First edition of The Sun’s show Royal Exclusive Live! also delved into Harry and Meghan’s life in California

PRINCESS Diana once praised Camilla for being a “loyal and discreet” mistress in her affair with Charles.

The revelation was aired in the first edition of The Sun’s show Royal Exclusive Live!

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told the packed audience at News UK that Diana opened up when she invited her for tea at Kensington Palace.

The former Princess of Wales — who died in 1997, leaving behind sons Harry and ­William — discussed her failing marriage to the then Prince Charles and his ­relationship with Camilla.

Diana later spoke on the record in the discredited Panorama interview with Martin Bashir who, it emerged, faked documents to persuade her to talk.

Jennie said: “She was complicated and confusing but I liked her a lot. She invited me to the Palace a couple of times for talks.

“We had long, long, long chats and she told me everything practically, almost everything in Panorama, before Panorama.

“She said, ‘There were three of us in this marriage’, and whether she had affairs and her view on Camilla. She told me she thought that Camilla was loyal and discreet and deserved some form of recognition.”

Host Arthur Edwards, the Sun’s royal photographer, replied: “I’ve never heard that before Jennie. That’s really terrific.”

Jennie, who covered the Royal Family for 14 years, never reported this conversation.

She told the audience: “Diana said as I was leaving, every time, ‘Jennie this is just between you and me’, so what can you do?”

The panel also delved into Harry and Meghan’s life in California.

Harry has spent the past few weeks without his wife working in New York, London and Africa.

The couple’s business ventures are now split and they are spending less time together.

Arthur said: “They seem to be doing things separately now — she’s got her programmes, he’s got his, and he comes into Britain now without any fuss.

“Seeing him this week with WellChild and going to Lesotho, made me wish he was back in the Royal Family as he had a lot to contribute.

“It was awful what he did, certainly to write about his family in a nasty way and the TV interview with Oprah Winfrey.

“But if he wanted to come back, I’d be happy about that.”

Jennie said: “But he doesn’t want to come back.”

Royal Exclusive Live! will be aired every day during King Charles and Queen Camilla’s tour of Australia — and will be hosted by Sun Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson and Arthur.

The first episode can be seen on the Sun’s YouTube channel.