Princess Diana’s private words from 1995 are drawing new attention after a previously unseen letter went up for auction. The late Princess of Wales wrote to a supporter, Michael Barratt, shortly after her BBC Panorama interview, offering a rare glimpse into her mindset during a turbulent period. According to Page Six, the two-page note shows Diana thinking not only about her own future, but also about the relationship between her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, at a time when they were still children.
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Princess Diana Wrote About Deeper Communication
The letter is being sold through Reeman Dansie’s “Royalty, Antiques & Fine Art” auction and is estimated at 4,000 to 6,000. In details shared by the auction house, Diana expressed hope that her public comments might help women facing similar struggles in their own marriages. She also looked ahead to family life with her boys. The auction listing says she wanted to focus on “sharing with and teaching William and Harry the importance of communication on a deeper level.”
The 1995 Note Followed the Panorama Interview
Diana wrote the letter in November 1995, soon after her Panorama appearance, where she addressed the collapse of her marriage to then-Prince Charles. That interview became one of the defining royal media moments of the decade. In her note to Barratt, Diana also closed with a brief personal sign-off: “With my best wishes, Yours sincerely, Diana,” said Princess Diana according to Page Six. The correspondence includes its original envelope, complete with her handwritten name and address, adding to its historical value.
William and Harry’s Rift Grew Over Time
The letter has gained added weight because of the brothers’ fractured relationship today. William, now 43, and Harry, now 41, are widely reported to be estranged. Their tensions became more visible after Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and moved to North America with Prince Archie. Matters worsened after the couple’s public claims about royal life and Harry’s 2023 memoir Spare, in which he described a physical confrontation with his older brother.
Christopher Andersen Spoke About Early Tension
Royal author Christopher Andersen has argued that the strain between the princes began long before their adult split. “It was made very clear” to Harry that “he was lesser than” William, Christopher Andersen told Page Six. He also said the brothers had friction from an early age, describing clashes that dated back to childhood. Against that backdrop, Diana’s words stand out. Her wish to teach both sons deeper communication now reads as a deeply personal hope that was never fully realized.
