The Queen & Di: The Untold Story

Having shied away from the more obsequious books on the shelves in recent years, something made me pick this book up and give it a go. I have been quite favorably impressed.This book classifies the late former Princess of Wales, Diana, and Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth during similar times in their lives. The author covers familiar ground: childhoods, educations, courtships, marriages, marital challenges, child rearing, and public perceptions without sensationalism or conjecture, achieving an impressive objectivity. Although I know some die-hard Diana sympathizers may take issue with some of the details or interpretation of blame (for example, Diana's alleged premarital virginity -- which the author endorses -- and the he-said, she-said within the Wales' marriage), the author's tone makes her both pleasant and easy to read. She is inherently believable.This book would be perfect for someone curious about the late former princess and her formidable mother in law, but who's never read much on them in a factual medium (that is, something beyond People Magazine or a "blabloid"). I think even most Diana fans would appreciate the author's even-handedness on more sensitive details on the late former princess's life, and fans of the Queen would be further convinced of England's monarch's steadfastness and devotion to her country.I like this book. I think most others with an interest in British royalty would, too.

The Queen and Di is a good source of information about British Royalty--their day to day lives, their likes and dislikes. I appreciate that the focus is not entirely on the late and former Princess of Wales, but includes historical backgound as well as facts concerning more recent events in the lives of the royal family.

OK, so this is yet another book on the troubled times of Lady Di and her interactions with the rest of the Royal Family, most notably the Queen. But I enjoyed reading it. It was well-written, even if the material within was slanted in favor of the Queen and Charles. Once you realize that, and you should within just the first few pages, you can pick and choose - I don't believe, for example, that Charles was faithful to Diana until her own infidelities nor do I find Prince Philips the most savory character - I found myself resenting his pointing any accusing fingers. What I did like about the book was the way it brought events past that occurred in Queen Elizabeth's life to the fore and compared them to the more recent times of the late Lady Di. It reminds the reader that time is fleeting and that there is nothing terribly new under the sun when it comes to publicized notorieties, scandels and popularity ratings. I have never seen Queen Elizabth as the ogre mother-in-law that some books in sympathy with Di have made her out to be. She has clearly tried to tread a fine line in her duties as Queen and a mother-in-law. I think this book made it perfectly understandable how the relationship between Di and her mother-in-law evolved. As for the mistakes and misunderstandings involved, hindsight seems to come across the wiser. I think Ingrid did a fine job depicting a human side to the Queen that people had forgotten or overlooked during the Di-mania years.

I'm so glad that someone has finally decided to tell the truth about Diana!Poor Prince Charles got blamed for everything that went wrong in that marriage!

This is the first balanced book I have read about the Princess of Wales and the Queen. It details many of the problems Diana faced and how she handled them. Diana is portrayed as a woman with many emotional problems who refused to get help or even understand that she had problems. The Queen is portrayed as a woman and mother who tried to help the unwilling Diana. Her relationships with her mother, father and brother are very interesting in light of the eulogy given by her brother. This is a must read!