The reason the Queen thought Charles and Diana were doomed from the start
Queen Elizabeth thought Prince Charles and Princess Diana were doomed from the start because the heir apparent had waited too long to get married, according to one royal writer.
A source told author Robert Jobson the monarch felt that at 32, Charles was "too set in his ways".
"The Queen thinks that one of the reasons Charles' marriage to Diana didn't last was because he waited too long. At 32, he was too set in his ways," the source says in Jobson's 2006 book William's Princess.
Charles and Diana pose for an official portrait by Snowdon at Kensington Palace in London. London Picture Service
Her Majesty was only 21 when she married Prince Philip on 20 November 1947, and Philip was 26.
The Queen poses for the first time with Prince Charles and the Royal bride-to-be at Buckingham Palace. March 28, 1981. AAP-AP Satellite Photo
Prince Charles briefly dated Lady Diana Spencer's elder sister Sarah before he began dating Diana when she was 19.
Charles officially proposed to Diana in the nursery at Windsor Castle six months after meeting her, and they were married on 29 July 1981.
The Queen and Prince Philip were married in 1947 when they were 21 and 26 respectively. Tim Graham/Getty Images
It is thought the future king was under pressure to find a suitable partner with which to share his royal duties. Diana later claimed they had only met 13 times before becoming engaged.
The couple divorced in 1996 after 10 years of marriage.
It's been claimed Queen Elizabeth played a role in the couple's divorce, fearing their problems would impact the image of the royal family.
Diana with William and Harry at a service for VE Rememberance Day, held in Hyde Park,1995. PA/AAP
Princess Diana's butler and confidant Paul Burrell claimed the Queen wrote a letter to the Princess of Wales saying she should divorce Prince Charles.
Burrell said the letter was sent a few weeks after Diana's interview with Martin Bashir in 1995, in which she uttered the infamous line "there were three of us in this marriage", referring to Charles' affair with Camilla.
The Queen thought Charles had waited too long to settle down. Getty
According to Burrell, Diana never wanted a divorce, but instead wanted a separation, telling Bashir about her "deep, profound sadness" surrounding their separation.
The letter, which Burrell says was from the Queen and recognisable due to the 'terrible handwriting', also bore the House of Windsor crest.
According to Burrell the letter read, "I have consulted with the Archbishop of Canterbury also with the prime minister and, of course, with Charles, and we have decided that the best course for you is divorce'".
Most viewed in Royals
Prince William and Kate back return to official duties with subtle nod to Prince Harry
Norwegian royal family member dies just days after King Harald’s state funeral
Prince Harry source says country’s withdrawal from Invictus Games was a ‘consequence’ of King’s letter
Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet start school in the UK: reports
