Woman who hired 18-year-old Princess Diana as nanny recalls her first impressions



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An American businesswoman who hired 18-year-old Princess Diana as a nanny for her toddler son spoke of her first impressions of the ‘shy’ and ‘very tactile’ teenager – who went on to marry Prince Charles in front of millions of people. some months later.

Mary Robertson employed Diana for several months as her son Patrick’s ‘babysitter’ in 1980 – and the post was the last held by the future Princess of Wales before her marriage to Prince Charles in July 1981.

But with Diana only weeks away from becoming one of the most famous faces in the world when she was hired by the family – who were living in London at the time – behind the scenes, Robertson says that the teenager’s demeanor couldn’t have been further from that of a global celebrity.

In an exclusive clip from upcoming CNN docuseries Diana, which premieres Sunday, October 10, Robertson recalls meeting the “shy” and naive young woman for the first time – while praising her natural ability to be take care of children.

“When Diana came to me as a shy 18-year-old babysitter, she had very little experience of the world – none – and she was just wonderful around Patrick,” said Robertson.

“She sat on the floor with him and was totally focused on him.”

Retrospective: American businesswoman who employed 18-year-old Princess Diana as a nanny to her toddler son spoke about her first impressions of the future royal

Retrospective: American businesswoman who employed 18-year-old Princess Diana as a nanny to her toddler son spoke about her first impressions of the future royal

Insight: Mary Robertson hired Diana to look after baby Patrick in 1980 and says the teenager was very 'shy' but 'wonderful' with her child

Insight: Mary Robertson hired Diana to look after baby Patrick in 1980 and says the teenager was very ‘shy’ but ‘wonderful’ with her child

Diana worked for the Robertsons three days a week, earning just $ 5 an hour in the role – which she further strengthened by taking on a kindergarten teacher job on days she wasn’t looking after Patrick.

Robertson previously revealed that she had no idea of ​​Diana’s aristocratic background when she hired her – she also had no idea the teenager was dating Prince Charles at the time, telling Inside Edition in 2017 that she only learned about romance when Diana warned her. about paparazzi photographers camping out in front of the Robertsons’ house.

She said, ‘When you go to work this morning, there are reporters and photographers down the street, “said Robertson.” I asked,’ Who are they there for? ‘She said : “They are there for me.

But even though Diana’s personal life has become the source of much speculation and public intrigue, Robertson says she remained the same “confident” and “loving” young woman she had always been – recalling how she won over people with its “very tactile” feature.

“One of her strongest characteristics was that she was very tactile, she wanted to hug people, touch them,” Robertson told CNN.

“This warm, confident, loving and caring basic personality has always been there.”

‘Love’: In exclusive clip from upcoming CNN docuseries Diana, Robertson recalls then-teenager as having ‘no global experience’ when she was hired

Trait:

Trait:

Character Trait: “One of her strongest characteristics was that she was very tactile, she wanted to hug people, touch them,” Robertson told CNN.

Natural talent: Diana worked for the Robertsons three days a week and the other two she worked as a kindergarten assistant

Natural talent: Diana worked for the Robertsons three days a week and the other two she worked as a kindergarten assistant

Robertson only ended up employing Diana for a few months, before the teenager gave her notice and moved to Buckingham Palace ahead of her marriage to Prince Charles – but she says they’ve remained incredibly close over the years. 16 following years before the death of the princess. in a car accident in Paris in 1997.

“We continued correspondence for the next 16 years,” she shared with Inside Edition, revealing that Diana had sent her dozens of letters and cards – even asking the family to come visit her.

The businesswoman attended Diana’s funeral at Westminster Abbey, describing it as “the saddest and most painful hour” of her life.

Diana’s shy demeanor as a teenager is also highlighted in CNN docuseries by her former ballet teacher, Wendy Mitchell, who taught dance classes at West Heath, the Sussex school that the future royal has frequented in adolescence.

According to Mitchell, Diana viewed her ballet lessons as “a place where she could really shine” – and a place where she could “get lost” in something she had a genuine passion for.

“Here in the ballet class, it was a place where she could shine,” Mitchell revealed. “She loved to dance and everyone who danced, if you love to dance, you are just lost in yourself.”

Under the radar: Robertson previously revealed she had no idea Diana was dating Prince Charles - until the teenager warned the businesswoman of the paparazzi outside the house

Under the radar: Robertson previously revealed she had no idea Diana was dating Prince Charles – until the teenager warned the businesswoman of the paparazzi outside the house

Background: The businesswoman was also unaware of Diana's aristocratic upbringing as Lady Diana Spencer, daughter of Earl Spencer (pictured with his second wife Raine)

Background: The businesswoman was also unaware of Diana’s aristocratic upbringing as Lady Diana Spencer, daughter of Earl Spencer (pictured with his second wife Raine)

CNN’s new docuseries on the late Princess of Wales are set to debut on October 10 at 9 p.m. ET, and promise to “reexamine the life of an icon through the prism of modernity” while “drawing inspiration from voices of her relatives ”in in order to“ discover the real woman behind the People’s Princess ”.

The series features interviews with various people who have known or worked with Diana, including friends, royal experts and members of the media who have met her over the years.

British TV host Angela Rippon, who interviewed Diana and Charles before their marriage in 1981, also shares her first impressions of the Princess of Wales in docuseries, revealing how she knew right away there was “something more to Diana “during their on- aerial conversation.

“There was something more to Diana, something that wasn’t the marshmallow or the Play-Doh that was going to be molded into what they [the royals] wanted, ”she said in a clip obtained by People.

“Running through it all was a backbone, a knowledge of herself.”

CNN’s six-part series will begin with an episode about Diana’s childhood, examining her parents’ divorce and her unhappy relationship with her father’s second wife, Raine.

Subsequent episodes will investigate his “rise to global stardom”, the impact of his decision to speak out about Charles’ affair with his now wife Camilla Parker-Bowles, and how his “legacy” continues to this day.

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