Explosive tapes of Princess Diana talking about her life are to be given to the University of Sussex.

Author Andrew Morton, who studied history at the Falmer campus, has revealed he has bequeathed the audio tapes to his former department.

The tapes, which are seven hours long and include the princess's most private thoughts, were made in secret by Diana at Kensington Palace in response to written questions by Mr Morton.

They formed the basis of his best-selling 1992 book Diana: Her True Story and were obtained by NBC TV and aired in a documentary in America earlier this year.

The late princess, speaking when her marriage was in crisis, delivered a devastating attack on Prince Charles and revealed how her life had been filled with heartbreak and unhappiness from childhood.

On the six tapes she tells how Charles made her "feel so inadequate in every possible way" and describes how bulimia and depression blighted her life.

She detailed apparent attempts at suicide, talking about how she threw herself down a flight of stairs.

She said: "I hated myself so much. I didn't think I was good enough."

Mr Morton said he would not make any money from the tapes, which would be sent to his former university if he died.

He said: "They are not my tapes. My publisher owns them. They are in a safe somewhere gathering dust.

"I have bequeathed everything to Sussex University."

Mr Morton studied for a BA in history between 1972 and 1975. Rob Read, director of communications at the university, said: "We are delighted Andrew Morton has remembered the university in this way."

Mr Morton has also written political histories and biographies of Monica Lewinsky and David and Victoria Beckham.

He has revisited the tapes for a new book, Diana In Pursuit Of Love.