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A letter written by King Charles shortly after Princess Diana's tragic death on August 31, 1997, offers new insight into his profound grief. At the time, Charles was still Prince of Wales, and in the letter, penned just under four months after Diana's fatal car crash in Paris, he speaks of an "unbearable emptiness." The letter, addressed to Peter Houghton, was recently auctioned for $2,000, as reported by the Daily Mail.
It's evident from the letter that Houghton was also mourning, as Charles expressed deep sympathy for him following the death of "dear Liz," whom he described as a "life-enhancer." Charles empathized with Houghton's pain, noting how his heart "bleeds" for him and how he wished he could "wave a magic wand to transform the situation."
Charles also reflected on the "bewilderment and confusion" that come with the loss of someone so young, a sentiment that resonated deeply with him after the untimely death of Princess Diana at just 36 years old.
The letter, written on Highgrove House stationery and dated December 8, 1997, just over three months after Diana's death, is a three-page handwritten note signed "Charles." It was sold with its original envelope, which included instructions from Charles that the letter be delivered "by hand." According to the Daily Express, the identity of the letter's seller remains unknown.
The sale of the letter was managed by RR Auction in Boston, with a spokesperson for the auction house noting that Charles' letter to "Peter" conveys deep sympathy following the loss of a loved one. The spokesperson added that Charles was likely particularly emotional when writing the letter, as Princess Diana had passed away just a few months prior.
In the letter, Charles also touches on his Christian beliefs regarding the afterlife, quoting a Bible verse that says, "Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face-to-face." He further shared his belief in another dimension beyond this physical life, one that will amaze us when we eventually embark on that inevitable journey ourselves.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry, Princess Diana's younger son, arrived in Colombia with his wife, Meghan Markle, on August 15. During a breakfast meeting with Colombia's Vice President Francia Márquez and her husband, Rafael Yerney Pinillo, Márquez expressed her admiration for Princess Diana to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Earlier, during a press conference before their arrival, Márquez was asked about a trip Princess Diana had planned to make to Colombia shortly before her death, as reported by the Daily Mirror.
"I believe that Prince Harry being here today after his mother's unfulfilled dream of visiting this country is a chance to showcase the best of our nation, to show who we are as Colombians," Márquez said. "We are a people who, despite adversities, strive to give the best of ourselves."
Prince Harry, 39, and Meghan, 43, are set to visit Bogotá, Cartagena, and Cali during their time in Colombia.
