Prince Charles on April 1, 1976 | Source: Getty Images
King Charles’ relationships with Princess Diana and Queen Camilla are well-documented. But there’s another story, less known but equally intriguing: his connection with another woman. She was a close friend who passed away just three months after Princess Diana.
Lady Diana Spencer and Camilla Parker Bowles at Ludlow Races where Prince Charles was competing in 1980 | Source: Getty Images
But who exactly was she, and how did she come to be one of the most significant figures in Charles’s life? What made their relationship so special, yet so private?
We look into these questions as we explore the story of King Charles and the woman he allegedly had an affair with, Lady Dale ‘Kanga’ Harper Tryon.
Dale Harper reclining against a large cushion on November 15, 1972 | Source: Getty Images
Lady Dale ‘Kanga’ Tryon was notable in British high society, not only for her status but also for her special bond with then Prince Charles.
Dale was born in Australia in 1948 and eventually moved to London, where her life took a significant turn after marrying Lord Anthony Tryon, the 3rd Baron Tryon.
Prince Charles and Lady Dale Tryon in a photo dated May 5, 1991 | Source: Getty Images
From her early years, she faced health challenges and, as she grew older, struggled with mental health issues as well.
Her marriage to Lord Tryon, with whom she shared four children, brought her into royal circles. But stories about how she first met the Prince differ.
Some say their friendship grew because Lord Tryon was one of Prince Charles’s close friends, dating back to the 70s and 80s.
Another story takes us back to 1966 in Melbourne, where a young Dale reportedly met the Prince at a school dance while studying at Geelong Grammar School.
Prince Charles passing through New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport en route to Australia where he was to study at Geelong Grammar’s Timbertop school in Victoria in January 1966 | Source: Getty Images
Their paths crossed again years later when Dale relocated to Britain for her job with the Australian airline Qantas, rekindling their earlier acquaintance.
The nickname ‘Kanga’ not only captures her vibrant personality and Australian roots but also carries stories of its origin.
Lady Dale Tryon at Ascot races on June 20, 1989 | Source: Getty Images
While it’s uncertain whether Charles or her husband Anthony first coined it, the couple affectionately called each other Ant and Kanga.
To Dale’s delight, Prince Charles embraced the nickname as well, adopting ‘Kanga’ in his interactions with her.
Prince Charles at Highgrove House in Doughton, Gloucestershire on August 11, 1982 | Source: Getty Images
Dale and Lord Tryon were close enough with Prince Charles that he would visit them unexpectedly, even once arriving during a dinner party.
They also shared leisure time, with the Prince often attending their yearly fishing trips in Iceland, including a memorable stay in 1979 when they learned of Lord Mountbatten’s tragic death.
Prince Charles with a fishing rod, photographed on May 12, 1979 in the United Kingdom | Source:Getty Images
Meanwhile, Dale and Prince Charles shared a closeness that appeared to go beyond typical friendship. People often said Dale was “the only woman who ever understood Charles,” hinting at a unique connection between them.
This description led to speculation about the nature of their bond, with some suggesting they might have had an affair. But what exactly fueled these rumors about their relationship?
Prince Charles & Lady Dale Tryon (aka Kanga) at The Diamond Ball at The Royal Lancaster Hotel in aid of the charity ‘ Sane ‘ | Source: Getty Images
Many signs suggested Dale and Prince Charles were very close, sparking rumors they were more than just friends.
Charles was reportedly just as fond of Dale as he was of Camilla, with whom he had a well-documented affair. They often shared private moments, a clear indicator of their tight bond.
Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles in 1979 | Source: Getty Images
Dale was widely reported to have been the Prince’s lover in the mid-1970s, during the early years of Camilla’s first marriage to Andrew Parker Bowles. According to reports, even while Prince Charles was seeing Camilla, Dale caught his eye.
Prince Charles serving as a sub-lieutenant on the bridge of a Royal Navy Frigate, Minerva before setting sail on routine patrols and exercises around the West Indies on February 12, 1973 | Source: Getty Images
The tension between Dale and Camilla reportedly didn’t help, fueling talk of a love triangle among them. This situation got more attention when Dale named her son after Charles, making him the godfather.
Prince Charles standing next to Dale Tryon as he holds his 9-week-old godson, Charles George Barrington Tryon, after the boy’s baptism at the Church of St. Andrews, Durnford, Wiltshire, on July 23, 1976 | Source: Getty Images
Dale worked hard to be part of the then Prince of Wales’s group. She wasn’t just lucky; she hosted about 90 parties over 100 weekends.
Being from Australia, she wasn’t easily impressed by anyone, which seemed to attract the Prince. It was said that the Prince appreciated Dale’s direct and honest way of speaking.
Prince Charles sketching in the gardens of Omiya Palace during a break in his official tour of Japan on May 8, 1986 | Source: Getty Images
Writers like Tina Brown, Penny Junor, and Andrew Morton, along with some newspapers, thought Dale and the Prince were lovers.
The newspapers made jokes about Lord Tryon giving up his wife for the country’s sake. Despite these rumors, Lord Tryon always kept quiet, handling the situation with dignity.
Prince Charles at a polo match in Windsor with actress Susan George and Lady Dale ‘Kanga’ Tryon (right) on July 10, 1991 | Source: Getty Images
Even after Prince Charles married Princess Diana, Dale continued to love him. There were whispers about her being his secret lover.
In 1983, Dale started her own fashion line called ‘Kanga’. She didn’t mind the rumors about her and Prince Charles; she knew it would make her fashion line more popular.
Lady Dale Tryon on March 16, 1985 in the United Kingdom | Source: Getty Images
In fact, her influence reached the royal fashion scene, successfully convincing the Princess of Wales to showcase a ‘Kanga’ dress at the Live Aid concert in 1985.
This significant moment not only highlighted Dale’s fashion acumen but also subtly underscored her closeness to the royal family, drawing public and media attention to her brand in a major way.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana, wearing a Kanga dress, at the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium on July 13, 1985 in London, England | Source: Getty Images
Dale often talked about her close relationship with the future king, which embarrassed Lord Tryon. Their daughter, Victoria, pointed out the consequences of such openness, saying, “She committed the cardinal sin of talking about the Prince.”
Victoria Tryon in a screenshot from a clip featuring her interview about her jewlry line | Source: youtube/naomikerbel
It led to many private arguments between her parents. “There were fights at home behind closed doors between Mum and Dad. There were bitter, awful arguments – things you didn’t want to hear,” Victoria recounted.
Over time, she came to understand that her mother’s willingness to share details about her relationship with Charles was at the heart of many family issues.
Lady Dale Tryon watching Prince Charles at Smiths Lawn, Windsor with her daughter Zoe on September 22, 1990| Source: Getty Images
Dale faced tough times with her health after the early ’90s. She had serious back issues due to spina bifida from when she was young. This led to many hospital visits and surgeries. By 1993, doctors told her she had uterine cancer.
After beating cancer in 1996, Dale struggled with another problem: she got addicted to the painkillers from her cancer treatment. She decided to get help and checked into a rehab clinic. But while she was there, a terrible accident happened.
Lady Dale Tryon at a polo match at Smiths Lawn, Windsor on June 4, 1995 | Source: Getty Images
She fell out of a window, falling eight meters. This injury caused her to be paralyzed from the waist down. She believed someone pushed her, saying she was targeted. Others weren’t so sure and thought it might have been a jump.
Things got so hard that in June 1997, her husband had to have her sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Their home life was too strained, and their kids even asked their dad to divorce Dale. “It was us children who persuaded him to divorce her because we couldn’t stand all the rows,” Victoria, their daughter, later said.
The divorce was finalized in September 1997, ending their 26-year marriage. Lord Tryon cited Dale’s unpredictable behavior as causing him stress and illness in his divorce filing.
Meanwhile, Dale’s affection for Prince Charles never faded, even when her health was failing. In July 1997, she was seen at a polo match in her wheelchair to get close to him.
Prince Charles playing for Cirencester Park as they beat Foxcote in the Thomas Goode Centenary Cup at Cirencester Park Polo Club on July 6, 1997 | Source: Getty Images
Her friends mentioned that Dale felt a deep disappointment. After Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s marriage ended, Dale hoped to be close to the Prince again, like she used to be, giving advice and sharing confidences. But that never happened.
Prince Charles, on his part, seemed to take a step back. He made it clear that their friendship had changed. He released a statement saying they only talked “once or twice a year” and weren’t as close as before.
Prince Charles Prince Charles At Schloss Glienicke in Berlin on his first official engagement after his divorce on September 2, 1996 | Source: Getty Images
Dale’s health issues took a serious turn later that year. After coming back from a trip abroad, she got very sick with septicaemia, a serious infection in the blood.
This illness was too much for her to overcome, and she died in November 1997, not long before she would have turned 50. Her death came just months after the tragic accident that took Princess Diana’s life.
News of Princess Diana’s death on August 31, 1997 | Source: Getty Images
Stories about Dale and her alleged affair with Prince Charles didn’t stop even after she passed away. In 2001, an article titled “My Lover Charles” claimed to reveal details based on conversations with Dale.
Then, in 2008, a TV movie called “Prince Charles’ Other Mistress” was shown on Channel 4, keeping the public’s interest alive. Victoria, Dale’s daughter, chose not to be part of it.
Victoria says her dad always loved Dale, even with all the challenges they faced. He was there for Dale when she was dying, and he never married again.
His loyalty meant he stayed friends with the royal family. Meanwhile, Lord Tryon kept quiet about his and Dale’s private life, including anything about Prince Charles.
Prince Charles with Lady Dale Tryon, Lord Anthony George Merrick Tryon, and their son, Charles, during his baptism on July 23, 1976 at the Church of St Andrews, Durnford, Wiltshire | Source: Getty Images
Over a decade after her mother’s death, Victoria talked about how the family still felt the impact of those times. “It might seem a long-forgotten scandal, but for us, the Tryon family, we are still having to live with its effects,” she said.
She remembered Charles visiting when she was young but didn’t think much of it. She also revealed that her dad and Charles would still meet up, showing there were no hard feelings.
A portrait of Lady Dale Tryon, dated December 7, 1993 | Source: Getty Images
Victoria knows her mom was very fond of Charles and admits they were close. Yet, she won’t say if their friendship was more than that. “I don’t and won’t search for a specific word or term to define that relationship,” she stated, choosing to remember her mom in a different light out of respect for her dad and their family.
Another compelling story revolves around Princess Diana and then-Prince Charles. Find out why their union never lived up to expectations and how the Princess’ death made the future king realize he loved her.
Diana Spencer and Prince Charles pose for photographs in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, in February 1981 | Source: Getty Images
Prince Charles Realized He Loved Diana after Her Death — She Was the 1st Woman Who ‘Showed Him Real Love’
Prince Charles was considered the most eligible bachelor in Britain in the late ’70s and early ’80s. The then Prince of Wales had formerly been linked with Camilla, but their relationship was deemed impossible.
The prince was heartbroken over the failed romance. However, he surprised his family and fans when he was spotted with a young Diana Spencer. Diana was then a young, shy schoolteacher who quickly won over the public’s affection with her charms.
Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince Charles on June 29, 1983 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | Source: Getty Images
Their relationship soon blossomed into one of the most anticipated royal weddings. Prince Charles, the next in line to the British throne, seemed to have found himself the perfect match, but soon everything came crashing down.
A few years of bliss with their two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, was followed by many others filled with betrayals, accusations, and conspiracies. What looked like a desirable union soon became a source of disgrace to the royal family.
CALLING OFF THEIR MARRIAGE
About 3,500 guests sat excitedly at St. Paul’s Cathedral, and nearly 750 million people watched in excitement as Charles and Diana walked down the aisle during their 1981 wedding.
Diana Princess in November, 1988 at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France | Source: Getty Images
About a decade later, the couple began to talk about their unavoidable separation. Most royal fans and followers could only speculate over what had gone wrong between arguably the most popular couple at the time.
They were claims of emotional neglect, manipulations, propaganda, and more alarming, infidelity. Both parties had already soiled their oaths at the end of their marriage and were unfaithful.
The couple began their divorce process in 1992 and finalized their divorce in 1996, a year before Diana’s death. However, the entire process was relatively quiet compared to the early days of their marriage.
Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla Parker Bowles on April 9, 2005 in Berkshire, England | Source: Getty Images
Bombshell interviews later broke the silence, especially Diana’s 1995 Panorama interview with BBC journalist Martin Bashir. In the interview, the then Princess of Wales claimed that there were three people in her marriage, alluding to his affair with his current wife, Camilla.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana on November 3, 1992 in South Korea | Source: Getty Images
THE FALLING APART
Diana and Charles’s 1981 marriage came after only 13 dates together. The prince would later claim he wanted to walk out of the marriage after realizing the chances of success were slim since they barely knew each other. When asked if he fell in love with Diana, Charles gave a rather awkward response.
Princess Diana and Prince Charles at Guards Polo Club at Smith’s Lawn on July 24, 1983 in London, England | Source: Getty Images
Throughout their marriage, Diana suffered several personal health concerns, including an eating disorder she claimed, was ignored by the royal family. The mother of two revealed she further suffered from depression which left her with suicidal thoughts.
Other authors claimed that Diana’s popularity became a threat to Charles and caused their rift to broaden. The couple could no longer afford to live under the guise of a working union, and soon, a split was inevitable.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana on November 3, 1992 in South Korea | Source: Getty Images
After many unanswered questions about their future, Charles reportedly asked Diana for a separation. The then Princess of Wales agreed to his request, but she admitted to being heartbroken.
Diana and Charles announced their official separation in December 1992, after 11 years of marriage and two boys. Diana realized her freedom was still restricted.
On August 31, 1997, Princess Diana died from injuries sustained in a car accident at midnight. Prince Charles reportedly realized how much he loved Diana after she died. According to Diana’s friend and healer, Simone Simmons, Charles realized Diana was the first person to show him true love.
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