Princess Diana believed she was headed for a fairy-tale future with then-Prince Charles — until her dream unraveled.Katherine Hanbury, who attended West Heath Girls' School with the late Princess of Wales between 1973 and 1977, is partnering with U.K.-based auction house Gorringe's to auction photographs and letters beginning July 7."She was completely hopeful," the royal's childhood friend told Fox News Digital."She thought she'd met her prince.
And we all hope, don't we, when we get married, that we've found somebody we're going to spend the rest of our lives with, have children with and have a lovely, happy life."PRINCESS DIANA'S BOLD REQUEST WAS THE ONE THING HER DESIGNER REFUSED: 'YOU ARE A PRINCESS'A letter Princess Diana wrote during her 1981 honeymoon with the future King Charles is set to be auctioned by U.K.-based Gorringe’s auction house on July 7, 2026.(Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images)"She wanted to build a family of her own," Hanbury reflected.
"She had all of those aspirations.She was such a lovely, caring girl.
And that was definitely what she wanted more than anything else: to have a family of her own, to be loved and cared for, as we all do, really.""I've had these letters and photos in my desk for the last 45 years or so," Hanbury said."I'm not getting any younger, and I can't take them with me.
I thought now is the time to give somebody else the opportunity to have the pleasure and the joy of looking at and reading them, as they gave to me.""Its [sic] wonderful being married – I think its [sic] safe to say that after two months…!" Princess Diana wrote to Katherine Hanbury.(Gorringe’s)At the girls' school, they became fast friends.
Diana was described as "good fun" and "very ordinary" — meant as a compliment."My memory of her was that she really enjoyed all the everyday girl things," Hanbury said."She was very giggly, very caring.
That's my memory of her: a young girl who was absolutely delightful.She was just D...