THE DIANA TAPES

DEVASTATING MAIL SERIES REVEALS THE TRUTH – IN HER OWN WORDS . . .

I tried to cut my wrists just weeks after the wedding

IN 1991, few people knew the truth about Princess Diana’s marriage: that it was falling apart... and that Charles had rekindled his relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles. Devastated, she decided to make her side of the story public by recording her thoughts for author ANDREW MORTON via a go-between. Her one condition: that her involvement be kept a strict secret. The book he wrote — Diana: Her True Story — caused a sensation. Now, 20 years after her death, it is being republished, with transcripts of those tapes. Our second extract begins just two days before her wedding on July 29, 1981 — which was watched by a global TV audience of 750 million.

We got married on Wednesday. on the Monday (July 27, 1981), we had gone to St Paul’s for our last rehearsal, and that’s when the camera lights were on full and I got a sense of what the day was going to be.

And I sobbed my eyes out. I absolutely collapsed and it was because of all sorts of things. the Camilla thing rearing its head the whole way through our engagement.

I was desperately trying to be mature about the situation, but I didn’t have the foundations to do it, and I couldn’t talk to anyone about it.

I remember my husband being very tired — both of us were quite tired. Big day.

He sent me a very nice signet ring the night before to Clarence House, with the Prince of Wales feathers on and a very nice card that said: ‘I’m so proud of you and when you come up, I’ll be there at the altar for you tomorrow. Just look ’em in the eye and knock ’em dead.’

I had a very bad fit of bulimia the night before. I ate everything I could possibly find which amused my sister ( Jane) because she was staying at Clarence House with me.

Nobody understood what was going on there. It was very hush-hush. I was sick as a parrot that night. It was such an indication of what was going on.

I was very calm the next morning when we were getting up at Clarence House. Must have been awake about 5am. Interesting — they put me in a bedroom overlooking the Mall, which meant I didn’t get any sleep.

I was very, very calm, deathly calm. I felt I was a lamb to the slaughter. I knew it and couldn’t do anything about it. My last night of freedom with Jane at Clarence House.

on the day, there was great anticipation. Happiness because the crowds buoyed you up — but I don’t think I was happy.

Father (still suffering from the aftereffects of a massive stroke) was so thrilled, he waved himself stupid. We went past St Martin-in-the-Fields and he thought we were at St Paul’s. He was ready to get out. It was wonderful, that.

As I walked up the aisle, I was looking for her (Camilla). I knew she was in there, of course. I looked for her.

I had to get my father basically up the aisle and that’s what I concentrated on. And I remember being terribly worried about curtseying to the Queen.

Anyway, I got up to the top. I thought the whole thing was hysterical, getting married, in the sense that it was just so grown-up,

I thought my husband was going to look after me. Well, was I wrong on that assumption!