A former Palace press secretary has opened up about Princess Diana’s 5am crisis call and the advice he gave her after Andrew Morton’s biography was published.
Dickie Arbiter, 83, worked for the Royal Family from 1988 to 2000 and served the late Queen, King Charles and Princess Diana.
Speaking to The Telegraph, the royal expert explained how he was sent to Charing Cross station on the day the bombshell book Diana: Her True Story was published to pick up the morning newspapers and said he was ‘gobsmacked’ by what the Princess had said.
In the book, which sold more than five million copies that year, Diana detailed her mental health struggles and the breakdown of her marriage to King Charles.
The expert recalled how the late Princess of Wales had been anxious of the press coverage of the book.
Pictured: The late Princess of Wales seen breaking down in tears as she leaves Ashworth Hospice in Liverpool in June 1992, days after Andrew Morton’s biography was published
Dickie said: ‘Diana called me at 5am asking what she should do, and I told her it couldn’t be undone now.’
What’s more, Dickie recalled how he told the Princess to keep a low profile ahead of her visit to Ashworth Hospice in Liverpool a couple of days later.
He continued: ‘[I told her to] just to keep schtum, not answer her phone, and I would accompany her on her next engagement two days later to keep people at bay.’
When visiting the Liverpool hospice in June 1992, Princess Diana was visibly distressed and broke down in tears as she returned to her car.
The Tampa Bay Times reported Diana arrived at a nearby hospital half an hour later, where she was greeted by a fan holding a sign reading: ‘We love you Diana.’
The revelations – condemned by many as sensationalist – were so damaging for the royals’ public image that many book shops and supermarkets banned it, totally unaware that Diana was the main source behind the work.
Five months after the book was published, former Prime Minister John Major announced that the Prince and Princess of Wales had formally separated. The couple’s divorce was finalised in 1996.
Elsewhere in the Andrew Norton book, Princess Diana detailed confronting Camilla about her relationship with Charles at her sister’s 40th birthday party.
Dickie Arbiter (pictured in November 2019) has opened up about Princess Diana ‘s 5am crisis call and the advice he gave her after Andrew Morton’s biography was published
In the book (pictured), which sold over five million copies that year, Diana detailed her mental health struggles and the breakdown of her marriage to King Charles
The late royal said: ‘Nobody expected me to turn up to the party [thrown by Lady Annabel Goldsmith in February 1989 for Camilla’s sister’s 40th birthday], but a voice inside me said: “Go for the hell of it.” So I psyched myself up something awful.’
Ahead of time, Diana explained how she had decided to shake Camilla’s hand instead of kissing her on the cheeks, which she dubbed a ‘big step’.
During the party, Diana recalled finding her husband in conversation with Camilla and another man – and detailed how she sent the men away because she ‘wanted to have a word’ with Camilla.
During their conversation, Diana claimed Camilla said to her: ‘You’ve got everything you ever wanted. You’ve got all the men in the world falling in love with you, and you’ve got two beautiful children. What more could you want?’
The late royal claims to have replied: ‘I want my husband […] I’m sorry I’m in the way.
Andrew Morton (pictured in 1992) capitalised on his bestselling work by releasing Diana: Her True Story In Her Own Words just months after her death in 1997
‘I obviously am in the way and it must be hell for both of you, but I do know what is going on. Don’t treat me like an idiot.’
In recordings Diana made for her biographer, the Princess of Wales spoke of her ‘ridiculous’ wedding to Charles in 1981.
Diana said: ‘It was so grown up. Here’s Diana, a kindergarten teacher. I mean the whole thing was ridiculous.’
The biographer capitalised on his bestselling work by releasing Diana: Her True Story In Her Own Words just months after her death in 1997.
The book featured the transcripts of their conversations, officially outing her as the main source.
This was followed by Diana: In Pursuit of Love in 2004, which detailed her affairs with the likes of soldier James Hewitt, heart surgeon Hasnat Khan and property developer Christopher Walley.