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British Royals

Diana, Princess of Wales made private phone call and reveals divorce battle is ‘grim’

In July of 1996, pop star George Michael secretly recorded an intimate phone call between himself and the late Diana, Princess of Wales where the late princess reveals intimate details about her ongoing divorce battle with Prince Charles.

Michael died on Christmas Day last year at the age of 53. The singer and his childhood friend Andros Georgio were at Michael’s house in Hampstead in North London where an answering machine recorded the call.

Georgio explained to The Sun how he received the tape: “George handed me the tape and said, ‘Here’s your retirement present’.” The tape has been locked up until now.

The princess called Michael to thank him for wishing her a happy birthday. The pop star and princess traded banter and gossip about their mutual friend, Elton John and his boyfriend; however, Diana did refer to the royal family in a very unkind way, saying: “It’s been pretty grim, but we’re near the end of it.

“Not a very loving, compassionate family, this one I’m leaving.”

Diana met Michael backstage at a concert in 1989. The two grew closer as her marriage to Prince Charles started to spiral and collapse.

The late princess shared her agony in the ending of her marriage. She would eventually receive a lump-sum of $17.5 million. She was stripped away of her title Her Royal Highness. The call also showed how Michael became Diana’s closest confidant during her divorce proceedings.

This wasn’t the only phone call between the two friends. The princess and Michael would meet privately and chat frequently about her marriage battle.

In the call, the late princess sounded weary when discussing the constant fighting with lawyers. The chat reveals the toll it all was taking on her.

She says: “I’m going to get three-quarters of what I want and the quarter he can’t have, so there you go.”

George says: “I’d love to see you.”

But the princess hesitates: “George, can I wait until this has all quietened down?

“Just lawyers. You know what they’re like.” She then adds: “It’s OK, it’s all very grown-up.”

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