A collection of 64 love letters written by Princess Diana to her former lover, James Hewitt, is now being sold in the U.S. for an astonishing $1 million.

These letters, penned between 1989 and 1991—including during Hewitt’s service in the Gulf War—are deeply intimate and personal. Ingrid Seward, author of My Mother and I, has called this sale the ultimate insult to Princess Diana’s memory. “James Hewitt betrayed Diana in many ways, so this is just the final insult. I believe he desperately needs the money and sees the value of these letters. I can’t imagine this happening,” Seward commented.

In October of last year, brokers acting on behalf of Hewitt approached Bonhams, a leading auction house in London, to sell the letters. Bonhams experts valued the letters between $400,000 and $600,000, partly due to the fact that many were written on special military stationery known as “Blueys.” However, Bonhams declined to purchase the letters and recommended that they be sold in the U.S. to avoid controversy.

In the previous month, Sotheby’s in London was also offered the letters but refused to estimate their worth. Soon after, Heritage Auctions, based in Dallas, Texas, was contacted. Experts believe that the best way to sell the letters is through a private sale rather than a public auction, as it would avoid the negative backlash from the public.

In response to a query from The Sun, a spokesperson for James Hewitt explained: “The auction is only to validate the value of the letters for personal reasons and insurance purposes. He has no intention to sell and is not seeking buyers.” However, an email from Heritage Auctions outlined the terms of the sale, with the letters being valued at $1 million.

This is not the first time James Hewitt has been accused of profiting from these personal mementos. In 1999, he made a deal with the Spencer family lawyers promising to keep the letters safe, never to sell them, and to destroy them upon his death. In 2000, he faced public outcry when it was revealed that he was seeking to sell the memorabilia for £10 million. Three years later, he admitted on CNN that he wanted to sell the letters for a reasonable price, insisting they were “important historical documents” and that there was “nothing to be ashamed of.”

Princess Diana first met James Hewitt at a party organized by one of her aides in 1986. In 1995, she confirmed their relationship in a BBC interview. Later, Prince William publicly criticized the BBC, accusing the network of deceiving his mother during the interview.

This latest development has stirred up emotions, drawing attention to a controversial chapter of Princess Diana’s life. The sale of these letters brings with it a mix of historical intrigue and emotional fallout.