Princess Diana’s private letters are offering a fresh glimpse into her personal life more than two decades after her death. A newly surfaced collection of correspondence reveals the Princess of Wales making surprisingly candid references to Prozac while writing to actor Terence Stamp during a challenging chapter of her life.
The handwritten notes, which are part of Stamp’s personal belongings being auctioned by Bonhams, highlight both Diana’s struggles and her famously mischievous sense of humor. They also provide a rare look at the friendships she leaned on while navigating intense public scrutiny during her marriage to then-Prince Charles.
Princess Diana’s private letters reveal a surprising reference to Prozac in a 1991 note sent to Terence Stamp
One of the most talked-about items in the collection is a letter dated October 17, 1991, sent after Diana shared lunch with Stamp, whom she reportedly met through art dealer Oliver Hoare.
Thanking the actor for what she called the “perfect” risotto, Diana acknowledged his support during a difficult period. “Not many people would take the time and trouble to delve into such a complex situation… Three cheers for Prozac, not the American variety, I hasten to add!” she wrote as per Hola!. The note ended warmly: “Lots of love, Terence, and a huge thank you, from Diana x.”
The letter is expected to sell for between $2,000 and $2,600 at auction.
Diana referenced antidepressants again in another letter sent just weeks later. After thanking Stamp for treating her to lunch and caviar, she joked, “No Prozac withdrawals as yet!”
While the correspondence hints at the emotional pressures Diana was facing in 1991, it also showcases the playful personality friends often described behind palace walls. In December that year, she invited Stamp to lunch on a postcard featuring a woman’s chest with the message, “All the Breast from London.” She also sent a cheeky card asking, “Why did God invent SEX?” before supplying her own punchline: “So that married people do something at least twice a year.”
For Lady D’s admirers, the letters paint a more intimate portrait of her. Something the public often saw, combined with vulnerability, wit, and warmth.
TELL US – ARE YOU SURPRISED BY HOW OPEN PRINCESS DIANA WAS ABOUT HER PERSONAL STRUGGLES IN THESE PRIVATE LETTERS?
