The late Princess Diana was "frightened" of the attention she received when she became a member of the Royal family.

The late Princess Diana

The late Princess Diana

The Princess of Wales - who tragically died in a car crash in 1997 aged 36 - married the Prince of Wales in 1981, and has admitted ever since she emerged on the royal scene she was overcome with fear and couldn't handle her sudden popularity, which she felt was "too much for one person" to cope with.

Speaking about her struggle in a series of tape recordings with author Andrew Morton - who wrote 'Diana: Her True Story' - that have newly been released and obtained by the Mail Online 20 years after her death, she said: "When I first arrived on the (royal) scene, I'd always put my head down. Now that I interpret it, that did look sulky.

"I've never sulked. I never sulked as a child; it's just not in me.

"But I've been terrified out of my tiny little mind. I was just so frightened of the attention I was getting

"One minute, I was nobody; the next minute, I was Princess of Wales -- mother, media toy, member of this family, you name it. And it was too much for one person at that time."

The golden-haired beauty has revealed she was terrified of doing anything on her own, and even the thought of making a public appearance solo sent "tremors" down her spine.

She added: "What I can remember is that I didn't want to do anything on my own. I was too frightened.

"The thought of me doing anything on my own sent tremors, so I stuck with whatever Charles did. If that included a wife, I went with him all the way -- wherever."

And Diana - who has sons prince William, 34, and Prince Harry, 32, - spent "six years" trying to "get comfortable" with her status.

She added: "It took me six years to get comfortable."