»» Self-hatred as she realised ‘pals’ used her

Mark, who has been in contact with her family, revealed they are incredibly proud of Tara. He said: “She is very different from her family but they loved her dearly. They are completely brokenhearted.” Meanwhile, the Sunday Mirror understands the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge knew she was suffering and that they had kept in touch. The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are expected to go to the funeral. Charles and Camilla said they were “deeply saddened” by Tara’s death, adding: “Our thoughts are so much with the family.” The friend added: “The Royal Family all come together when something is going on. Tara would see Kate and Wills at events but they didn’t socialise much outside of that. They knew she was struggling though, most people did.” Tara’s family and the royals had bonded on the slopes of the Alps, with her father Charles teaching the Prince of Wales to ski. She would return to Switzerland with the royals repeatedly, providing support to young princes William and Harry after the death of their mother, Princess Diana.

In her final interview Tara was asked what her order of service would be like at her funeral. She said: “I want a simple service, a positive eulogy and meaningful readings.”

During the same chat she said Noel Harrison’s song The Windmills Of Your Mind moved her to tears and cited a poem written by George Frost in tribute to his late father, broadcaster Sir David Frost.

Quoting the 2014 poem, she recited: “For my darling children, who wonder what to do, Just have a wonderful time, as I will, living through you.”

And speaking two weeks before her death she said she would like to be remembered “like a Bernese mountain dog – cheerful, beautiful and loved by all.”