Overview
- The National Archives of Ireland released Department of Foreign Affairs file 2025/124/160 detailing internal assessments from 1995.
- A memo records Charles’s press aide Sandy Henney saying Diana was “by far the more predatory and skilled” and that her team sought to upstage St James’ Palace.
- Charles’s press operation told Irish officials the June 1995 trip was “the best public outing the Prince has had in a very long time.”
- The documents describe Henney as fiercely loyal to Charles and note her suggestion that an approach from Princess Diana for an Irish visit could follow.
- Officials noted that UK media coverage of the visit was positive but relatively light compared with extensive reporting in Ireland, a factor in the PR calculus.