Diana in Private: The Princess Nobody Knows

As with many Diana books, I wasn't expecting much. But the author is an English aristocrat herself who had spent two decades in royal circles, so she had a couple of advantages here--amazing access to the witnesses of the inside story, a surprising number of whom were willing to go "on the record" with their thoughts, and an ability to translate the nuances of upper crust sensibilities for the ruck. She was also not bashful about portraying the faults of Charles and Diana with great clarity, although she deserves credit for highlighting their strengths as well. Perhaps the most surprising thing to me was that she wrote this book five years before Diana died, even before the Waleses' divorce, yet she seemed to get all elements of the story right--while their relationship was still in progress and before a commonly accepted version of events had formed in the public awareness. As one reviewer said, "The picture Lady Colin Campbell draws makes so much sense, it must be true." I ended the book thinking that she had gotten her facts straight and that she mustn't be very popular at the Palace.

I read most royalty books I can get my hands on and I like this one. Why? It's not sensationalized, it's frank. The author is a peripheral part of the circles of people of whom she speaks. She is fairly even handed, without "poor princessing" as much as most other Diana books do... and she has marked compassion for the dubiously-perceived Prince of Wales. Maybe she doesn't get everything right -- who can say for sure? -- but I have the feeling she is much RIGHTER than wrong in this chronicle of Diana, and I think we readers owe it to Charles and to Diana herself to attempt to see them in a balanced perspective.This book was published in 1992 at the time of the Waleses de facto separation (they separated formally in December of that year) and five years previous to the former late princess's death in a car crash in Paris (August, 1997).

Normally I find books devoted to airing out the dirty, personal details of a person's life, especially a recently dead person, repellant. However, the silly, maudlin spectacle put on by tens of millions vicarious women (and many feminized men) during Diana's funeral week makes this book the perfect antidote. This book rips the facade off an unintelligent and self-centered brat princess so well loved throughout Britain, America and the globe. It is a sign of a decadent age that the lovely but empty-headed Princess Diana is the most beloved modern British royal while the manly Prince Philip, who had two ships shot out from under him in the fight against Adolph Hitler, is the most despised modern royal.

Only a book written well BEFORE Diana's death by a true British aristocratic insider would dare to show the negative side (along with the positive side) of Diana's character. Refreshing, particularly after all the smoozzzzy stuff that came out after her death. This book truly paints a multi-facted portrait of Diana. If you want perspective, read this book.

Very well put together. I am 13. It is very interestin to know that alot of people don't know this much. We will miss her dearly.