diana’s famous panoramic interview with BBC journalist Martin Bashir.
The interview captivated millions of viewers and became one of the most pivotal moments in modern royal history.Diana wrote from Kensington Palace, sending the letter to Michael Barratt, a supporter who wrote to her after watching the programme. Barratt’s message encouraged her to move forward after difficult experiences and reminded her that life’s challenges can ultimately lead to growth and understanding.
Diana was moved enough by his words to send a personal response, a gesture that reflects her long-standing habit of responding directly to members of the public.
What Princess Diana hoped for William and Harry
The most discussed passage in the letter concerns Diana’s hopes for her children.According to details published by the auction house handling the sale, Diana wrote that she was looking forward to the future and “engaging with William and Harry and teaching them the importance of connecting on a deeper level.”The statement offers insight into what was most important to her as a mother during a period when her own relationships were under intense public scrutiny. Instead of focusing solely on the breakdown of her marriage, Diana focused on the lessons she hoped her children would carry into adulthood.The focus on communication reflects a theme that came up again and again throughout Diana’s public and private life. I’ve talked a lot about the importance of understanding emotions, showing empathy, and maintaining genuine human connections.
A mother trying to shape her children’s future
By late 1995, Prince William was 13 years old and Prince Harry was 11 years old. Both boys were growing up amid unprecedented media attention and the ongoing public fallout from their parents’ separation.Friends and biographers have often described Diana as a mother who sought to expose her children to experiences beyond the royal bubble. She reportedly took William and Harry on visits to hospitals, shelters and charitable organizations to help them understand different aspects of life.A recent message reinforces that image. Even as she was going through personal turmoil, Diana seemed to be thinking about the values she wanted her children to embrace as adults.
Why the message resonates today
The letter attracted particular attention due to the current relationship between Prince William and Prince Harry.Although Diana never knew the challenges her children would face decades later, her comments about communication took on added significance in light of the well-publicized tensions that have emerged within the royal family in recent years.For royal watchers, the letter is a reminder of Diana’s hopes for her children and the importance she places on openness and understanding.
The broader context of the panorama interview
The message cannot be separated from the events that prompted it.During the Panorama interview, Diana spoke candidly about the breakdown of her marriage to then-Prince Charles. She discussed the pressures of royal life, her struggle with mental health, and the difficulties she faced within the institution.The interview was noted for several memorable moments, including Diana’s remark that “there were three of us in this marriage,” in reference to Charles’ relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles.Years later, the same interview became the subject of controversy after an independent investigation concluded that Bashir had used deceptive tactics to secure Diana’s participation. The BBC formally apologized in 2021 for the circumstances surrounding the programme.
Why is the message heading to auction?
The letter remained in Michael Barratt’s possession for nearly 30 years. It is now being offered for sale through Reeman Dansie Auctions as part of their Royals, Antiques and Fine Arts auction.Auctioneers estimate it could sell for between £3,000 and £4,000, although interest generated by the contents of the letter may ultimately push the final price higher.But, beyond its monetary value, the document offers something far more important: a personal snapshot of Diana at a pivotal moment in her life.
A lasting glimpse into Diana’s priorities
Princess Diana died in a car accident in Paris in August 1997 at the age of 36, less than two years after the letter was written.Today, the note stands as a reminder of the qualities she hoped to pass on to Prince William and Prince Harry. While much of the public conversation surrounding Diana has focused on royal scandals and media headlines, her private correspondence reveals a forward-looking mother thinking about her children’s futures.Nearly 30 years later, those hopes remain among the most personal and enduring parts of her legacy.