Revealed at last: Princess Diana's most discreet confidant who she affectionately nicknamed 'Collie'

After Princess Diana's tragic death, galore person chronicled her life successful useful of truth and fiction. 

But nary has revealed nan personality of 1 of her closest confidantes, Violet Collison, whom she affectionately called 'Collie'.

'A number of times she was asked to lend to various books, and she conscionable flatly refused,' a comparative of Collie tells me.

As caput housekeeper to Diana's parents astatine Park House connected nan Sandringham estate, Collie had been a important fig successful Diana's formative years. 

The enslaved remained beardown until nan fatal car mishap that took Diana's life successful 1997.

Only now, much than a decade since Collie's decease successful 2013, is her narration pinch nan princess coming to light, arsenic unseen letters spell up for auction astatine Sworders astatine nan extremity of this month.

'Collie and Diana had this narration until she died that goes complete and beyond what a housekeeper would usually experience,' nan comparative tells me.

Diana's difficult narration pinch her mother is well-documented. There were periods erstwhile they would not beryllium successful contact, while Collie was a constant.

'When Diana and Charles were staying astatine Sandringham,' nan family personnel explains, Diana 'used to effort and flight — I deliberation 1 of her boltholes was a small two-bedroom bungalow successful a colony 2 miles down nan roadworthy [Collie's home]'.

These visits were kept secret, and Diana would spell without immoderate information staff.

In retirement, Collie worked part-time astatine nan Sandringham summons office.

One time royal biographer Penny Junor came snooping, nan family personnel reveals.

'When Penny asked astatine nan summons agency if anyone knew a 'Collie', nan woman moving down nan antagonistic said nary . . . that personification was Collie.'