Princess Diana's last Christmas appears to have been devastatingly lonely as she spent it apart from her beloved sons. By Christmas 1996, Diana had been divorced from the now King Charles III for several months, following their formal separation in 1992. And while her sons Prince William and Prince Harry headed to Sandringham with the rest of the Royal Family marking royal festive tradition, Diana reportedly spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day by herself.
In typically generous fashion, she was said to have dismissed her own staff so they could enjoy quality time with their own families. In an interview with French magazine Gala , royal chef Darren McGrady offered an insight into how Princess Diana spent Christmas towards the end of life her, describing it as 'pretty sad'. He said: "It was always pretty sad when you worked with the Princess on Christmas Eve.
William and Harry were going to Sandringham and Princess Diana was there, alone. She insisted that the staff spend time with their families for Christmas and that we leave the food in the refrigerator." According to McGrady, staff prepared meals in advance that Diana could reheat herself during what was a solitary time.
It's understood that Diana did not enjoy spending Christmases at Sandringham, where she would reportedly receive a 'frosty reception' following her separation from Charles. In 2015, a personal friend of the princess shared some insight into what these tense visits were really like for the mother-of-two. A.
