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Princess Diana married Prince Charles in their spectacular royal wedding in 1981. Although the pair happily welcomed Prince William and Prince Harry in 1982 and 1984 respectively, the marriage was a difficult one from the start. By 1992 the Prince and Princess of Wales had separated and the very public disintegration of their union had been dubbed ‘The War of the Waleses’.

The period between the separation and their eventual 1996 divorce was marked by a string of scandals as both partners made private information public.

The most infamous of these was Diana’s interview with Panorama, which was recorded in secret and caused a sensation when it aired in 1995.

Veteran royal editor Robert Jobson, in his 2006 book “William’s Princess”, delves into the early life of the prince, and how he reacted to Diana’s extraordinary interview.

Mr Jobson writes: “Diana had paid a surprise visit at Eton the day before the programme was broadcast.

“She wanted to tell him about it before it was screened and, too late to stop it, she was beginning to regret her decision.

“The next day William was called down to his house master’s study shortly before 8pm, where he watched his mother’s interview in solitude.

“Harry had turned down the chance to join him.

“William watched in dismay as Diana went further than anybody had imagined she would.”

However, although William had weathered the public fall-out of his parents’ forays into the press before, Mr Jobson writes that the young prince was particularly hurt this time.

He continues: “William, her ever-dependable little consort, was mortified and hurt by his mother’s words on Panorama.

“For a while he ignored her, not wanting to continue in his role as her confidant any more.

“But within a few weeks, she was forgiven; his love for her was unconditional.

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“He could never forsake her, however much her behaviour made him wince.”

The prince reportedly told a friend at the time: “My papa never embarrasses me. My mummy embarrasses me.”

The prince continued to be the princess’ confidant and emotional support, just as he had been doing since the Prince and Princess of Wales first departed in 1992.

Mr Jobson writes: “His mother leaned heavily on her eldest son in her times of need – ties when William was still just a little boy.

“He also had a natural knack of spotting what Princess Diana needed.

Throughout the turmoil of his parents’ marriage crisis in 1992 he assumed the role of supportive son.

He was just ten but already, in Diana’s eyes at least, he had reached that rewarding age when the child became a companion and friend to his parent, able to grasp, at least in part, a parent’s adult troubles.

“Whenever Diana felt uncertain, William was there for her.

“He once told her he wanted to be a policeman so he could protect her. Her heart must have ached with love at his earnest words.”

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