A personal letter written by Princess Diana just days after her wedding to King Charles has come to light — and it reveals more than expected.

The beloved “People’s Princess” captured the world’s attention when she joined the royal family in 1981, marrying the now-King on July 29 at London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Diana quickly stood out, not just as a royal, but as a compassionate figure — from warmly embracing an AIDS patient during a hospital visit to respectfully greeting Indigenous New Zealanders in their traditional style. She soon became much more than just another member of the monarchy — she became the princess adored by millions.

However, whispers of tension behind palace walls followed her for years, with many speculating she wasn’t always treated kindly. Now, this letter may offer a rare glimpse into that reality.

The note, dated May 30 and obtained by PEOPLE through Julien’s Auctions, was sent from Diana to Mark Simpson, a former footman at Buckingham Palace.

Before marrying Prince Charles, Diana briefly stayed in an apartment within Buckingham Palace. After their wedding, the couple moved into Kensington Palace.

In a letter dated just two days after their July 31 wedding, Diana reflected on her time at Buckingham Palace and expressed gratitude for the comfort she received during that lonely period.

She wrote to him:
“I just wanted to thank you for all your kindness + patience you’ve showed towards me since I moved into B.P. My stay was made so much easier by your company as it was so terribly lonely + we had so many laughs for that I can’t thank you enough.”

Rumors at the time suggested Diana felt isolated in the palace. In later interviews, she revealed she struggled with depression and received little emotional support from the Royal Family.

She continued in her note:
“Do hope you were able to enjoy Wednesday + that you liked my dress? I’m off to Britainia tomorrow, what with all those men around. I will have to keep a watchful eye on Evelyn!”

Evelyn Dagley was Diana’s personal dresser, so it’s likely that Diana was referring to her in this letter.

Diana’s vibrant personality shines through her writing, especially in a note where she joked with a footman: “The bad news is that I haven’t eaten any cereal — sob. How am I going to cope without my bowls of cereal … [smiley face]. A large thank you for being you — Much love, Diana.”

This letter is part of Princess Diana’s Style & A Royal Collection auction at Julien’s Auctions, alongside many other handwritten messages she sent to friends and loved ones.

Although some of her letters touch on discomfort, Diana spoke more openly about how royal life affected her following her separation from Prince Charles in 1992 and their divorce in 1996.

Their split came after Charles publicly admitted to having an affair with Camilla (now Queen Camilla), a relationship that began in 1986.

In her 1995 interview with the BBC, Princess Diana openly addressed the struggles in her marriage, famously saying: “There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.”

She also reflected on her decision to separate from Prince Charles, explaining: “I think everybody was very anxious because they could see there were complications but didn’t want to interfere but were there [and] made it known that they were there if required.”

Speaking about their strained relationship, she added that while traveling abroad, “we had separate apartments, albeit we were on the same floor, so of course that was leaked [by the press] and that caused complications, but Charles and I had our duty to perform and that was paramount.”

Tragically, Diana died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 at the age of just 36, leaving behind her two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.