Reviews (118)

Smashing Success!
I have read every book ever written about Diana, Princess of Wales and this one was by far the best. Paul Burrell had and probably to this day has a sense of respect and duty to his ex boss as well as her sons. It takes you behind the scenes with a look inside the Royal family that is not only unbiased, but truthful. It dispells the myths about Diana's relationship with the Queen and Prince Phillip. Critics would like us to believe that she was not well liked by her in-laws and unloved by Prince Charles, but that is not true. I rather enjoyed this book.

good read for royal watchers
paul burrell's book provides a glimpse of Princess Diana that well captures the ups and downs of her personality. Most intriguing, perhaps, is the picture of life of Buckingham and Kensington Palaces from a butler's viewpoint. The author was consumed by his devotion to the Princess, and that devotion was so extreme that his entire life was effected during his tenure with Princess Diana and since then. That his wife and family stood by him while he was in her employ is remarkable, but his relationship with his wife during that time is not entirely clear. While Burrell has much insight into his extraordinary fascination and devotion, his present state of mind and ambition are not fully put forth. This book is not a salacious tell all, but a vivid portrait of an unusual relationship and his descriptions both of the royals and of the palace life are compelling.

Interesting Royal Read
This book was tastefully written by a man whom obviously shared a very close relationship with Princess Diana and the royal family. It was particularly interesting to delve into the bits of details surrounding incidents that only he could have known about. By books end, I couldn't help but feel this was more than just an intimate protrait of a personal relationship but more a written testimony of the facts surrounding the scandal of the "butler possessing royal belongings" as given by Mr. Burell. After reading this book, it's impossible not to believe in Mr. Burell and the torid time he must have gone through in not only having lost his "family" but his credibility. If there was one aspect of the book that truly disgruntled me even if done with discretion in mind, I couldn't help but be continually perturbed by the referal to the men in Diana's life without the validation of their identities. I understand the nuance of protocol and respect involved but they could have been better portrayed at the very least. Overall, it's an interesting tribute and sad memorial of the most vivacious royal family member I have ever read about. My heart goes out to the Burell family.

Wasn't going to buy this, but.........................
I held off for the longest time buying this book because of the accusations against Paul Burrell, though he was exonerated. Still, being the eternal Diana fan, I finally took the plunge and I am SO GLAD that I did.

The book surprised me in that although it's writing style is somewhat fragmented, going back and forth in time, it held me captive for two days right up to the end. At several points, I actually got rather tearful, which surprised me greatly, until I realized that I had not admitted to myself how very much I missed Diana.

This is a wonderful book that shows the late Princess as she really was, a person, a mother, a royal, and a very public persona. Probably the most interesting parts of the book for me were finally seeing the suspicions I had long held about the Spencer family in print. I had always thought that her own family used her when she was alive if they needed something, but that especially she has been used by them after her death to their own monetary advantage. I truly hope that anyone who journeys to England NEVER visits Althorp or spends money to buy any of Althorps souvenirs, but instead gives money in her name to any charity that she supported while living.

I wish for Mr. Burrell and his family nothing but the best in the future, and hope that anyone that has doubts about this book has doubts no more. I recommend it to any Diana fan.

Burrell is a Hero
Paul Burrell has only the best of intentions here. He was and still very much IS Princess Diana's "rock". He is clearly setting the record straight, and nothing of an excessively personal nature is revealed in this book. I don't think Diana would have disapproved at all - Burrell is speaking for her since she's no longer with us. If there was a plot to injure or kill her, then it desperately needs to be exposed. Because of Diana's premonitions and they way she revealed them to Burrell, perhaps now we will know the real truth about what happened in Paris seven years ago. This book is also very respectful to the princess, and I doubt very strongly that either of her sons has read it. If they had, they'd have realized that Burrell has done their mother a favor, and she's no doubt cheering him on! It was a very enjoyable read, and hard to put down. I would highly recommend this book for any real fan of Princess Diana. ... Read more

Book Description

"Where were you when Diana died?

For Trevor Rees-Jones, the answer is simple: he was in the same hospital as Diana, fighting for his own life a few rooms away.As bodyguard to her companion Dodi Fayed, he was with the couple when, hounded by paparazzi, and with a driver who turned out to be drunk, their Mercedes crashed into the thirteenth pillar of the tunnel under the Place de l'Alma in Paris.Dodi and the Driver, Henri Paul, died instantaneously, medics say; Diana was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors worked feverishly to resuscitate her before giving up in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Miraculously, Trevor survived.But his condition was critical--internal chest injuries and a broken wrist were the least of it.His head had taken the brunt of the impact and suffered catastrophic damage; his face was crushed beyond recognition.In a stunning medical drama, however, a facial surgeon performed a miracle of reconstruction, and--along with Trevor's own indomitable will and the support of his family and friends--the bodyguard was able to leave the hospital after just over a month.His goal then was straightforward: to return to a normal life as soon as possible, go back to work for his employer, Mohamed Al Fayed, and to the simple pleasures of rugby and his mates at home in Shropshire.

But the crash that nearly killed him had killed Diana, Princess of Wales, one of the most famous women of the late twentieth century.A normal life was no longer an option.An as Mohamed Al Fayed's grief at the loss of his son quickly turned into a desperate hunt for reasons, for culprits and conspiracy, Trevor found his unswerving loyalty to the Boss at first questioned and then, ultimately, destroyed, as Fayed pointed the finger of blame at him.

The Bodyguard's Story grippingly describes, for the first time, Trevor Rees-Jones's part in these astonishing events.From the prelude to Paris, when Trevor found himself minding the Princess and her two sons in the south of France, to the crash itself and its causes and consequences, this book reveals the true, first-hand account of one of the most sensational news stories of the last century.Compelling, alarming and yet deeply moving, it is a remarkable story of courage under fire, and of how ordinary people can react to extraordinary circumstances and survive, scarred, but with their souls and values intact." ... Read more

Reviews (51)

Evenhanded depiction of Mr. Rees-Jones' story
Before reading this book, I thought it would be exploitive for three reasons: the cover photo, the subtitle, and the last sentence of the introduction 'Trevor's story may, he believes, bring a sense of closure for William and Harry...'. However, this is truly Mr. Rees-Jones' story. Princess Diana is simply portrayed as a pleasant woman who was one of the party he was to guard.

The book tells how Mr. Rees-Jones went from being bodyguard to a relative unknown to a potential suspect in one of the most intense investigations of the twentieth century. The first third of the book details the prior month or so of his job. This part demonstrated the poor security work that often relied on amateurish cloak and dagger manuevers and that proper security work was thwarted by a fatuous boss.

The second third details his recovery from his injuries. Since he was unconscious and then medicated for this period, his parents' story was mostly used here. I found this the most tedious part of the whole book; his parents, especially his mother, are simply tiresome and of little interest to the larger story. The details of his facial surgeries were fascinating.

The last third concerns the aftermath of being released from the hospital to the final decision of the judge on the case. This part was the most gripping for me. The machinations of various parties to gain control of the testimony and newspaper interviews of a man still recovering from major trauma went so far as to be near-kidnappings. The conflict of interest of working for the man who was trying to prove a conspiracy theory through his testimony was a tense situation. I felt triumphant for him when he finally realized he was being manipulated and quit his job.

Real Truth - Always Less Fascinating
I believe, as I have since the event, that this version of events as told by the sole survivor, is what really happened. While conspiracy is most interesting, I am frankly quite amazed at how unwilling people are to believe that some things happen simply as accidents, although with a cause. My overwhelming opinion is Mr. Al Fayed's dogged pursuit of a scapegoat is simply to deal with his personal anguish at having played a part in the tragedy. Mr. Rees-Jones' suffering is quite apparant, and one can only sympathize with his difficulty in defending himself. This is his story, as he knows it, and nothing published from other sources makes me think the horrible accident that killed the Princess of Wales happened any other way. This books illustrates how the simplest explanation, of which the author provides evidence, is often the most difficult to accept. One can only wish Mr. Rees-Jones well, if in nothing else than in re-establishing his anonymity. Good on you, Trevor.

From the source
I have always wondered what kind of a person Trevor Rees-Jones was and his book gave an in-depth view of him, personally and professionally . . . in his own words.

The saying goes that "truth is stranger than fiction." The truth is also less sensational and colorful than the portrait painted by tabloid hacks and unethical "journalists" the world over.

From the start, I didn't think Trevor was trying to cash in on his time with Diana, Princess of Wales. In the foreward, he stated that writing the book (author Moira Johnston helped him write it) was his way of dealing with the situation and moving on with his life.

Trevor is an ordinary guy who had a very high profile job. It was because of circumstances on the job (that lead to what Trevor called "an industrial accident") and the fact that he was in a car with the world's most famous woman that has put him center stage for the rest of his life.

I felt sorry for the entire Rees-Jones family as diary entry after another explained the turmoil going on inside each of them: His mother and stepfather's struggle to getting Trevor on the road to recovery, the whole family having to deal with the intense media pressure, having Trevor's professionalism called into question by so-called experts (that, in his own words, were not at the Ritz nor in the car), Trevor's having to cope with the fact that he was the only survivor, the family's having to deal with the first overprotective and subsequently vicious hand of Mohammed Al Fayed. The list goes on.

I did get mad at, but then later understood, Trevor's wanting to keep his job with Al Fayed. He was the textbook case example of a loyal employee. Unfortunately, Mohammed Al Fayed was (and still is) so hung up on his conspiracy theories that he thought Trevor was lying to him about how much he remembered of the accident. It was only when he (Al Fayed) was more forthright in wanting to take complete control of the investigation that Trevor had finally had enough and quit (his good friend, Kez, would also quit about two years after the crash for the same reason: He told Al Fayed to his face that he thought his theories were rubbish).

I give Trevor and his family (his real last name is just Rees but he changed HIS name to Rees-Jones because he was so in love with his now ex-wife Sue Jones) MUCH credit for coming through such a trying time in their lives not only intact but stronger than ever. They did not let any of the media attention go to their heads (even as Trevor's so-called friends and even Sue were selling themselves to the highest bidder in the media). They remained true small town folks to the end (and Trevor was even able to play his beloved rugby not a year after the crash).

Some folks may find this book boring as Trevor is a very down-to-earth chap who just shoots straight from the hip. He doesn't trump up the facts (or make things up entirely as the media decided to do time and again while Trevor refused to give interviews). He presents Diana in a very positive light and tells the unexciting truth about the goings on of the case and behind the scenes shananigans of one Mohammed Al Fayed.

Highly recommended (if you can still get it) for a first hand account of wha it's like on the other side of the camera and news reports.

An Indepth View of a Royal Tragedy
Although somewhat hard to follow ; this is a book definitely worth reading.An indepth look , from the only survivor of a car crash that changed history!What could be more exciting.Somewhat rough around the edges;but ,nevertheless honest and telling Never knowing how these fateful events would unfold as they left the Ritz with Dodi Fayed and Princess Diana , Trevor
and Kez only knew that they were between a rock and a hard place.You don't disrespect the Boss's son when he's entertaining a Princess .It wouldn't be the first time Dodi's last minute change of plans surprised the bodyguards .At the recent screening of "Air Force One" Dodi had seated Diana in Trevors' usual seat by the door.Trevor nearly landed in Diana's lap.That same evening on route to the theatre with the Princess,Trevor had shown professionalism in eluding the paparazzi - so why the change in plans at the Ritz? Dodi's former girlfriend ,Kelly Fisher testified that Dodi was a "real dictator to Trevor".It was apparent that Dodi began to mistrust those around him ; and he just may have tried to impress the Princess with Henri Paul ; someone he knew he could trust. Trevor should have been compensated handsomely for his injuries.Money and justice just don't seem to mix .

Basically a waste of time..................
For those that were truly fans of Diana, this book does nothing. I am not, but still can respect a well written story which this book is definitely not. All it does do, is give some slight info to the curious of what took place a few months prior to her death. As far as any real insight into her life, personality, accident and all the miscellanoeus issues surrounding it, this book just touches the surface. Nothing gained or lost here except a little bit of time in the reading. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Diana who was in search of herself was, according to this relatively beefy addition to the writings on the late princess, engaged in a futile exercise. Born after her parents tried three unsuccessful times to produce a male heir--two older sisters and a brother who died within hours of birth preceded Diana Spencer's arrival--she felt unwanted from the start. Her mother's abandonment of the family six years later compounded Diana's feelings of self-worthlessness. At a tender age, the girl who would grow up to be the beloved Princess of Wales had already irrevocably lost her sense of self. The book, which relies heavily on the accounts of anonymous intimates of the late princess, describes her as a deeply conflicted character. A friend is quoted as saying, "Her dark side was that of a wounded trapped animal ... and her bright side was that of a luminous being." The strikingly tall, blond princess who cradled young cancer victims and graciously accepted flowers from admirers, who frolicked on camera with her young sons and flashed her sparkling smile as she exited limousines, was often sulky, depressed, and vengeful in private. "Why?" one might wonder--if volumes hadn't already been written about the awful truth of her life.

Author Sally Bedell Smith revisits the well-trod ground of Charles's continuing love affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, Diana's intimidation by her royal in-laws, and her push-me, pull-me relationship with the voracious paparazzi. In addition, she details Diana's numerous love affairs and her acts of self-mutilation and bizarre behavior, such as the incident in which she tap-danced alone in her room until she wore down the wood parquet. Prince Charles comes off as a sympathetic if somewhat wimpy character, while, as the book progresses, Diana grows into a woman navigating the fine line between neurosis and full-blown psychosis. At the time of her marriage, the princess is quoted as saying she was "so in love with my husband that I couldn't take my eyes off him. I just absolutely thought I was the luckiest girl in the world." Years later, she would recall this same day thus: "The day I walked down the aisle at St. Paul's Cathedral, I felt that my personality was taken away from me, and I was taken over by the royal machine." Her bulimia (even while pregnant with Prince William), paranoia, lying, and flightiness are all confirmed in Smith's tome but they are commingled with testimonials to the late princess's generosity, intuition, genuine warmth, and ability to put anyone at ease. Diana was fine--to wit sane--as long as she was in a safe environment. The bosom of the royal family was not one of those havens. But she wasn't a passive victim--her famous comment about her marriage being overcrowded, involving three people, presumably herself, the prince, and Parker Bowles--wasn't quite true, as she was also having an affair at the time, bringing the number up to four.

All of these excruciating details--including Smith's analysis of how long the Dodi and Diana match would have lasted, had they not been killed that night in Paris--seem to be carefully researched and attributed when the source allows it, and build to the grand crescendo of the book, in which Smith proffers her diagnosis of the princess's mental health. The punchline here is that the tabloid assertions that hounded Diana throughout her lifetime, asserting that she was "loony," "potty," a "basket case," or "barking mad," may have held more than a kernel of truth. But if the princess was as expert a manipulator as the book suggests, no one, it seems, could ever hope to know the whole truth. --Jordana Moskowitz ... Read more

Reviews (122)

Well-researched and thoughful
Contrary to what has been written by other reviewers, this is not an attack on Diana, nor simply a rehash of material that has already appeared in the tabloid press. The author interviewed around 150 friends and family of Diana, about half of whom asked to remain anonymous. Quotes from those who were happy to be identified are annotated in the copious chapter notes.

Based on her interviews and on published material, the author paints a picture of a woman who was certainly very unhappy for most of her adult life, who almost certainly had psychological problems, and who may have been suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder. This last suggestion is discussed in the final chapter only - it does not permeate the entire book, but is offered as a summary of all that has gone before.

This seems to be a well-researched and thoughtful book which probably comes closer than any other to presenting an accurate portrait of Diana. Fans of "St Diana" would do well to read it properly, rather than dismissing it out of hand because it dares to suggest that the princess was less than perfect. As Bedell Smith says at the end of the book, given all Diana's problems it is a wonder that she accomplished as much as she did in her short life.

An amazing, even-handed book.
My hat is off to the author, and the time it must have taken her to do the research and then write this tome. I read it in 1-1/2 days, and at 300+ pages that's no mean feat.

The author writes with compassion, yet is objective about Princess Diana's travails. What was chilling to read was the head-in-the-sand attitude of the British tabloids(and their society as a whole) when dealing with mental illness. The "stiff upper lip" is no fiction - that's their motto, and it helped cripple Princess Diana.

I have never been a fan of any royal family, and before reading this book I had a low opinion of Prince Charles, as well. But that's because I'd been reading some very biased information put out by Princess Diana in interviews with the British press, tv, etc. Prince Charles did try to get help for her when they were experiencing problems in their marriage, but his attempts weren't successful.

While reading the book, I was somewhat relieved to know she was never in a leadership capacity (scary to think that Bill Clinton IS!) - the royal family is and has always been there for show. (Why the British people haven't revolted and gotten their money back from the monarchy and invested it more wisely has always been a mystery to me.)

It was sad that she was never encouraged during her youth or adolescence to become a person in her own right. She just got the spoken and unspoken message that she was to work towards marrying a man of means and be an appendage to him.

I think the author's presentation of Princess Diana's problem as mental illness was right on the mark.

Mental illness is not a subject most people want to discuss (no matter what your country of origin). As Princess Diana's life proved, this unwillingness can have disastrous consequences.

Princess Diana didn't deserve the slavish devotion she received, but she didn't deserve to die the way she did, either.

A Hard Book To Read for Fans of the Late Princess Diana
In this well researched biography, Ms. Bedell Smith, does not
paint a pretty picture of the late, Diana,Princess of Wales.
With reliable sources, she shows an immature girl who like many
young girls before her,did not look beyond the alter, at the time she married the future King.She had just turned "twenty"and
enourmous expectations were put upon her shoulders.A child
affected by the bitter divorce,of the parents she loved,Diana
had need of help to survive an ordinary marriage,let alone one
to a public figure.
Intellectually, Charles and Diana were miles apart.She made
up for this with her natural street smarts, and quick humorous
remarks.
There is nothing more boring than reading the break-up of a
marriage but Ms. Bedell Smith handles this subject with
exceptional care.
When Prince Charles on the BBC publicly stated he never loved
Diana,how humiiating for her..Apparently, much violence had
preceeded this cruel remark,but the public was unaware of

mistreatment at Diana's hands.Diana, was humiliated and felt
Charles only married her to provide heirs to the throne.
According to more than one source, Charles' betrayal by having a mistress, gave Diana license in her mind to have numerous discreet affairs,searching for some love and stability.
This usually backfired,causing her more despair in her too
short life.She remarked "the only men I trust are my sons."
Here she deserves credit.Her personal schedule was carefully
planned around her young son's school vacations.She was a
hands on Mother.She dressed her boys casually,took them on fun vacations, and like mother's everywhere recognized their
differences and adored them.
Despite the stories of her bulemia and irrational behavior,and her quasi suicide attempts,her joy in her son's should be commended.
Was Diana already a troubled individual? Or did her husbands
lack of love turn her into an unbearable person? It is hard
for even the author to answer.Surely, too much was asked of a young girl who was not born royal, and had a 12 year age difference to overcome.
However,it is pointed out out Prince Charles was not responsible
for all her problems and they were many.
In the beginning of their marriage, both Queen Elizabeth
and Prince Charles sought psychiatric help with some of
Englands'best Doctors, for her fragile state when she returned
from the honeymoon.She was unable to trust them.
Later in her life , she sought help of the New Age Variety involving aromatherapy,astrology,feng shui,and colonic
irrigations which she felt purified her.
She wanted to be glamorous and yet she sought to help the
handicapped and the poor and downtrodden.
There was never a dull moment when Diana joined the Royal Family.Would she have married Dodi Fayed or was he a summer
fling?
No book can ever have the answers on this beautiful but
troubled young woman who held our intrique.

A LONG But Worthy Effort
It's taken me forever to get through this long-winded examination of Diana's life. I do commend the author on her researching skills, however. Every comment, wink, twitch and nudge had been documented and accounted for. However, I can sum up the bottom line of this book in one sentence: The author believes that Diana's mind was screwed up permenently by her dysfunctional childhood and her parents, thus effecting the rest of her life. There... I've just saved you several hundred pages worth of reading. I don't actually believe this point of view to be completely true - I've known people with dysfunctional childhoods who have grown up to be well-adjusted adults - but it may have been a partial contributing factor to Diana's unhappiness. I still believe that had she been in a true love match with a man who understood her and whose love she could return, she wouldn't have suffered much of the despair she obviously had. An "ok" read for Diana fans.

Complete waste of time!
This book was a complete waste of money (and trees)! Sally Bedell Smith gives an extensive one-sided account on the life of the "Trouble Princess" that was exhuasting to read. She hammers her reader with story after story, retold and cited from people close to Diana, and then proceeds to make vast generalizations about her character - most of the commentary is critical. She weighs her observations heavily upon her belief that Diana had Borderline Personality Disorder. In doing so, she delegitimizes many of Diana's good deeds, relationships and actions because they supposedly stemmed from, or were in response to, her illiness. Based on this analysis, and the authors biased language, it appears as though Diana's actions never emerged out of sincerity or honesty. Does that sound realistic? More dangerously, Smith makes an alarmingly strong connection between mental illiness (depression, BPD etc.) and Diana's character rather than her behaviour. The author fails to capture the complexities of character (including good and bad). I am shocked that this book recieved favourable reviews! A little more balance please! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Time-Treasured Princess
After reading most books, you can easily put the book back on the shelf without looking back. Princess Diana: Her Life Story was not like that at all. In fact, after reading it, you have to sit back and think about what a great book it was. This books didn't just tell the story of a great and accomplished woman, but it also described her thoughts, emotions, loves, and her shocking death that affected the whole world. Most biographies are all facts and dates, which for most can get quite dull. When I read the first few pages of this biography on Princess Diana, I knew for sure this would was different. The book made you feel lik you were there with Diana through the worst and best times of her life. Her life story was not just an ordinary biography, it was an amazing journey through the life of a time-treasured Princess. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Alone among award-winning photographers, Jayne Fincher snapped some of the most private moments ever seen of the late Princess Diana. What's her secret? Perhaps it's because, as an official royal photographer, she did not provoke the fear and panic that outside photographers tragically did, and her status as the only woman in the pool of royal photographers somehow put the royal family and the Princess of Wales off their guard in her presence. Diana: Portrait of a Princess contains never-before-seen photos from the early 1980s until Diana's death in August of 1997. Fincher captures the shy, awkward Lady Spencer, the picture of innocence and bewilderment thrust onto the global stage. Later in this chronologically ordered collection we see this young woman evolve into the glamorous and sophisticated princess. Some of the most striking images reflect the raw emotion and revealing intimacy in Diana's life, such as the private moments in which you can sense her fiercely tender devotion to her sons. Many of the natural, spontaneous shots depict a deeply distressed woman, trapped in a world of conformity, while still other pictures illustrate the growing strain in her loveless marriage to Prince Charles. Royal writer Judy Wade worked with Fincher to provide the text to go with these, the best of Fincher's 30,000 candid images of Princess Di. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Stunning photography of a world legend
My sister and I are MAJOR Diana fans, and both agree that this is by far the best of the many, many photo books available on the late Princess. The colors practically bleed off the page, and each photograph is sharply reproduced in a pleasurably large format. The book is blessedly absent of distracting text: this author knows what we want: pictures, pictures, pictures! Buy it: you will NOT be disappointed.

Wonderful pictures, interesting tidbits from an "insider."
This book is filled with gorgeous pictures. The text is interesting in that Diana's story is told with personal tidbits we've not heard before. My only complaint is that it's difficult to follow sometimes, as the author does not present everything in strict chronological order. Thus, one moment Diana and Charles are headed for disaster, the next, they're the perfect couple. Still, for a Princess Diana fan, very satisfying.

Who can believe that it's all in the past?
About 95% of DIANA: PORTRAIT OF A PRINCESS is photos, with only minimal narrative. And almost all of the photos were taken by Fincher, who was a royal photographer. The pictures are fantastic -- a couple just take my breath away. How could this exquisite person be gone? (see page 95) Surely, Diana was one of the most photogenic persons who ever lived. Here in the photos we watch her grow up, make fashion choices (not all good!) to find her own image, and create her own life just in time to lose it. Sometimes she looked a bit like a tired, frumpy housewife. In other pictures she's just perfection. The heavy, oversize book is divided into three parts: For Love, For Loyalty, For Liberty. The printing quality of the photos is EXCELLENT. This was a beautiful gift from my beloved niece, who knows me well. I must say, it makes an excellent gift. This book is one to keep and treasure.

Beautiful Book of Memories
This book is one of my favorite picture books of Diana. The pictures are just gorgeous, like the lady herself. For anyone who is a Diana fan, this book is for you...It really is beautiful.

princess di would have been pleased!
as a collector of princes di books, i have several good ones in my collection, but jayne fincher's 'portrait of a princess' is my best by far.

the book is stunning. the unusually large size of the hard-cover book, the huge collection of splendid color photographs, many of them from diana's early years, make for an awesome book. a must-buy for any diana fan!. this is the definitive pictorial tribute to princess diana. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Ingrid Seward, a prolific writer on the English royal family, was the last journalist to interview Princess Diana before her death in August 1997. In this intriguing book, Seward gives a worm's-eye view of Diana's trouble-plagued life, layered with episodes of betrayal and illness, and she accords full sympathy to the minor noblewoman who became "the people's princess." She is still more sympathetic to Diana's sometime nemesis Queen Elizabeth II, who, in Seward's account, labored endlessly to preserve the dignity of the monarchy in the face of a family that behaved in anything but a dignified manner.

Rising above the caricatures that color the popular press, Seward depicts a queen who tried her best to accommodate Diana--who was, it seems, never shy in voicing her displeasures and had an undeniable flair for recruiting the media in her cause, all the while protesting the press's intrusion into a fairy-tale life that "turned into a Gothic nightmare." Diana's insistence on airing her dirty laundry in public was bound to irritate the ever-sensitive queen, but more, Seward writes, "in her demands for love and sympathy, she gave self-fulfillment precedence over duty"--and for Elizabeth, dereliction of duty was the greatest possible sin one could commit. Their relationship could end only in tears; and so it did, taking much of the English public's good will toward the royal family with it.

Sometimes racy and breathless, but intelligent all the same, Seward's account enlarges our understanding of the internal dynamics of the modern court while delivering no end of scandalous news, just as a palace chronicle should. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Sad...
I find Ms. Seward's writing to be painful to read. For an editor of Majesty magazine, I expected her to have class in her manner of writing and respect in her depiction of the British royal family. She would have been well suited as a writer for the tabloids instead. Her manner of retelling is very gossipy, and biased. She can't seem to help but include her spiteful opinions of the late princess. I find her to be a very disrespectful person to be writing such a book. If you are looking for historical background or a respectful account of the Queen and the late princess, this is not the book to read.

The Knowledge of a Misunderstood Relationship
If you are like half of the population and interested in all the gossip about the House of Windsor and the late Princess of Wales, then this book should be one that you should read. This book is about the relationship between Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana. This book, to my belief, is a piece of evidence on why we as the public should respect Her Majesty, and why we should understand what their relationship is truly about. The book describes Diana's first State duty with the entire Royal Family in November 1984 at the State Opening of Parliament. Diana was having her hair being done for the event and insisted that she wore her hair up knowing that it was not long enough and looked different. The next day Diana's hair was on the headlines not the Queen, on which should have been a day of her publicity. This was the beginning of the popularity contest between these two women.
The author Ingrid Seward, is editor of Majesty magazine. She has written many books about the Royal Family that has kept her in the bestsellers list for twelve years.
This book all and all will give you a better knowledge about both women and will teach you the inside story of what happened behind the palace walls of two remarkable women and there relationship that is so widely known and questioned by the public.

God Save the Queen!
Thank you, Ms. Seward for writing a fair and reasonable book. It's gratifying to read a work that illuminates how hard our queen tried to accomodate the late Princess of Wales and what a truly lovely person she is. Elizabeth II is a great queen -- history will bear this out -- and I think we often take her far too much for granted. God bless and keep her!

As a British subject currently residing the states, I remain astonished at the rabid interest our royal family holds for Americans.

The Queen and Di: The Untold Story by Ingrid Seward
I would not recommend this book to anyone. I felt cheated. The book was extremely biased on part of the Queen. I do not think that Ingrid Seward was objective as a writer. It is such a pity that she could not give any respect to the person that made her magazine sell. Back in the 80's, Diana was prominently featured in Majesty magazine. No one bought it to see what the Queen wore. I was expecting a little more honesty than I read in this book. Queen Elizabeth and Diana were just people. A mother and daughter in-law. There was a divorce. No one is perfect, but this book would lead you to believe that all the royals were. Save your money.

Palace Propaganda
I suppose one should have expected the bias from the editor in chief of Majesty Magazine, nevertheless the fact that Seward and her ilk at The Firm's PR machine believe the public can't recognize such artless spin is an eloquent example of how out-of-touch the House of Windsor remains. ... Read more

Book Description

Princess Diana talks about her life and the principal characters in it (such as Charles, Camilla, James Hewitt, and Dodi El Fayed), the circumstances of her death, life in "heaven" and the spirits she meets regularly, including Chris Farley and John Lennon. She describes the levels of healing that a "new arrival" may go through and how they then help other new arrivals. She also discusses her past lives and her preparations for her next life. ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Remarkable!
Having read many Diana books (concerning her after life)Christine Toomey captures exactly what the others have said. I have read "Diana Speaks by Chairman Yao" in the United States where Diana hints that she will contact others...telling us, her words will continue to come through to us. "In Her Own Words by Christine Toomey" in the United States was obviously the continuation. Also, "Divine Intervention by Hazel Courtney" in England, a woman who writes she was not Diana's friend, but an acquaintance of Diana and she too channels Diana's thoughts. In Sweden, "Rita Eide" a known channeller writes her book entitled "The Celestial Voice of Diana." Eide never knew Diana personally, but her book is sent to someone that did know Diana. This person finds Eide's book incredible and based on truths. All of these books follow a pattern of matching each other on several issues of Diana's life making them seem more creditable reading. Personally, I feel these books are interesting to read. In these books I have learned what Diana felt about "fortune tellers" and how she understands, they are helpful to a point, but the readers only see so much. Again, their perception, just as these channellers are picking up what they perceive with Diana coming through to them. Some of the issues will follow a pattern and read the same in some respects in each book. It is REMARKABLE to me that four different writers from four different areas of our world touch on many of the "same" issues of Diana's life about The Princess's feelings and concerns. It is obvious to me, The People's Princess continues to have something worth sharing with all of us.

A must read for anyone wanting to learn more the afterlife!
If you have already read Betty Eadie's near-death experience in "Embraced by the Light", Christine's wonderful book takes over where Betty's leaves off and helps to fill in the gaps. I felt like I was really there with Diana experiencing each step of her healing and re-education on every level. By listening to Diana explain each step in her development, it makes perfect sense as to why we experience what we do here on earth. It also explains God's plan for us and how we can achieve perfection by completing our lessons in order to be able to join God the Father in Heaven.

This book talks about suicide and the souls having to come back eventually to still learn the lessons they had agreed upon before they took on their physical bodies. Also it explains that those who commit suicide have to watch the pain they have put those through who they left behind. These souls were advised they should have asked for help in order to have avoided taking their own lives. It may have saved them from such a drastic act.

This was absolutely one of the most enjoyable and enlightening books on the spiritual realms I have ever read. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to learn about the complete picture and meaning of our lives.

Another Spokesperson for the Dead
I own over 500 Princess Diana books and I am drawn to Diana books that are rather obscure in their content. After all who wants to keep reading the same story over and over again? I hesitantly purchased this book thinking I could be open minded enough to be able to appreciate what this author had to share. I tried to read this book three times and each time I began to start reading it I couldn't stop laughing at it's absurdity. It's not that I don't believe in an after life but what really threw me was the fact that Diana refused to reveal the identity of her murderer(s) to the author. While she was alive she wrote a letter with this information but in death she doesn't want the culprit punished for his/her crimes. It seems to me everyone who brooches this subject will not go ahead and name names to avenge her murder(s)...(The most recent example is Paul Burell's book with Diana's letter that named names). I feel authors are afraid of the repercussions of naming a member of the British Royal family as a murderer. This ambivalence makes absolutely no sense to me. I stopped reading the book altogether when the author claims that it was revealed to Diana in heaven by her guardian angel the she was once Queen Elizabeth the 1st in another life. I love a good fiction book about Diana but this was just insulting not ony to her memory but also to the reader. I can only imagine what William and Harry would think of this account of their beloved mother in heaven? It would probably sicken them! If you want to read Diana based fiction I recommend "Whose Death in the Tunnel" by Aaron McCallum Becker and "Di and I" by Peter Leftcourt.......both of which are available here at Amazon! I do think that the author of the book I am reviewing honestly believes every word she has written but for me it was one long exercise in bad tase! I wonder if Christine Toomey lost her mind all at once or was it a gradual process?

amazing and helpful
After reading many books on the subject of after-life experiences, I feel that this book stands out not only because it was relayed by
a famous person, but that the information that Diana gives answers so many questions that I feel so many of us have regarding the everyday lives we lead and the consequences of our actions both in this world and the next. It is an extremely comforting book dispelling many of the fears that we have of the afterlife and giving hope to everyone regardless of race, religion, gender, age, etc. The book is a very easy read told first hand with humor and compassion.

A Great Read
Understanding the spiritual side, I can relate to how the book came about. I have also met Christine and found her to be honest and genuine and not one of those many 'I spoke to Diana, too' books. The things that she has said to me personally in a number of aspects have been pretty well on the nail. This also adds a tremendous amount of validation to the book from my point of view. I have also met some less than dubious chracters on the spiritual path, but Christine is definately not one of them!

Great book, can't wait for the next book! ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Was Princess Diana murdered? Or was she the victim of an innocent though tragic traffic Accident? If she was murdered, who did it? Who ordered the assassination and what were the motives behind it?

Based on information received from a veteran CIA contract agent one week prior to the crash in Paris – plus further evidence obtained from other highly placed sources, this investigative work presents an uncompromising inquiry into Diana’s death.

The Authors are not just ‘conspiracy theorists.’ They are investigative journalists with a proven track record, who dare to investigate issues side stepped by otherjournalists, and whose courageous work uncovered staggering evidence of a high-level conspiracy between British and U.S. Intelligence to assassinate Diana.

Endorsed by many highly placed intelligence & government sources, this book reveals the frightening truth: How British and U.S. Intelligence monitored Diana's every move;

How two secret letters written by Diana just before her death implicate the British Crown in "nefarious activities in Africa", specifically Angola;

How Diana threatened to expose the Crown's vested interests in Angola by pursuing her 'landmines campaign' in that country;

Why MI6 and the CIA resolved to kill her "on foreign soil";

How both Secret Services favored the 'traffic accident' as a deniable means of assassination; how this same method had been successful in previous 'deniable ops'’; how the crash evidence was methodically suppressed, as was the info. on: the conspirators who planned, carried out and covered up this operation;

How chauffeur Henri Paul worked for MI6; how his blood sample –which underpins the 'drunk-driver accident' theory –was switched; and how all TV cameras at the crash scene were mysteriously switched off.

This thoroughly researched book reveals the shocking truth behind Diana's death. And in the process it exposes the most scandalous, closely guarded secret in the UK's history. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

A different version of the truth.
If you're looking for a different version of the truth to that promulgated by the British authorities, this book is a must. I bet the British Royal Family loathe it. From the very beginning the authors present a relentless tirade of facts, figures and fascinating evidence, revealing the corruption at the heart of the British establishment as well as the plots and subplots that eventually led to Diana's highly mysterious demise. They also present a mountain of evidence in support of their claim that Diana was assassinated by a joint CIA-MI6 operation. Truly mindbending stuff, as well as being a serious threat to those seeking to conceal the true facts about this case.

Indeed, now that an inquest has been called in Britain into Diana's death I bet this book will be shelved - if it hasn't been already. So buy your copy now! I cannot praise the authors highly enough for the excellent way in which this book has been researched, and the way it has been written. Quite superlative. If this book doesn't rock the boat then nothing ever will. Well done Jon King and John Beveridge - ten out of ten. I've never read anything quite like it before, and I doubt I ever will in the future. Simply breathtaking. Easily worthy of a literary prize. Let us hope it does some good in the struggle to make the true facts known.

One of the GREAT literary works of our time - go buy it!!!
This book is about so much more than just an investigation into Diana's death. Though the authors present a very clear and compelling case that the crash that killed the princess was no accident, the real meat of this work comes later on in the book. In Part 2 for instance we are treated to one of the most insightful and damning reviews I have ever read of the West's intelligence agencies - our own CIA and Britain's MI6 and MI5. If you want to know exactly what goes on behind the scenes here then this the book for you.

Later still the authors delve with clarity and chilling insight into the true nature of global politics and corporate crime, and somehow manage to undo the intricate web of government, banking, military-industrial espionage and false history in a manner previously unsurpassed. My knowledge of one world government and corporate control is vastly increased after reading this book, cover to cover. In fact I'd go so far as to say that this book truly is one of the great literary works of our time. Go buy it - NOW!

As dubious as it gets
Anything associated with Prince Michael of Albany ought to be a warning to the reader that this book does not stand up to close scrutiny. "Prince Michael" has been making a very nice living for himself for almost 30 years pursuing a career as the spurious head of the House of Stuart, based on unproveable claims & forged documents. Responsible investigators would steer clear of associations like this, but there is "Prince Michael's" forward, clear as day, on the cover of the book.

Sure enough, this book is chock full of the loopiest of conspiracy theories. Throw enough against the wall and something is bound to stick, appears to be the methodology of the authors. It is a veritable all-you-can-eat buffet of conspiracies, meandering from the typical CIA-MI5-MI6 speculations to far grander Masonic conspiracies involving (of course) the Stuart monarchy, the Holy Grail & the hidden lineage of Jesus, blah blah blah...

Of course, all this adds up to is basically another goofy claim by the "Hidden House of Stuart" crowd, which has become something of a cottage industry (the ultimate goal is to make a tidy profit, not reveal any earth-shattering truths, after all). All of this would be good for a laugh, but the book (at 400+ pages) is far too long and badly written. After awhile it just gets boring to wade through. If you have to read this, first see if your local library has a copy. No need to enrich these clowns & hucksters any more than is absolutely necessary.

Tepid drivel
Oh, for God's sake! What utter drivel. Diana wasn't bright enough to implicate anyone more substantial than a poorly trained manicurist.

Here's a conspiracy question to think about -- if Diana was so committed to the anti-landmines issue why did she chose Dodi Fayed as a consort? Some of his relations are huge arm dealers. Hey -- maybe THEY knocked her off!

Unbeliveably Chilling!! A must read book ~~
I couldn't put this book down. The facts that were found out about Princess Diana's death, I believe all of them. I always felt that something wasn't right about the "so called accident".After reading this book,I have no doubt that her own family { I won't mention any names},were involved in shall we say, getting the Princess out of the way. I knew that the Windors' disliked Princess Diana, but to go that far.This book gave me the chills learning that not only the British Establishment and the CIA, had something to do with her untimely death.And talk about a BOTCHED investigation!! To say the least, and now I know why.The people involved with her death and that of the others,{ofcourse Henri Paul signed his own death certificate unbeknowst to himself}.They will never be found. How sad.But there are some in the Royal House of Windsor that really know what happened.But I don't think this bothers them at all.The investigative reporters that worked so hard putting this book together for the public to decide what really happned.Truely conviced me that this was NOT an accident, that of a drunk driver and the so called Popparazzi.The mysterious Fiat Uno,the rescue team that worked on Princess Diana, in my eyes,let her die there at the crash site.And I believe they were in on this as well.I would reccomend this book to anyone that wants to really know the cold hard and truthful facts about her senseless,premetitaded death.From front to back, you won't be able to put this book down. ... Read more

Book Description

That the beautiful, complicated Princess of Wales -- arguably the most celebrated woman of the twentieth century -- died so violently and so young was tragic. That she was a single mother leaving behind two emotionally vulnerable sons made Diana's death at thirty-six all the more heartbreaking.

Reviews (26)

Growing Up Royal
Andersen's Diana's Boys: William and Harry and the Mother They Loved explains the lives of Prince William, Prince Harry, and their family members. It tells of the scandals that the Windsors have recently been involved with and how the young princes have dealt with these scandals. The book tells of Diana's problems: her failed marriage, her battle with bulimia, and her arguments with the Queen over how the young boys would be raised. The story seems to tell more about Charles and Diana than the boys, and at times seems to be repetitive. Overall, I enjoyed the book and its description of the lives of the young princes and how they handle their royal lives: the paparazzi, the bodyguards, and the death of their mother, the Princess of Wales.

A moving look at WIlliam and Harry.
I just finished reading Diana's Boys. Christopher Andersen has painted a wonderful portrait of the Princes and their lives after their mother's death. I confess to both curiosity and fascination with the boys, and I was eager to learn about the way the two have grown since the tragic death of Princess Diana. Andersen has offered readers a glimpse at the way William and Harry dealt with a very personal tragedy in a very public way--a fact that is so often lost in the media frenzy that has surrounded them. Aside from that, he's presented an image of charismatic children who, despite growing up under the scrutiny of both the media and the royal family, have found a way to be charming and personable adolescents sure to become successful young men. This book, on top of The Day John Died and The Day Diana Died, leaves me only wondering what subject Christopher Andersen will tackle next.

Fiction, Fiction, Fiction
Why is this book in the non-fiction section? And why is it called Diana's Boys? It should be titled Diana and Charles marital woes, and a tiny bit of sensationalised tabloid stories on their sons. Don't even bother with it unless you need to use it as what NOT to believe.

Very interesting!
I highly enjoyed this book. It showed a fascinating and intimate perspective into the family lives of Diana, Charles, William and Harry. I found a lot of interesting tidbits!

I totally found this difficult to put down. It seemed to show the sincere feelings and actions of Diana and the boys who she loved.

Honestly, I felt this book was very detailed and interesting and I would have enjoyed if it even went more in depth into their lives.

I HIGHLY recommend this book! One of my favorite Princess Diana books I have ever read. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it but it gave me different perspectives on each member of the family.

AN EXCELLENT READ
The book was delivered yesterday and I can't put it down! It's written almost as a novel, including people's feelings, thoughts, and motives, which does raise some suspicions. I have to wonder how much the author filled in to make it more entertaining. The book does seem very well-rounded. For example, both Charles and Diana's faults are pointed out, but their good sides are also shown. Though their parents take up a good part of the book, William and Harry truly are the stars, William more so than Harry. An interesting, enjoyable book. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Interesting reading, but perhaps a bit too male-bashing
I'm not quite sure why I decided to purchase this book; ...I thought this would provide a different look at an exhaustively covered subject.

First, I would not recommend this book to a "casual fan" of Diana. There is some deep reading here, it's not a book that can be skimmed and understood. You have to *read* it. ...

Ms. Campbell seems to pull much of her book from other sources, with extensive quoting being quite a bit of what you are reading. She then takes these quotes and excerpts and adds her interpretations and opinions. Sometimes these were spot on, other times I felt that she was stretching a bit to prove her point. I also feel that the title is somewhat misleading; the book wasn't entirely what I expected. The author's repetitive claims of Diana being "penetrated" by the media's cameras, the world's eyes get rather boring and made for some eye-rolling on my part. There is no doubt that the media were invasive to Diana, but I also believe she played them at times--it was a give and take. Maybe if I were a "feminist" I would be more inclined to agree with this observation.

There is some fascinating history in regards to past Princes of Wales, their behaviours and relationships, in particular that of George IV and Princess Caroline of Brunswick. Ms. Campbell points out amazing similarities between Caroline and Diana, and for that alone this book is worth delving into. Although I am reasonably well-versed in the recent past and current happenings of the House of Windsor, what I read was news to me, and sheds some light on the Royal Family, Prince Charles, and a marriage that was, unfortunately, doomed from the start. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Dares to show the negative side of Diana, balancing positive
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.

I liked it....
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).

Diana's Life
I really don't know why some people consider this woman to be a saint. I really think she was probably a caring, giving person
but lets face it , she was human. How many girls in their teens
dream about marrying someone famous? Alot I'm sure. In her case
her wish came true and I don't think she was ready for it. Nobody is really at fault here. Lady Campbell is simply writing
about what what other people told her. Prince Charles was probably under pressure to marry and like alot of girls at 19
she was probably INFATUATED not IN LOVE. It's very sad.

Whaddya Want For (Under) A Buck?
This book, while not always pleasant, gives yet another dimension to the story of Charles and Diana. Before her death, Diana was perceived as a saint, and Charles, the devil. This book presents them as what they actually were: HUMAN.

Despite the book's title, this is NOT an "all Diana" book. There's quite a bit of text on Charles and the Royal Famliy.

The photo section is a strange mixture of what seems to be photos left over from old shoots (odd angles, the back of Di's head, or her face in shadow) as if the author could only afford second-rate photos. It's a very strange selection of (photo) subjects also. I wasn't sure why the author felt it was important to publish pictures of women Charles dated in the 70s.

I'll read everything about the royals I can get my hands on so even while I didn't totally agree with everything in this book, I did enjoy reading it. If you're a Di-aholic, you'll probably enjoy it too (especially for the price I just saw it listed for on Amazon!)

We still don't know Diana
I bought this book in 1994 when it first came out. Have just re-read it and find that it is mostly gossip. The author's annoying way of identifying her sources puts me off. Few are named by their real names. It's like reading a tabloid.

Diana comes across as a spoiled brat, but Charles leaves a lot to be desired also. At this point, do we really care? The Royal Family and their "toadies" in the UK seem so outdated. Their lives are very superficial and pointless according to this book. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Interesting book but he sure hates alFayed
I'm still in the process of reading this book but two things are already apparent to me. 1. Mr. Gregory seems to have a powerful dislike for Mohamed al Fayed. 2.Since the wildest conspiracy theories don't hold up he seems to think that means none of the rumors could be true. I agree that the Princess likely did die in an accident but to absolutely rule out foul play is going too far. Many of Mr. Gregory's debunkings seem very well thought out and informative, even probable, I just have a feeling that something is missing.

Don't waste your money on this one
Martyn Gregory's account of the couple's final journey is riddled with inaccuracies, distortions and falsehoods.

Very Interesting
It is quite obvious that Mr. Gregory has done his homework here. There were several interesting details which I had not read before. He is very anti Al Fayed. But he did strain his credibility with me when he twice mentioned that JFK was assasinated in Houston. Mr. Gregory must be very young! I enjoyed the book. He argued his "case" very convincingly.

It's about time.
This is the book that finally shows the Diana/Dodi murder and conspiracy stories to be what they are - complete figments of the imaginations of Mohamed Fayed and his minions. Mr Gregory had access to Diana's friends and the bodyguards who shared her final vacation with Dodi Fayed, and with their help he sheds the true light on the relationship. Why would anyone want to murder them when the relationship hadn't even lasted for 2 months and gave no indication that it would lead to marriage? And who would choose a car accident to commit murder when it's the most inefficient way of killing, since we have no control over the laws of physics which govern car accidents? I commend the author for having the courage and common sense to write this book, since he, and I, seem to believe that some people would see sinister conspiracy plots in 2 people planning to go grocery shopping together.

Book riddled with lies and distortions
I'm really sorry to say this and I hope you don't take offence, but there's only one word in the English language that most precisely describes people like Martyn Gregory: propagandist. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (9)

Not much new
This book didn't add much. Most of the information and pictures have been seen elsewhere.

THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE BOOK ON THE PEOPLE'S PRINCESS
Having read various books on the fashion of the modern princess, I think that this is the best book so far that has been produced.

I am sure that readers would appreciate the time spent with providing detail information with the necessary large and colored photographs etc.

Apart from the great production, I think everyone has a special feeling knowing who Princess Diana was as a person! Today , July 1st., 2000 marks her birthday anniversary and I therefore take great pride in recommending this book to others by making a comment on such a date.

A Little Too Fawning, but the Catalog is Great
Georgina Howell clearly takes the Andrew Morton (read Diana) point of view on the Princess's persecution by the palace and casts her as a kind of saint in a fashion-conscious hagiography. The text was a little too hyperbolic in deifying Diana, yet perhaps that is appropriate, as few have done so much for fashion in our century.

But this book has redeeming qualities that make it worth the time. First, it does cite instances of Diana's fashion faux pas that are gossipy and interesting, for example her dressing-gown dress by David Sassoon and her slip-style dress by John Galiano for Dior. It is also quite meticulous about citing designers and recounting their memories of dressing Di. This humanizes a commercial name and gives the reader a sense of what her patronage meant to these fashion houses.

The best aspects of the book are the appendices listing the auction catalog by piece and the designer listing with short biographies. This is a wealth of specific information that couture-ophiles will love.