New Book Reveals Prince Charles Had to be “Coaxed” Into Marrying Princess Diana

Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding may not have been a fairytale after all.

A controversial new book written by Catherine Mayer claims both Lady Di and the Prince of Wales had to be "coaxed to the altar" after they experienced individual trepidation about their impending marriage.

According to Mayer in 'Charles: Heart of a King,' Prince Charles even told a royal adviser he couldn't go through with the wedding on the eve of the ceremony, which was watched by a global television audience of 750 million in July 1981.

Princess Diana and Prince Charles at their wedding in 1981.

Charles allegedly further expressed that he didn't want to rush into marriage with Diana because he still had feelings for Camilla Parker Bowles, whom he previously dated before meeting the People's Princess.

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Before her death at age 36 in August 1997, Diana had spoken about her own apprehensions with marrying the future king of England. She once told biographer Andrew Morton she decided to ultimately go through with the wedding because her "face [was] already on the tea towels."

Princess Diana, Prince Charles, William and Harry in 1986.

"She had no idea her bridegroom also had to be coaxed to the altar," Mayer wrote in the new book.

After Charles and Diana welcomed two sons — Prince William, 32, and Prince Harry, 30 — they divorced in August 1996. Charles later married Camilla, 67, in 2005.