Diana: The Secret Years

What an under rated book this is. I've just finished reading it, after Paul Burrell's book in which he speaks so well of Miss Simmons' friendship with Princess Diana. Although I'd heard of the book, but not Ms. Simmons, I took Burrell's mention of her as a recommendation.I was surprised that some of the so-called "new" revelations in our newspapers and on our TV, were first written about in this book which was published in 1998. I found this a genuine and very warm account of a close personal friendship between the author and the Princess. I'm just sorry I never read this earlier.

I own practically every book ever written about Diana, Princess of Wales, but I think this has to be the most interesting account ever written. I loved it - it's very well-written, very insightful into her personality, and contains information I had never known before. It truly does explore "the secret years" of Diana's life in the 1990s. As a healer and close friend of Diana's, Simone Simmons had access to knowledge and personal details of Diana's life. But rather than seeing this account as a betrayal, I see it rather as a healer's insight into a unique personality. Much of what is written here is a healer's psychoanalysis of Diana's mind. I continue to be a great fan of Princess Diana's and am thrilled to have come across this book. You won't be able to put it down!

I had vowed never to read, much less buy, another book about Diana, but I read the excerpts and decided I wanted to read more.The author tells us about the problems Diana had in her everyday life in a matter-of-fact way. She is not overly sympathetic, but relates what happened. Unfortunately she was one of the friends/helpers Diana had turned away from by the time of her death and Ms. Simmons describes why. I think if the accident hadn't happened they'd have made up by now.This book doesn't praise or bash a very sad and mixed-up young woman. I would recommend it to anyone interested in Diana.

The Secret Years was a respectful portrayal of Diana's triumphs and trials, between her divorce and death.The book revealed the paranoia and mistrust Diana struggled with towards the end of her life; as-well-as the never ending love and service she gave to those in need. How like so many other individuals of noteriety through the centuries, her grandiose popularity not only had to hidden behind disguise, but added to the torment that continually plagued her. I believe Ms. Simmons depictions were written with sincerity. Confessing with sadness of the erosion of her relationship to Diana shortly before her death, left this close friend and comrade without the closure so many others were left with on August 31, 1997.

At first I thought this book would be another worshipful tome to Saint Diana. However, it quickly became apparent to me that Ms. Simmons wanted to tell it the way it was. She too describes the famous tantrums and mood swings that others have described. I must admit that I used to think that Diana was truly a wronged woman, but there are just too many people who agree that she had serious mental problems and was, at best, a difficult person to like. And this was written by a close friend! All in all, this was a very interesting book and I enjoyed reading it. However, when I finished this book, I realized I was glad I never had to put up with Diana or, god forbid, work for her!