ANNE'S BIG REGRET ‘I FAILED DIANA'

THE ROYAL WISHES SHE HADN’T BEEN SO HARD ON HER UNHAPPY SISTER-IN-LAW

As far as sisters-in-laws went, Princess Anne and Diana, Princess of Wales, could hardly be called bosom buddies.

Anne was 11 years older than her brother Prince Charles’ bride, and insiders say the gruff, direct, no-nonsense royal “struggled to deal” with emotionally charged Diana. In fact, she would often sigh to friends that “wherever she goes, drama follows”.

“It’s not really Diana’s fault that Anne never took to her,” tells an insider. “Diana was intimidated by her and Charles never made much of an effort to help his new wife bond with his sister.”

According to palace lore, Diana and Anne’s frosty relationship was sealed when the Princess Royal was overlooked as a godmother to Prince Harry, following his birth in 1984. Anne had fully expected to be a godparent to the Wales’ firstborn and future king, Prince William, but when she missed out, Charles assured her she would make the cut next time. When the time came, she was snubbed again, with Diana’s best friend and old flatmate, Carolyn Bartholomew, being picked.