Letters Reveal Diana’s Honeymoon Was a Literal Snoozer, Princess Hated Travel

By now it’s decades-old history that Princess Diana’s marriage to Prince Charles was troubled and eventually dissolved back in 1996 — but now we know from Diana’s own words that the union was unraveling from the time of the honeymoon. 

Vanity Fair has reported the contents of letters written from Diana to her personal secretary, Jane Parsons, slated for the auction block next month. In some revealing correspondence dated August 15, 1981, the new princess wrote from her honyemoon, using paper with a Royal Yacht Britannia crest: “The honeymoon was a perfect opportunity to catch up on sleep….” Ouch. (Although, it does sound more peaceful at least than Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s honeymoon in Malta, which has been reported as tenser, if equally unsuccessful.)

As well, the letters reveal that Diana did not love traveling, despite — or perhaps especially because of — the access to the frequency of glamorous trips her status provided. She was overjoyed that baby William seemed happy to see her when she got back from a trip to Australia in 1983. She wrote, “William recognised us instantly, which was a relief as sometimes children resent their parents leaving them!”

Beyond that, she shared her distaste for the whole pursuit of being on the road, especially as a new mum. “It’s marvellous to be home again and hopefully we won’t have to do any more travelling this year,” she wrote. “Wishful thinking!”