Prince Charles had a thing for funny girls. The royal reportedly had a crush on Barbra Streisand prior to marrying Princess Diana in 1981. According to author Christopher Andersen’s new book, Game of Crowns: Elizabeth, Camilla, Kate and the Throne, Charles had a years-long “infatuation” with the songstress and Funny Girl actress.
Andersen alleges in the book that Prince Charles confided in his personal valet about wanting to meet Streisand, telling his attendant: “I’m sure they thought I’d say Raquel Welch … Streisand is my only pinup.”
Andersen says the two first met in 1974, when Charles, then 26, was visiting Los Angeles. According to the book, Charles had seen Funny Girl three times and kept a framed photo of Streisand in his private quarters at Buckingham Palace.
The book claims that Streisand seemed “nervous” and “tight-lipped” while meeting the future king of England and that she later joked, “Who knows? If I’d been nicer to him, I might have been the first real Jewish princess.”
Charles went on to marry Princess Diana in 1981, but met Streisand for the second time at a gala in Los Angeles in 1994, and again 10 months later at an event in London.
“The prince and Miss Streisand were very affectionate to one another,” a source claims in the book.
William and Harry’s parents split in 1996, prior to Princess Di’s tragic 1997 death. Charles married current wife Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005.
According to the book, Princess Di “would not have been surprised if [Charles and Streisand] had an affair.” Streisand was married to Elliott Gould in 1971 prior to marrying current husband James Brolin in 1998.
Us Weekly has reached out to Streisand for comment.
Game of Crowns: Elizabeth, Camilla, Kate and the Throne hit shelves today, April 19.
