Diana Was Left ‘Traumatized’ By Charles' Brutal 3-Word Response to Engagement Question

Princess Diana and Prince Charles shared a rocky relationship even before they said their vows. Throughout their relationship, Charles made several remarks that upset Diana, but one particular comment stood out for the Princess. During their official engagement interview, when a reporter asked if they were in love, Diana lovingly replied, "Of course." However, Charles replied coldly, "Whatever in love means."

At the time, Diana laughed it off as Charles tried to downplay the comment, explaining that the term 'in love' was open to personal interpretation. Subsequently, when the interviewer remarked that they looked happy together, Charles agreed, but Diana ironically responded, "As you can see." Diana later recalled the moment for Andrew Morton, who in his biography, Diana: In Her Own Words, claimed she said, "We had this ghastly interview the day we announced our engagement. And this ridiculous [reporter] said, 'Are you in love?' I thought, what a thick question. So, I said, 'Yes, of course, we are,' and Charles turned round and said, 'Whatever love means.' And that threw me completely. I thought, what a strange answer. It traumatised me," The Mirror reported.

However, author Sally Bedell Smith, in her book Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbably Life, suggested that the true meaning behind Charles's response was far more subtle than it appeared to be. She said, “It was a totally inappropriate thing for him to say, but understandable given the way his mind worked and the kind of things he had said in prior years." She explained, “You should look at those words in the context of the series of interviews he gave in the 1970s about what he wanted in a wife and what being in love was all about. He can overthink things and was thinking out loud. I don’t see it as a cynical, cruel statement.”

As reported by People magazine, Smith argued that the focus on that statement grew more after Charles and Diana's marriage began to collapse in the early 1990s. However, even excluding Charles’ remark, the interview showed an uncomfortable dynamic—Charles dominated the conversation. Additionally, it also featured an awkward discussion about whether Diana would make a suitable housewife.

The beginning of Charles and Diana's love story is also as bizarre as their marriage. Years before they became a couple, Charles had briefly dated Diana's older sister, Sarah. When their paths crossed again in 1980, Charles and Diana dated for just six months before getting engaged. Surprisingly, they only met 13 times in person before Charles decided to propose. As reported by Town and Country magazine, Diana happily accepted his proposal despite their age difference. As a symbol of his commitment, Charles gave Diana a gorgeous engagement ring—her famous Sapphire ring with 18-karat white gold setting and 14 solitaire diamonds.