Diana: Story of a Princess

I find this book very well balanced with quotes from both pro-charles and pro-diana friends, acquaintances and writers. If you were to buy just 1 book about Diana, I would recommend this.

By far, the most even-handed treatment of the Diana story that I've found. I've read numerous books on Princess Diana and the Royal Family and this one appears to come closest to what is likely the truth. The authors have gone to great measure to interview qualified individuals on both sides of the story and present their findings without drawing conclusions for the reader. I've also seen the companion video . . . excellent.

I found this a very revealing book about the workings of the Palace and how they systemically destroyed Diana. The staffs of Charles and Diana were petty and mean spirited, too. If only the press did not interfere so much in the lives of the Royals, they might do just fine.No wonder Diana was doomed to fail with little support from that cold fish Charles and his dysfunctional parents. She tried to bring them into the 20th century, but it didn't work! I still don't think they know what they lost.

I didn't hold out much hope for another Diana book, but this one really is different. it seems very fair and well written and it makes a lot of interesting points about the whole charity scene that Diana and other celebrities involve themselves in. I think I agree with Christopher Hitchens that a lot of it is cynical and tacky, but you get both sides in this book and there's no doubt that Diana did make a difference on one or two occasions and she had a talent for meeting and greeting the needy. The Angola story is very touching. In terms of her marriage, I found all the insider quotes from the royal officials very revealing. You begin to understand just what had gone on and why the whole thing was doomed from the start - competely different expectations of what a royal wife was for. So, all in all, not only far, far better than anticipated, but actually thought provoking.

"Almost four years since the death of Diana, Princess of Wales it is time for a balanced, scholarly biography of a woman who made such an impact on the British people, indeed on the people of the world. Authors Tim Clayton and Phil Craig have written just such a book. Carefully researched, it draws on the resources of those who worked with her, met her, and loved or distrusted her. Perhaps now we can put her life, her relationships and her talents into perspective and gauge the effect she had on the British monarchy and on how we see its developing role. An informative and gripping account of an historical catalyst."