Newly released Irish government documents have revealed that Diana, Princess of Wales, and her team devoted significant effort to 'upstaging' the then Prince of Charles, according to officials involved in planning Charles's 1995 visit to Ireland.
The documents, part of the National Archives of Ireland's annual disclosure, show that Irish diplomats were told by Charles's press secretary that Diana was 'far more' adept at media battles and that her staff spent 'a great deal of time' finding ways to overshadow St James' Palace.
The King, then Prince of Wales, undertook a two-day visit to Ireland in June 1995, following his separation from Diana in 1992. Charles's press team viewed the trip as part of a long-term strategy to rehabilitate his image with the British public.
In the files, Charles's press secretary Sandy Henney is described as 'fiercely loyal' and 'alive to every opportunity to advance his cause'. She remarked that 'if practice to date was any guide we could shortly expect an approach from Princess Diana!' – a comment Irish officials initially took as a joke until she repeated it.
Both British and Irish officials noted that UK media coverage of the visit, while positive, was 'relatively light' compared to extensive reporting in Ireland.
