Secret tapes reveal how the birth of Harry tore Diana & Charles apart

Between William and Harry being born, it is total darkness. I can’t remember much. I’ve blotted it out. It was such pain.

However, Harry appeared (on September 15, 1984) by a miracle. Charles and I were very, very close to each other the six weeks before Harry was born, the closest we’ve ever, ever been and ever will be.

Then, suddenly, as Harry was born, it just went bang, our marriage: the whole thing went down the drain.

I knew Harry was going to be a boy because I saw on the scan. Charles always wanted a girl. He wanted two children and he wanted a girl. I knew Harry was a boy and I didn’t tell him.

Harry arrived, Harry had red hair, Harry was a boy. First comment was: ‘Oh God, it’s a boy.’ Second comment: ‘And he’s even got red hair.’

Something inside me closed off. By then, I knew Charles had gone back to his lady, but somehow we’d managed to have Harry.

Charles went to talk to my mother at Harry’s christening and said: ‘We were so disappointed — we thought it would be a girl.’

Mummy snapped his head off, saying: ‘You should realise how lucky you are to have a child that’s normal.’

Ever since that day, the shutters have come down — and that’s what he does when he gets somebody answering back at him.

Harry was a complete joy and is actually closer to his father than perhaps William at the moment. Charles loved the nursery life and couldn’t wait to get back and do the bottle and everything. He was very good — he always came back and fed the baby. I breastfed William for three weeks and Harry for 11 weeks.

I chose the names William and Harry because the alternative was Arthur and Albert. No, thank you. There weren’t fights over it. It was just a fait accompli.