Prince Charles Turned to Friend Nancy Regan During Demise of His Marriage to Princess Diana

It was the wedding that halted the entire world in their tracks.

In 1981, Diana Spencer became Princess Diana when she married Prince Charles in a lavish royal wedding. Sadly, their tale was not one as old as time and their fairytale ended in divorce years later in 1996.

Now, letters from that trying time have been uncovered detailing Queen Elizabeth’s son’s struggle during that era. In a surprise move, Prince Charles turned to former US First Lady Nancy Reagan. The pair were dear friends for over 40 years, often writing each other until her passing in 2016.

MORE: Princess Diana Called Prince Charles the Wrong Name During Their Wedding Ceremony

British publication The Mail on Sunday recently shared an excerpt from one of his letters. Prince William’s father penned the note on June 21, 1992, just days after Andrew Morton’s book Diana: Her True Story, was released.

prince charles nancy reagan getty images

Charles and Nancy in 1981. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Calling her “My Dear Nancy,” Charles wrote, “No one can really understand what it all means until it happens to you, which is why it all keeps getting worse and worse.”

MORE: Prince William on His Mother Princess Diana’s Death — “It Makes Me Sad She Never Met Kate, George, and Charlotte”

“One day I will tell you the whole story. It is a kind of Greek tragedy and would certainly make a very good play!” he continued. “[It is] so awful that very few people who haven’t been witnesses would believe it.”

In another letter — which Prince Charles sent before his 10th wedding anniversary — he confided, “There are a whole series of ghastly books coming out. You can imagine what they will contain.”

Charles also turned to President Ronald Regan’s wife following the passing of the Queen Mother back in 2002. “I fear it has not been very easy to cope of late,” he admitted. “I have dreaded her eventual departure and now she leaves an enormous chasm in my life.”

MORE: Princess Diana’s Private Letters Revealed — “I Am Misunderstood by the Royal Family”

“However, she also leaves behind the most wonderful legacy of unbelievably happy memories… Oh, how we shall all miss her and everything she stood for,” Charles continued.

The letters — which were a part of Mrs. Reagan’s private collection — have been released to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library.

This story originally appeared on NowToLove.com.