Princess Diana’s life was filled with emotional struggles, both in her childhood and later in her highly publicized marriage to Prince Charles. While much has been said about her troubled union with Charles, fewer people know about a deeply personal moment from her past—one that involved a heated confrontation with her father, Edward John Spencer.
Diana, who endured a lonely and turbulent childhood, was no stranger to heartbreak. Born into the Spencer family as the fourth child, she grew up in an environment where the pressure to produce a male heir loomed heavily over her parents' marriage.
Their relationship was already troubled, and when her mother, Frances Shand Kydd, had an affair with Peter Shand Kydd, it led to a painful divorce in 1969. At just seven years old, Diana experienced the devastating effects of a broken home, something that would later shape her emotional resilience.
Her father, Spencer, was awarded custody of Diana and her siblings after a bitter legal battle. Though he remained a significant figure in her life, his decision to remarry in 1976 without informing his children left a deep scar on Diana.
His new wife, Raine McCorquodale, was not welcomed by Diana and her siblings, who felt blindsided and betrayed by their father’s actions.
According to Andrew Morton’s book Diana: Her True Story, the young princess reached a breaking point upon discovering her father’s secret wedding. Overcome with anger, she confronted him and, in an uncharacteristic display of fury, slapped him across the face. "That's from all of us, for hurting us," she reportedly said before storming out.
Spencer, shocked and enraged, chased after his daughter, shouting, "Don't you ever talk to me like that again!" But Diana, standing her ground, responded defiantly: "Well, don't you ever do that to us again."
Her bold words left a lasting impression, and despite the rocky start, Spencer remained married to Raine until his passing in 1992.
Diana’s childhood pain carried into her adult years, influencing her relationships and emotional struggles. Her marriage to Prince Charles only added to her suffering, as she faced the reality of his ongoing affair with Camilla Parker Bowles.
The weight of betrayal became unbearable, and she often sought solace from those closest to her—including, at times, her father.
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward recounts an instance when Diana, feeling distraught over Charles’s emotional neglect, fled to her father’s home in Northamptonshire. She was overwhelmed with anger and frustration, convinced that she could no longer go through with the wedding.
She poured her heart out to Spencer, declaring that she wanted to call it off.
Spencer, however, urged his daughter to reconsider. He reminded her that breaking off an engagement to the future King would be a serious act of disrespect. Despite her doubts, Diana ultimately went through with the wedding in 1981, and her father walked her down the aisle.
Years later, their relationship softened, but the wounds of the past never truly disappeared. Diana’s decision to speak openly about her marital struggles in the infamous BBC Panorama interview led to a royal crisis. Queen Elizabeth II herself intervened, ordering Diana and Charles to formally divorce in 1996.
Though Diana and her father had their share of conflicts, their bond remained strong in its own way. Even in moments of anger and hurt, she never hesitated to stand up for herself, a trait that defined her until the very end.
Her life was filled with battles—both public and private—but the confrontation with her father remains a testament to her unwavering spirit, even as a young girl.
