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Prince Charles 'triggered Diana's bulimia'

Twenty years after Princess Diana's death, tape transcripts have emerged of her describing how her battle with bulimia began.

Princess Diana had recorded her thoughts for author Andrew Morton in 1991, on the condition they stay secret, these eventually coming the basis for his book Diana: True Story, following her tragic death in 1997.

Now the book is being republished with transcripts of Diana's recordings included, one in which she reveals her bulimia began when Prince Charles called her "a bit chubby", soon after they got engaged in 1981.

Recordings of Princess Diana from 1991 reveal her bulimia began when Prince Charles called her
Recordings of Princess Diana from 1991 reveal her bulimia began when Prince Charles called her
An abstract reads:
An abstract reads:

An abstract published by Daily Mail reads: "The bulimia started the week after we got engaged (and would take nearly a decade to overcome).

"My husband put his hand on my waistline and said: ‘Oh, a bit chubby here, aren’t we?’ and that triggered off something in me."

Princess Diana's recordings also reveal her thoughts on Prince Charles' close relationship with Camilla Parker-Bowles during their romance, and the impact it had on her.

Princess Diana married Prince Charles in July 1981, before separating in August 1996. Source: Getty
Princess Diana married Prince Charles in July 1981, before separating in August 1996. Source: Getty

The abstract continues: "And the Camilla thing. I was desperate, desperate. I remember the first time I made myself sick. I was so thrilled because I thought this was the release of tension.

"The first time I was measured for my wedding dress, I was 29 inches around the waist. The day I got married, I was 23½ inches. I had shrunk into nothing from February to July. I had shrunk to nothing."

In 1993 Princess Diana delivered a speech about eating disorders, without actually referencing her own experiences.

Princess Diana's recordings also reveal her thoughts on Prince Charles' close relationship with Camilla Parker-Bowles during their romance, and the impact it had on her. Source: Getty
Princess Diana's recordings also reveal her thoughts on Prince Charles' close relationship with Camilla Parker-Bowles during their romance, and the impact it had on her. Source: Getty

"It seems, from those I have spoken to that the seeds of this disease may lie in childhood and the self doubts and uncertainties that accompany adolescence," she said.

"From early childhood many had felt they were expected to be perfect, but didn’t feel they had the right to express their true feelings to those around them — feelings of guilt of self revulsion and low personal esteem.

"Creating in them a compulsion to ‘dissolve like a disprin’ and disappear."

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Princess Diana married Prince Charles in July 1981, before separating in August 1996.

She tragically passed away following a car crash in Paris in August 1997, leaving behind sons Prince William and Prince Harry.

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