Princess Margaret’s former lady-in-waiting has sparked debate with claims that Queen Elizabeth II did not sufficiently support her son, Charles, in finding an appropriate spouse, which contributed to his troubled marriage to Princess Diana. These remarks are featured in Lady Glenconner’s upcoming book, Manners and Mischief: An A–Z of Royal Tales and Surprising Wisdom from Princess Margaret’s Lady-in-Waiting, scheduled for release on November 6, 2025.
In a book excerpt published by the Daily Mail on Saturday, October 25, 2025, Lady Glenconner wrote, “I do slightly feel that the late Queen Elizabeth could have worked harder to try to find Prince Charles a suitable wife.”
The 93-year-old Glenconner, who was a maid of honor at Queen Elizabeth’s coronation and served for decades as Princess Margaret’s companion, suggested that the queen’s own romantic contentment may have obscured her son’s marital needs. She noted that because the queen had experienced a successful marriage with Prince Philip, she might not have focused on Charles’s marriage prospects in the same way other European royals handled such matters.
Glenconner highlighted differences with continental practices, pointing out that the queens of Greece and Spain traditionally hosted royal princesses from other European nations to find suitable brides for their sons. This more strategic approach to royal matchmaking contrasted with the process that unfolded for the future King Charles.
Nonetheless, the former lady-in-waiting disclosed that Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were not the only family members advocating for Charles’s marriage to Diana. The Queen Mother and Lady Fermoy, Diana’s maternal grandmother, also supported the union, according to Glenconner’s account. The Queen Mother reportedly expressed her approval in written correspondence, and Prince Philip was also in favor of the marriage.
Charles and Diana first met at a party in 1980 after Lord Mountbatten’s death. Diana was said to be very sympathetic to Charles, who had a girlfriend at the time, yet she clearly left an impression on him, Glenconner observed.
Glenconner’s most pointed criticism focused on Diana’s youth and inexperience. Glenconner stated that Diana “was so young when they married and had very little life experience.” She further suggested that Diana’s immense public popularity posed challenges for Prince Charles.
Diana was just 20 years old when she married the then-Prince of Wales on July 29, 1981. The marriage garnered worldwide attention but ended in divorce on August 28, 1996, after years of public disagreements and revelations about infidelity on both sides.
The book is the latest in a series of publications by Glenconner, who has become a bestselling author in her later years. Her previous memoir, Lady in Waiting: My Extraordinary Life in the Shadow of the Crown, published by Hodder & Stoughton in 2019, provided intimate insights into her years of service to Princess Margaret and her own challenging marriage to Colin Tennant, the third Baron Glenconner.
Jamie Hodder-Williams at Bedford Square Publishers acquired world English-language rights to the new book from Gordon Wise at Curtis Brown. The publisher describes the work as offering reflections on a range of themes, sharing stories of coronations, couture, and challenges, enriched with Glenconner’s indomitable spirit and lessons from a life well-lived.
Born Lady Anne Coke in 1932 as the eldest daughter of the fifth Earl of Leicester, Glenconner was raised at Holkham Hall in Norfolk. She became lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret in 1971, a position she held through numerous state events and foreign tours until the princess’s death in 2002. Glenconner and her husband also developed the Caribbean island of Mustique into a retreat for the wealthy and famous, gifting a plot to Princess Margaret, who built a residence there.
The book includes over 20 previously unseen photographs from Glenconner’s personal collection. Reflecting on her current life, Glenconner mentioned that, now in her nineties, she feels she is experiencing the most enjoyable period of her life, appreciating everyday pleasures over grand events.
Her observations regarding Queen Elizabeth’s influence on Charles’s marriage choice contribute to ongoing discussions about the royal family’s decision-making during one of the most scrutinized periods in modern monarchy history.
The claims come at a time when King Charles and Queen Camilla have found their own marital happiness. Glenconner commended Camilla as the perfect partner for him, describing her as “down to earth, great fun and has a wonderful sense of humour,” adding that she makes Charles “very happy.”
