Princess Diana said her lover James Hewitt made her feel “much better” amid the breakdown of her marriage to Prince Charles.

The tragic royal was killed aged 36 on 31 August, 1997, and spent years in pain over her crumbling relationship with Charles, which saw him have a fling with his now-wife Camilla and her seek comfort in lovers including former cavalry officer James, now 66.

Diana’s longtime dancer teacher Anne Allan has now told in her newly-released memoir ‘Dancing with Diana’ how Diana fell into James’ arms after the death of her police bodyguard – and rumoured lover – Barry Mannakee, in a 1985 motorbike accident.

Diana describe Barry as her “greatest love” in tapes recorded by her voice coach Peter Settelen, and Anne said the princess told her in 1986 she had met someone who made her feel “much better about herself”.

It later emerged she had been having an affair with James in 1986.

Anne also said Diana told her shortly after Barry’s death Charles wanted to live separate lives.

She added the royal also admitted: “All I want is to be with Charles and be loved by him, there’s just emptiness just now… he runs off to Camilla whenever he can.

“It’s not at all what I want. I’d like the marriage to work, but it just isn’t for now. Do I just put up with it, hoping he will change?”

Anne said: “Diana wanted Charles to be with her and to love her. Even though she was in her own romantic affair, at this point, Charles was still the man she desired and that was why it was so agonising for her.”

Diana died five years after she and then-Prince Charles split, before they finalised their divorce in 1996.

Two years after Diana’s death, Charles and Camilla publicly revealed their relationship.