How Princess Diana Redefining Royal Family ‘Grated Against’ Prince Edward’s Sense Of Propriety

Princess Diana’s personality reportedly grated on her brother-in-law, Prince Edward.

The Princess of Wales made some moves that appeared to redefine the royal family, and this apparently didn’t sit well with the Earl of Wessex, who is a man of fierce loyalty to the royal family and to the institution they embody. Ingrid Seward claimed in her book, “Prince Edward: A Biography,” that the prince believed that his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, is the “symbol of the nation” and was convinced that it should be “cherished and protected.”

When Princess Diana “began redefining the Royal Family to reflect her own personality, it grated against [Prince Edward's] sense of propriety,” Ingrid wrote.

“The faster Diana spun her glamorous web, the further Edward distanced himself from her,” the royal biographer added.

Seward added how Prince Edward observed that the members of the royal family had to try to keep up appearances when Princess Diana joined the royal family. He was also concerned over the People’s Princess and Sarah Ferguson letting the monarchy down because he sensed the trouble they would cause.

Prince Edward didn’t treat the late Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall well. However, he only took cues from how his father, Prince Philip, felt towards his sisters-in-law. But between the two, Prince Edward was closer to Ferguson.

In fact, there was a time when Ferguson would drive from the palace and meet him for lunch. He reportedly liked her because she was fun and interested in what he did. However, their relationship turned sour, and it came to a point that he accused Ferguson of leaking his romance with Sophie, Countess of Wessex, to the press.

Queen Elizabeth II reportedly didn’t like how Prince Edward accused Ferguson of disloyalty. Her Majesty reportedly summoned Prince Edward over what he did, and he apologized for upsetting the Queen.

After Prince Charles' first wife died, Prince Edward was reportedly forced to drop in and look at the books of condolence during Princess Diana’s funeral. The Earl of Wessex initially refused and insisted on going there in the afternoon with his brother, Prince Andrew. However, Dickie Arbiter revealed on Channel 5’s documentary “Paxman on the Queen’s Children” that he was able to convince Prince Edward to do what he was told.