PRINCESS DIANA was the mother of Prince William  and Prince Harry,  who tragically passed away in 1997. She famously split from Charles and according to one royal journalist still received harsh words from the Queen Mother at Sandringham one Christmas.

On Channel 5’s Princess Diana: In Her Own Words a number of experts  explore Diana’s royal journey. In particular the documentary  track Diana’s journey from a royal wife, known as “shy Di”, to a global humanitarian known for her captivating speeches.

The likes of Diana’s former press secretary Patrick Jephson and royal correspondent and friend Jennie Bond take part.

One surprising gem came from from another confidant and journalist, Richard Kay.

It related to the way Diana was treated by the Royal Family after her estrangement from Prince Charles, in particular by the Queen Mother.

Richard described how Diana continued to stay at Sandringham for Christmas after her split from Charles.

Princess Diana news: Queen Mother terse words with Charles ex after divorce (Image: GETTY)

Princess Diana news: She received harsh words from the Queen Mother at Sandringham one Christmas (Image: GETTY)

She did so spend the holiday with her sons, William and Harry. However, she was not made to feel welcome.

Journalist Richard Kay said: “I mean, she was not welcome at Sandringham.

“I remember her telling me on the first occasion she went the Queen Mother looked at her and raised an eyebrow and said, ‘I didn’t think we’d see you again’.

“Under that kind of pressure you have to be quite a tough character and I think she found it extremely hard, but she took a deep breath and she got through it.”

Diana and Charles announced they were separated in 1992.

They divorced in 1996. However, it seems that there was no love lost as Diana was famously never a fan of Sandringham.

Former royal cook Darren McGrady revealed Diana told him: “You couldn’t get away.”

He went on: “Sandringham was so tight, so compact.

Princess Diana news: Diana continued to stay at Sandringham for Christmas after her split (Image: GETTY)

“There were so many people there, all the families. You just couldn’t get away.

“You came out of the dining room and you couldn’t go into the sitting room because there were three or four people in there playing charades or Scrabble or something.”

“She would go off for a walk on her own and often I would bump into her when she was out walking.

“So, I think that’s probably what she wasn’t keen on.”

Journalist Richard Kay said: “I mean, she was not welcome at Sandringham” (Image: GETTY)

The same documentary revealed how the Queen destroyed Diana’s hope to salvage marriage with Charles.

According to former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, Diana had believed the marriage could continue with her and Charles becoming “partners” rather than a couple.

She revealed: “Diana was pretty unsettled with the divorce, she didn’t want the divorce, she told me, ‘It’s not something I want’.

“I think she felt somehow they could continue as separated but partners and parents to the two boys.”