For years there have been rumors that Princess Diana had a secret daughter that she gave up for adoption before marrying Prince Charles. These rumors have captivated the public imagination, but concrete facts about this alleged secret daughter have been scarce. In this article, we will examine the origins of this theory, analyze the evidence for and against its plausibility, and try to determine if Princess Diana really does have a secret daughter out there somewhere.
Where did this theory come from?
Rumors about Princess Diana’s secret daughter began to swirl in the early 2000s, not long after her tragic death in 1997. Some royal watchers began to speculate that Diana had gotten pregnant as a teen and gave up the baby girl for adoption to protect her reputation. This was a bombshell theory, given Diana’s massive popularity and fame. If it were true, it would mean there was potentially another heir to the British throne that the public never knew about.
The exact origins of the rumor are murky, but most accounts point to author Chris Andersen as one of the first to give the idea prominence. In his 2003 book “Diana’s Secrets: The Princess Revealed,” Andersen claimed Diana had become pregnant while dating James Gilbey in the late 1970s. Andersen wrote that Diana gave birth to a daughter in secret and put her up for adoption to avoid scandal. He also ominously claimed that powerful forces would silence anyone who tried to find out the truth about the secret daughter.
While intriguing, Andersen’s book provided no concrete evidence to back up the claim of a secret princess. Nonetheless, once introduced, the rumor took on a life of its own. With Diana gone and unable to confirm or deny the story, speculative claims about her alleged secret daughter multiplied online throughout the 2000s and 2010s.
Analyzing the evidence
So what reasons do people give for believing this contested claim, and how credible are they? Let’s take a systematic look at the main arguments made to support the existence of Diana’s daughter:
Diana’s close friend confirmations
Some argue that Diana’s inner circle has supported the idea that she had a daughter. Her friend Lucia Flecha de Lima was quoted saying Diana spoke to her about the “daughter she had given away.” Simone Simmons, another friend, also hinted Diana had a child given up for adoption in the early years of her relationship with Prince Charles.
While intriguing, these alleged comments are secondhand. Neither friend has provided detailed accounts or documentation to back up Diana’s comments about a secret child.
The meeting with a secret daughter
In 2014, tabloid publication Globe ran a cover story claiming that Prince Charles had met a woman named Sarah in secret in the United States. They reported that Sarah claimed to be Diana’s biological daughter and that Charles believed her claim. The story included alleged details like Sarah having Diana’s eyes and bone structure.
No substantive proof was provided about this woman’s background or her supposed meeting with Charles. Furthermore, the tabloid nature of the magazine that ran the story makes its veracity highly questionable. It read more like dramatic fiction than a factual account.
The secret adoption records
Some point to the existence of classified adoption records that are sealed and kept hidden from the public as possible evidence of Diana’s secret daughter. By this reasoning, if Diana gave up a child, the records would not be accessible to conceal the truth.
While adoption records are typically sealed to protect the privacy of the parties involved, there is no direct proof that any such records relate to Diana specifically. Their existence alone does not confirm Diana had a secret adopted-out child.
Diana’s schedule aligning with a pregnancy
Some conspiracy theorists have pointed to Diana’s activity schedule during 1979, when she would have conceived the alleged baby according to the rumor. During that year, she spent considerable time out of the public eye. For a period of around nine months, her activities and schedule were very limited. To some, this aligns suspiciously well with the timeline of a secret pregnancy.
However, the limited public presence and travel in 1979 has other plausible explanations. That year, Diana’s grandmother died and her sister Jane got married – both major personal life events that could explain times of seclusion and limited activity. Her schedule alone is therefore not strong evidence.
Diana’s documented fertility issues
Ironically, one of the strongest counterarguments against the idea of a secret pregnancy comes from Diana’s own medical history. After marrying Prince Charles, Diana suffered from bulimia and documented fertility issues. She reportedly struggled for years to conceive a child and finally became pregnant with William in 1981 through IVF treatment.
If Diana struggled so mightily to have children with Charles just a few years later, it makes the supposed secret pregnancy in the late 1970s seem highly dubious. If she had already given birth easily once before, why the years of strife afterwards?
Key takeaways from the evidence
– No firsthand documentation of a pregnancy, birth, or adoption has ever been produced.
– Accounts making the claim are often secondhand or rely on rumor and unverified personal accounts exclusively.
– Tabloids have exaggerated about a “secret meeting” with Charles and Diana’s alleged daughter without any verification.
– Diana’s known medical history casts strong doubt on an earlier easy pregnancy and birth.
Based on this analysis, there is little reason to think this rumor is based on anything substantive. While fun to speculate about, there simply isn’t compelling evidence to establish Diana had a secret biological daughter.
Who might start or spread an unsubstantiated rumor like this?
Why has this unverified idea captured so much public attention and interest over the years? Even without strong evidence, it has become a kind of mythology, kept alive by speculation and hearsay. Understanding why requires looking at the different motivations that various parties might have for spreading or amplifying this rumor.
Tabloid publications
Tabloid magazines and websites gain attention, readership, and profits by running shocking royal stories, even if based on flimsy evidence. Diana’s secret daughter is perfect tabloid fodder, guaranteed to generate buzz and interest. Tabloids have played a major role in keeping this rumor going.
Individual writers
Some authors may include speculative claims about Diana’s alleged secret daughter in books to generate publicity and sales. Again, the dramatics of this kind of claim help books get attention, regardless of accuracy.
Royal watchers
For passionate followers of the British monarchy, the notion of a secret princess daughter satisfies a certain wishful thinking. It adds drama and scandal that enhances public fascination with Diana’s legacy. The myth feeds into the voracious appetite some have for shocking royal revelations, grounded or not.
Conspiracy theorists
Some conspiracy-minded thinkers are attracted to sensational stories of powerful people’s secrets and scandals. The idea that the royal family covered up Diana’s daughter fits perfectly with a worldview that stresses elite corruption and concealment. This gives the myth added life.
In different ways, these various parties all have strong motives to buy into and spread a rumor that lacks clear substantiation. The myth fulfills agendas and emotional needs, providing meaning to some even without evidence.
Could genetic testing resolve the question?
One way that has been proposed to conclusively prove or disprove the existence of Diana’s secret daughter would be DNA testing. If a woman came forward claiming to be the child, testing could verify any genetic match. Prince William and Prince Harry could provide comparison samples. So why hasn’t this been done? A few key reasons explain the lack of genetic proof either way.
No reliable candidate sample
For DNA testing to work, you would need a credible claimant with a verifiable chain of evidence linking her to Diana. To date, nobody has come forward with a compelling claim supported by adoption records, documentation of their origin, or testimony from Diana’s inner circle. Any samples would be meaningless without a valid claimant.
Royal resistance
It’s unlikely the royal family would willingly participate in testing that would reveal potentially scandalous secrets. Even if a claimant emerged, the palace would likely stonewall requests for William and Harry to provide reference DNA. Their resistance to contamination would stifle any definitive resolution.
Incentives to conceal the truth
Even if William and Harry were secretly willing, powerful forces may discourage any revelation, as Diana’s friend alleged. The royal apparatus would likely go to great lengths to conceal a secret daughter and could suppress any genetic confirmation. Too many agendas align against the truth coming out.
For a combination of these reasons, DNA results are unlikely to emerge. Unless an unimpeachable claimant came forth, or royal incentives dramatically shifted, genetic proof remains firmly out of reach.
Conclusion
While an intriguing myth, so far there is little reason to conclude Princess Diana secretly gave birth to a daughter. The circumstantial hints and secondhand accounts about a royal coverup make for fun speculation, but don’t establish solid facts. Powerful incentives also work against definitive resolution, through DNA or other means.
Barring more substantive proof, the rumors are likely to persist as unconfirmed myth. For now, the most compelling evidence suggests there is no secret princess, as alluring as the notion may be to many. The romantic appeal seems destined to fuel speculation until firmer facts surface. With the passage of time though, even that seems increasingly unlikely.