YOU COULD SEE THAT SHE’D BEEN CRYING HER EYES OUT
JENNI RIVETT Personal trainer
‘ We went skiing in America together for a week at New Year 1994. Diana was very upset. It was going to be the first time she would be away from her boys for much of the Christmas period as they stayed with Charles at Sandringham after Diana left, so I suggested we go to Vail in Colorado. I never thought she would say yes. So I organised everything and we stayed with some American friends of mine who had a lovely private house on the mountain.
That was the week I really got to know Diana, but best of all it took three days for the Press to find us. It was the first time she didn’t fly British Airways. We flew NorthWest Airlines and she had no bodyguard. We were travelling incognito. She was fed up at the time and wanted to escape everything.
‘We were up at 8am every morning and skied all day. She had her own ski clothes but we got the skis and boots there. It was so funny as one woman came into the ski hire shop and asked her, “Are you Princess Diana?” but the owner stepped forward and said, “No ma’am, you’re mistaken.” Everyone wanted to protect her.
‘She was in touch with the boys but she didn’t get emotional or upset. She was very relaxed and even did the washing-up after supper. We went out one night and the rest of the time she just wanted to stay in the villa — we got takeaways. I got a lovely note from her later saying, “Dearest Jenni, this comes with lots of love and a million thanks for organising such a wonderful time in Vail and for being so kind and supportive to me”.’
CHARLES RAE Former royal correspondent
‘At Christmas 1994, two years after Diana had separated from the Prince of Wales, I was told the princess would not be at Sandringham for long. So I headed for the Knights Hill Hotel, which had a wonderful view of the roundabout and the A148, the road to Sandringham. We had a gut feeling it wouldn’t be long before the princess would come into view heading back to London. Soon we saw a police car and behind it was Diana’s blue Mercedes. She was alone.
‘I joined the convoy and as it reached the M11 the police vehicle peeled off and Diana stepped on the gas — 60mph, 70, 80, 100, 120. As we reached the M25, Diana suddenly manoeuvred onto the hard shoulder and stopped. She got out and as we drove by, much more slowly, she recognised me and gave me one of her famous smiles and a wave. We interpreted that she could not stand to be near the royals for that long and in particular her husband.
‘Nearly two months later, on an official visit to Japan, she came in to the press reception and headed straight over. We shook hands and I said, “I hope you realise the enormous favour I did you when you left Sandringham at Christmas?”
‘ “What was that?” she said. I replied, “Well, I didn’t mention the 120mph you were doing.”
‘She laughed. “Yes I know, and thank you. I could have got into some serious trouble.” I had to ask the obvious question. “What’s puzzled me is why you were driving so fast to get back to London?” And the answer, “I had to get back to KP because I wanted to watch the omnibus of EastEnders. I love it.”
‘I felt a bit sad for her, spending Christmas Day away from her boys, sitting alone in her rooms, apart from servants. Here was the world’s most glamorous woman, who could ring anyone and spend the day with whoever she wanted, and she was spending it alone.’
MARK STEWART Royal photographer
‘They called the trip to South Korea in 1992 The Glums Tour because basically they didn’t want to be there with each other – there were a lot of long faces and it was very clear things were not right. I remember one moment when they were signing a visitors book and Prince Charles went to give his pen to her. She always used to take the pen, but that day she made a point of not taking it and picking up a pen off the table. There were little moments like that throughout the tour, it was very sad to see.’
JAYNE FINCHER Photographer
‘I remember when we were in Korea she turned up at a banquet and she looked lovely, her usual elegant self in a beautiful dress. But her make-up was patchy, which was unusual for her, and her eyes were red-rimmed. She just sat there with her eyes cast down. You could tell she’d been crying her eyes out, she looked awful. My heart went out to her.’
KEN WHARFE Former bodyguard
‘She was at the Taj Mahal in India in 1992 alone, because Charles had a pre-engagement in Bangalore. There was this hum of press requests for a photo and she said, “I’d better do something”, which was typical of Diana. She turned on this seat and faced the press. Then a TV reporter asked what it felt like to be there and she turned to me and asked, “What should I say?” I said, “How about it’s a healing experience?”, which she said. Then somebody chirped up and asked what she meant by that. She then said very quickly, “Work it out for yourself.”
‘Charles would never have agreed to go to the Taj Mahal, which is a monument to love. I don’t think he would have done something so hypocritical. There would have been a permanent grimace across his face if he’d gone.’
JENNI RIVETT Personal trainer
‘She had good and bad days. There were days when she would walk into the gym the day after I had seen the news and I knew it was going to be a bad day, so I was sensitive to that and was gentle with her. But she never cancelled no matter how she felt, and I was with her for nearly seven years.’