28 December 2023 , 08:00
1003
0
The final Christmas of the late Princess Diana was reportedly not a happy one, with a Royal festive tradition meaning she spent the day apart from her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.
By Christmas IN 1996, Diana and the now King Charles III had been divorced for some months, having already formally separated back in 1992. She was therefore no longer under any obligation to spend the festive period at Sandringham House in Norfolk, where she'd already reportedly endured various uncomfortable Christmases.
While her children and former in-laws headed to Sandringham, newly divorced Diana reportedly spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day alone, dismissing her staff so they could enjoy quality time with their own families.
Princess Diana spent her final Christmas away from Princes William and Harry (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)During an interview with French magazine Gala, royal chef Darren McGrady offered some insight into how the widely beloved princess spent her last, lonely Christmas, sharing: "It was always pretty sad when you worked with the Princess on Christmas Eve."
Recalling her famed generosity, he continued: "William and Harry were going to Sandringham and Princess Diana was there, alone. She insisted that the staff spend time with their families for Christmas and that we leave the food in the refrigerator." According to McGrady, staff prepared meals in advance that Diana could reheat herself during what was a solitary time.
Kate Middleton swears by £19.99 rosehip oil that helps 'reduce wrinkles & scars'
It's understood that Diana did not enjoy spending Christmases at Sandringham, where she would reportedly receive a 'frosty reception' following her separation from Charles. In 2015, a personal friend of the princess shared some insight into what these tense visits were really like for the mother-of-two.
Diana had reportedly long felt unwelcome at Sandringham (Popperfoto via Getty Images)According to Daily Mail Editor at Large Richard Kay, in 1993, one year after her highly publicised separation from Charles, Diana "did join the family at Sandringham on Christmas Eve, stayed overnight, and went with everyone to church." He added: "But she didn't stay for lunch. Instead, she went home alone to Kensington Palace and spent the rest of the day there before flying to Washington to stay with friends. The same thing happened in 1994, but Diana felt she was given a 'frosty' reception by the other royals."
A source told Kay: "Diana didn't feel welcome at all. She could see how her being there just made everyone so tense and uneasy. She'd joined them for the boys' sake, but it wasn't working." In tape recordings presented to Andrew Morton for his bestselling biography Diana: Her True Story, the princess recounted feeling like an 'outsider' during her trips to Sandringham, which she described as being "terrifying and so disappointing'.
She recalled: "No boisterous behaviour, lots of tension, silly behaviour, silly jokes that outsiders would find odd but insiders understood. I sure was [an outsider]." The 2021 film Spencer, set during Christmas 1991, delves into Diana's anguish during such 'highly fraught' visits, with the story centred around a turning point in her long-fractured marriage.