Angela Rippon reveals how Princess Diana was 'out of her depth' and there was obvious tension with Charles - as she watches her pre-wedding interview with the couple for the first time 38 years later
- British presenter Angela Rippon interviewed Charles and Diana before wedding
- Viewed the footage for the first time since 1981 for a Channel 5 documentary
- Said Diana was almost 'slumped' in chair and terrified of Queen's press secretary
- Charles and Di: The Truth Behind Their Wedding airs at 9pm Saturday
Their wedding was heralded as a fairytale, but of course the reality of Charles and Diana's marriage was very different, and now one of the last people to speak to the couple before they walked down the aisle has admitted the warning signs were plain as day.
BBC newsreader and journalist Angela Rippon co-hosted an interview with the couple on the night before their nuptials in July 1981, and has spoken for the first time about the experience in a Channel 5 documentary.
For Charles and Di: The Truth Behind Their Wedding, Angela, 74, watched back the interview in full for the first time since sitting down with the couple 38 years ago, and said it was now obvious that Diana was 'out of her depth'.
Commenting on the footage, she said: 'When I say "wishing you a lifetime of happiness together," he looks towards her and she looks down at the floor.
'Goodness, maybe we should have read so much more into to that five seconds at the end of the interview.
'That expression on Diana's face at the end speaks volumes... gosh. Might have told so much more about what was to come.'
After watching footage of her interview with Charles and Diana, Angela Rippon recalled how the 20-year-old seemed intimidated and was almost 'slumped' in her chair
'It's the first time that I've seen the interview through from start to finish since I did it. That was... 38 years ago?
'And obviously, with the knowledge of hindsight, you read so much more into body language, what was said, looks that were given, reactions, that's the value of hindsight isn't it?
Share this article
Angela recalled that Charles, 32, seemed a lot more at ease than his then 20-year-old bride.
'Prince Charles, as always, was very relaxed. Lady Diana less so, it was a whole new experience for her,' the journalist recalled.
Angela Rippon (pictured), 74, interviewed Prince Charles and Lady Diana the night before their wedding on 28 July 1981
'I got the impression that Prince Charles was very protective towards her, and Diana was almost slumped in the chair. She was in new territory, she was out of her depth.'
The renowned journalist recalled the intimidating presence of Michael Shay, the Queen's Press Secretary at the time, who would not allow Diana to speak about her wedding dress during the interview.
'When we went into the room, Michael was standing behind me, out of camera shot but behind me and in Lady Diana's eye-line,' she said.
Speaking in the Channel 5 documentary, Angela revealed that Diana seemed intimidated by the Queen's press secretary and didn't relax until he left the room
'I'm not sure how comfortable it made her feel.'
'Put any 20-year-old in front of a television camera and say "this is an interview about what could be one of the most important day of your life and it's going to be seen by hundreds of millions of people around the world," she said.
'And there's this man standing behind the person interviewing you making sure you get it right, wouldn't you be nervous?'
'There's a moment where her eye contact goes above my head and I'm assuming that's when shes looking at Michael.
Diana, 20, and Charles, 32, tied the knot in July 2918, and despite their wedding being described as a fairytale, the reality was very different
She noted that Diana visibly relaxed once the formidable press officer had left the room, and started chatting excitedly about her wedding dress.
'She clasped her hands together and she said: "Oh Angela, I had my last fitting just a few days ago in the work room, and when I put the dress on, all the girls in the work room , they all applauded and cried and said "Oh ma'am, you look just like a fairy princess,""
'And I think in that moment I could have really strangled Michael Shea,' she joked.
Charles and Di: The Truth Behind Their Wedding airs on Saturday 27th July, 8pm on Channel 5
