A recently surfaced letter written by Princess Diana to John F. Kennedy Jr. reveals the late royal expressed concern about media intrusion and offered a message of support to Kennedy and his wife, Carolyn Bessette, just months before both Diana and Kennedy died in separate tragedies.
The correspondence, dated July 1997, was written approximately six weeks before Diana’s fatal car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997. Kennedy and Bessette died in a plane crash off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard in July 1999.
In the letter, Diana wrote, “I hope the media are leaving both you and Carolyn alone.” The brief but poignant sentence highlights Diana’s personal understanding of intense public scrutiny, a theme that dominated her life following her divorce from Prince Charles.
The note was penned on Kensington Palace stationery. Diana wrote directly to Kennedy, expressing sympathy for the pressure he and his wife faced as public figures.
Diana and Kennedy, the son of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, maintained a cordial friendship. Both were among the most photographed individuals of the 1990s. Kennedy was the founder of George magazine, and Diana had been photographed for the publication prior to her death.
The letter has been released as part of a private collection and is being reported by multiple news outlets. It offers a rare glimpse into Diana’s private thoughts about fame and personal safety. She was known to have been deeply affected by the constant attention from paparazzi, which she described in a 1995 BBC interview as “relentless.”
The timing of the letter adds significant historical weight. Diana died in a tunnel in Paris while being chased by photographers. Kennedy died in a plane he was piloting, when he lost control over the Atlantic Ocean in poor visibility.
Historians and biographers have noted the parallel between the two figures. Both were heirs to immense public legacy and both struggled with the boundaries between private life and public duty. Diana’s warning in the letter now appears prescient.
The contents of the letter have not been authenticated by official royal archives. However, the source of the document has been verified by the auction house handling the sale of related memorabilia. The letter is expected to be auctioned later this year.
Interest in Diana’s correspondence has remained high. Previous letters have fetched significant sums at auction, reflecting ongoing public fascination with her personal struggles and her relationship with the media.
Kennedy’s friends have rarely commented on his private interactions with Diana. The letter represents one of the few surviving pieces of written communication between the two.
The document’s release comes at a time when the British royal family continues to grapple with media relations. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have cited similar concerns about privacy and harassment as reasons for stepping back from royal duties.
Historians say the letter provides no new information about Diana’s final days, but it reinforces the depth of her anxiety about press intrusion and her empathy for others in similar situations.
The auction for the letter is scheduled for later in the year. Proceeds from the sale are expected to go to a charitable foundation, though details have not been confirmed.
Source: Delimiter Online
