Princess Diana’s ‘incredible’ warning to Camilla and Charles at Shand party revealed

Princess Diana had strong words for Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles after finding them together in a basement

Princess Diana’s warning to Camilla at Shand party revealed
(Image credit: Getty)

Princess Diana delivered a strong warning to Camilla Parker Bowles after finding her with Prince Charles at a Shand family party, a former royal employee has revealed. 


Princess Diana had strong words for Camilla Parker Bowles when she discovered her hiding with Prince Charles in a basement, a royal insider has revealed. 

The late princess reportedly confronted her husband and his lover to inform them that she was aware of their extramarital affair - and to warn them against treating her 'like an idiot'. The tense interaction allegedly occurred after Diana became separated from the Prince of Wales at a house party hosted by Camilla's younger sister, Annabel Elliot Shand. 

Speaking on ITV's Lorraine program on Tuesday, the royal icon's former protection officer, Ken Wharf, described in detail just how the events of the fateful night unfolded. 

"Diana didn't have any particular friendships at that party but when we arrived there, it was almost like freeze-framing a scene in a movie because there was this surprise that Diana had even arrived," the British bodyguard recalled. 

According to Wharf, it didn't take long for his famous client to become suspicious of Prince Charles' whereabouts. 

Diana

Princess Diana issued a stern warning to Duchess Camilla after discovering her talking to Prince Charles at a party 

(Image credit: Getty)

"But then soon after within the hour, I heard my name being called, I was in the kitchen somewhere. And I went out and there was Diana, who said 'you've got to come with me, I can't find my husband or Camilla,'" he said. 

"Now, I couldn't say no, clearly this woman was in some distress, and eventually we found the prince and Camilla sat on a sofa in the basement of this property just talking."

Clearly unsettled by her discovery, Diana took the opportunity to tell Camilla - who had been romantically involved with Charles since the 1970s - that she knew about the cheating. 

Camilla

(Image credit: Getty)

"With a great deal of confidence, Diana just went up to both of them and said to Camilla 'please don't treat me like an idiot, I know what's going on.'" 

But rather than confirm Diana's fears, Ms. Parker Bowles appeared to change the subject entirely. 

"Camilla sort of said something, to which still to this day I have never really understood what she meant by that is 'well you know, you have two wonderful boys,'" Wharfe recalled, before summarizing the heated exchange as "incredible." 

"That was a defining moment in their life because I think at that point... this was an indicator the end was nigh," he said. 

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.


Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.