The 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer was dubbed the “wedding of the century,” a fairy tale that captivated 750 million viewers. Yet, behind the splendor, their marriage unraveled into a nightmare of infidelity, emotional distance, and heartbreak. Rumors of affairs plagued their union, and despite Diana’s efforts to salvage it, the tragic outcome was inevitable. Drawing from Andrew Morton’s Diana: Her True Story and Tina Brown’s The Diana Chronicles, this is the story of how Charles’ actions contributed to their downfall.

A Fateful Meeting

In autumn 1977, at Althorp, 16-year-old Diana Spencer met 29-year-old Prince Charles, then dating her sister Sarah. Charles found Diana “jolly, amusing, and attractive,” per Jonathan Dimbleby’s biography, while Diana was smitten by his charm. Their giggly humor, love for ballet, opera, and sports sparked an instant connection. By summer 1980, their bond deepened in Sussex, where Diana comforted Charles after Lord Mountbatten’s death. “My heart bled for you,” she told him, per Morton. Her empathy drew him closer, though Charles later recalled her unexpected advance as “strange.”

On February 24, 1981, Charles proposed at Windsor Castle. Diana, 19, accepted, believing in his love, though she noted a “bored look” in his eyes. Their engagement interview revealed contrasts—Charles’ cynical “whatever in love means” clashed with Diana’s optimistic “I cannot go wrong.” The age gap, he quipped, would keep him young, but doubts lingered.

A Fairy Tale Wedding, Shadowed by Doubt

On July 29, 1981, St. Paul’s Cathedral hosted their wedding, a global spectacle. Yet, Diana’s discovery of Charles’ lingering affection for Camilla Parker Bowles shook her. Having met only 13 times before, she questioned their bond, while Charles felt duty-bound to proceed, per Dimbleby. Diana’s sisters jokingly urged her on, noting her face on “tea towels.” The public saw a radiant bride, but both carried reservations into their vows.

The births of Prince William (1982) and Prince Harry (1984) brought joy. Charles, breaking tradition, attended both, describing William’s arrival as “astonishing” in a letter to Patricia Mountbatten. He felt a deep connection, standing by Diana’s side. Yet, Harry’s birth strained things—Charles, hoping for a girl, remarked, “Oh God, it’s a boy… and he’s got red hair,” per Morton. Diana, who knew the gender, felt her “heart close off,” sensing his disappointment.

Infidelity and a Fractured Bond

By 1986, their marriage crumbled. Charles resumed his affair with Camilla, married to Andrew Parker Bowles, a relationship that never fully faded. Diana, feeling neglected, was rumored to have sought solace with Major James Hewitt. Charles confided to a friend, per Brown, lamenting the “Greek tragedy” of their incompatibility. In 1989, Diana confronted Camilla at a party, saying, “I know what’s going on… I want my husband.” Camilla’s dismissive “You’ve got everything” deepened Diana’s anguish.

Morton’s 1992 book Diana: Her True Story, secretly sourced from Diana, exposed her bulimia, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts, shocking the world. It detailed Charles’ emotional distance, painting a grim portrait of royal life. In November 1992, their South Korea tour laid bare their misery. Press spokesman Dicky Arbiter recalled their coldness as an “aisle curtain” descended, per Brown. The media noted their lack of interaction, signaling a breaking point.

Separation and Public Confessions

On December 9, 1992, Prime Minister John Major announced their separation, calling it amicable with no divorce plans. The public, enamored by their 1981 union, reeled. In June 1994, Charles admitted infidelity in a Dimbleby interview, claiming the marriage had “irretrievably broken down.” Prince Philip, furious, called him “the missing link,” per Kitty Kelly. Diana countered in November 1995 with her BBC Panorama interview, admitting her own affair and famously noting, “There were three of us in this marriage.” Her candidness about bulimia and royal pressures captivated viewers but enraged the palace.

Queen Elizabeth II, seeking resolution, wrote Diana in 1995, affectionately urging divorce “in the best interests of the country,” per Brown. On July 15, 1996, their divorce was granted, finalized August 28. Diana, receiving the decree while preparing for a ballet event, told Sir Robert Fellowes, “It’s the beginning of a new chapter,” showing resilience.

A Glimmer of Peace, Cut Short

Post-divorce, Charles and Diana thawed. Diana wrote to Paul Burrell, per Brown, longing to be Charles’ “best friend.” On her 35th birthday in 1997, Charles’ playful visit to Kensington Palace sparked laughter over tea, a rare light moment. But on August 31, 1997, Diana’s death in a Paris car crash shattered hopes of reconciliation. At her funeral, Charles’ navy suit—a nod to her preference—honored their shared past, stirring debate but revealing his quiet tribute.

Charles’ fidelity to Camilla and emotional absence drove their marriage’s collapse, though both sought love elsewhere. Diana’s bravery in exposing her pain reshaped public views, cementing her as the “People’s Princess.” Their saga remains a poignant reminder that even fairy tales can end in tragedy.