A cousin of Prince Philip has launched an astonishing attack on Princess Diana by accusing her of being ‘spiteful’ and ‘unkind’ towards Prince Charles.
Lady Pamela Hicks, who is the first cousin to Prince Philip, also said the ill-fated marriage ‘absolutely destroyed’ Prince Charles but said he had since blossomed again.
She also claimed Diana had no feelings for the rest of the Royal Family and did not wish to integrate herself into Royal life, instead preferring to listen to music and go to discos.
During the explosive interview with Vanity Fair, the mother of designer India Hicks, who was a bridesmaid of Princess Diana’s wedding, said Diana did not try because she knew that the public admired her and claimed Diana believed ‘she was the star’.
Speaking about the marriage to Prince Charles, Lady Hicks, whose father was Lord Mountbatten, said: ‘She was really spiteful, really unkind to him — and, my God, he’s a man who needs support and encouragement. [The marriage] absolutely destroyed him.
‘Now of course he’s blossomed again.’ Lady Hicks, who was a member of Queen Elizabeth II’s 1947 bridal party, admitted that Diana was beautiful and had charisma but that she ‘had no feeling at all for her husband or his family’.
She also suggested that Princess Diana made the public believe she was treated badly by the Royal family.
Calling this ‘nonsense’ she says Princess Diana was given the Queen’s favourite lady-in-waiting. But she said Diana did not want to be told anything and instead wanted to listen to music and go to discos and concerts.
During the wide-ranging interview, Lady Hicks also talks about the first signs of romance between the Queen and Prince Philip.
But Lady Hicks claimed when Princess Elizabeth reached a suitable age, the King and Queen were ‘appalled’ by the idea and instead wanted her to marry a ‘respectable English duke.’ She claimes one of the reasons was because a young Prince Philip had no money.
During the interview , Lady Hick’s older sister Patricia, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, also speaks about Prince Philip.
They admit he has never been one to flatter but say he more sensitive than people imagine. Lady Hicks has previously told of the moment the Press caught their first glimpse of a budding romance between a young Queen and Prince Philip.