What was common between Duke Phillip and Princess Diana?

Obviously, to start with both were ‘outsiders’ to the royal family. 

It is said in one of his letters to Diana, Prince Philip had said that he wanted to do his “utmost to help you (Diana) and Charles to the best of my ability. But I am quite ready to concede that I have no talent as a marriage counselor!” 

Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark was born on June 10, 1921 at the Greek island, Corfu. He was the fifth child and only son to Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Alice of Battenberg. Philip’s deep-seeded royal roots put him in the line of succession to the thrones of 16 countries. 

In contrast, Princess Diana was a commoner. Both exchanged letters. The Princess also addressed the Duke as 'Dearest Pa'. 

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In fact, it was also given out that Prince Philip’s letters were helpful to Diana in the beginning but as things became 'more difficult' vis-a-vis Diana's own relation with the royal family, his tone had changed. 

Prince Philip perhaps also suggested at times that Diana’s 'behaviour' might have driven Charles into Camilla Parker Bowles’ arms.

It may be recalled that about a fortnight before he married Diana, Prince Charles had reportedly gifted a personalized bracelet to Camilla. He was also seen wearing gold cufflinks engraved with interwoven Cs to a formal dinner. "His clear affections for Camilla understandingly stirred skepticism and jealousy for Diana, and she even told her sisters she couldn’t go through with the wedding," according to media reports. 

However, Prince Philip had acknowledged in his missives to Diana that she was a good mother and at times too possessive with her sons. There were also reports that Diana had also allegedly showed the letters to her friends, Rosa Monckton and Lucia Flecha de Lima.

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Prince Philip also wrote once: “Phew! I thought I might have gone a bit too far with that last letter.”

However, there used to be other voices also. “She hated Prince Philip,” - was one comment attributed to the US billionaire deal-maker Teddy Forstmann. 

In one letter, as reported widely in the British press, Prince Philip also said: "We do not approve of either of you having lovers. Charles was silly to risk everything with Camilla for a man in his position....I cannot imagine anyone in their right mind leaving you for Camilla. Such a prospect never even entered our heads".

Source: Getty Images

(The Duke of Edinburgh died “peacefully” at Windsor Castle on the morning of 9 April, 2021. He was 99, Buckingham Palace confirmed)

Diana’s healer Simone Simmons also spoke at the inquest and said that Diana had later exchanged letters with her father in law in 1994 or 1995 which were far less affectionate.
“Diana read one out to me,” she said. “She was absolutely furious.”
However, in 2003, the Duke of Edinburgh gave an official statement refuting media reports that he wrote “insulting” letters to Diana.

The statement read: “The original letters sent by Prince Philip to the Princess have apparently been lost, but he kept copies of his letters to her and he also has the original replies from the Princess.

“He started the correspondence in June 1992 in a friendly attempt to resolve a number of family issues which arose at the time leading up to the official separation of the Prince and Princess of Wales in December of that year.

“Prince Philip wishes to make it clear that at no point did he ever use the insulting terms described in the media reports, nor that he was curt or unfeeling in what he wrote.” (media reports) 

ends