A never-before-seen letter written by Princess Diana has revealed her heartfelt wish that her Panorama interview would teach her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, the importance of communication on a deeper level. The handwritten note, addressed to Michael Barratt and dated 27 November 1995, is set to be auctioned by Reeman Dansie on 9 June.
In the two-page letter on Kensington Palace-headed paper, Diana expressed her hope that William and Harry would one day reach a deeper connection. The auctioneer's description notes: 'She hopes the Panorama interview will help other women in similar difficulties and she looks forward to the future and sharing with and teaching William and Harry the importance of communication on a deeper level.' The letter was signed: 'With my best wishes, Yours sincerely, Diana.'
The letter was sent in response to a supportive message from Michael Barratt, who had watched the interview and was moved to write to the Princess. The auctioneers said: 'Mr Michael Barrett watched the Panorama interview on 20th November 1995 and was so moved by it he sent Princess Diana a supportive letter... To his great surprise, a week later, he received this wonderful reply, which he has treasured ever since.' The rare letter is expected to fetch up to £4,000 at auction in Colchester, Essex.
The Panorama interview, watched by 23 million people, saw Diana famously speak about her marriage to Prince Charles, including the presence of Camilla Parker-Bowles, her struggles with bulimia, and the loneliness of royal life. However, it later emerged that journalist Martin Bashir had used deceitful methods to secure the interview, including showing false bank statements to Diana's brother, Charles Spencer. An inquiry by Lord Dyson in 2021 found Bashir's behaviour a 'serious breach' of BBC editorial rules.
In response to the inquiry, Prince William said the BBC had 'failed my mother', while Prince Harry stated: 'The ripple effect of a culture of exploitation and unethical practices ultimately took her life.' The letter's revelation comes amid reports that William and Harry are no longer in contact, making Diana's wish for deeper communication between them particularly poignant.
