Correspondence between Diana and the Duke of Edinburgh showed the pair were on good terms during the breakdown of her relationship with the Prince of Wales. In the intimate letters, reported by Woman & Home, Prince Philip signed off as ‘Pa’.
Prince Philip wrote to Princess Diana on July 7 1992: “I can only repeat what I have said before
“If invited, I will always do my utmost to help you and Charles to the best of my ability.
“But I am quite ready to concede that I have no talent as a marriage counsellor!”
Diana, grateful for his advice, also referred to him as ‘Pa’.
She wrote: “Dearest Pa, I was particularly touched by your most recent letter, which proved to me, if I did not already know it, that you really do care.
“You are very modest about your marriage guidance skills, and I disagree with you!
“The last letter of yours showed great understanding and tact, and I hope to be able to draw on your advice in the months ahead, whatever they may bring.”
Diana and Charles eventually separated, but the Queen’s former press secretary, Dickie Arbiter, said the royal couple shared “genuine love and happiness”.
Appearing on True Royalty TV’s The Royal Beat, Mr Arbiter said the pair “couldn’t keep their hands off each other” and were particularly close during their tour to Australia in the early 1980s.
