Princess Diana's marriage to Prince Charles has been a subject of immense public fascination and scrutiny for decades. While Camilla Parker Bowles (now Queen Camilla) has often been portrayed as the central figure in the breakdown of their relationship, a surprising revelation has recently resurfaced: Princess Diana, shortly before her death, suggested that the true culprits were "the people around Charles".

Royal expert and author Ingrid Seward, who enjoyed a close relationship with Princess Diana, shared this insight during an appearance on Hello!'s "A Right Royal Podcast". Seward recalled Diana telling her, "It wasn't Camilla that ruined our marriage, it was the people around Charles". Seward admitted that she never fully understood the meaning behind this comment, but remembered Diana's father also noting the complexity of the royal household.

This statement challenges the long-held perception of Camilla as the sole cause of the marital discord. While Charles's affair with Camilla undoubtedly played a significant role, Diana's words suggest that other factors, potentially involving the royal staff and courtiers, contributed to the marriage's failure.

The intricacies of the royal household and its influence on royal relationships have been a recurring theme in discussions about the monarchy. Prince Harry, Diana's son, has also voiced criticisms of the institution and those working within it. Seward noted the striking similarity between Harry's experiences and his mother's perspective on the royal household.

It's important to note that both Charles and Diana admitted to having extramarital affairs during their marriage. Charles acknowledged his affair with Camilla in a 1994 television interview, while Diana confirmed her relationship with horseback riding instructor James Hewitt in a 1995 Panorama interview. In the same interview, Diana famously said, "There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded".

Some of King Charles's closest friends have indicated that he regrets the pain he caused during the marriage. One source stated that both Charles and Diana "behaved badly in that first marriage and made decisions that none of us could ever condone,".

Princess Diana's authorized biography, "Diana: Her True Story," written by Andrew Morton, offered a detailed account of her struggles within the marriage and her unhappiness. The book, initially published in 1992, included Diana's own words through secret interviews conducted with Morton. The biography revealed the lack of support Diana felt from the royal family.

The wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer took place on July 29, 1981, at St Paul's Cathedral in London. The event was watched by an estimated global television audience of 750 million people and had 3,500 guests. The couple separated in 1992 and officially divorced in 1996.

While the full extent of the influence wielded by "the people around Charles" remains open to interpretation, Princess Diana's words offer a new lens through which to examine the complexities of her relationship with the King and the inner workings of the royal family.