Lady Colin Campbell plunges deeply into the task by talking to numerous Royal sources (sometimes unmentioned courtiers themselves), so that the layman can understand their reasoning and procedures. Throughout her life, Diana was surrounded by privilege. From her early childhood she used to play with the children of the Royal household, later on becoming a Lady herself when her father inherited Althorp House, possibly one of the greatest houses in the world; and crowning it all with her marriage to the Prince of Wales. She was the first Princess Wales had had in over 100 years, and throughout her life, she was as controversial as she was adored.

The way this unusual woman developed from her childhood was marked by her parents’ divorce. As explained in detail here, the Spencers’ divorce was a highly publicized scandal, and the fact that Diana’s grandmother testified against her own daughter and in favor of her father, put the stigma of emotional depravity not only in Diana but in her siblings as well. Why, as a mother, one would take such a position is beyond me, but it certainly explains much of the behavior Diana exhibited as an adult. Her temper tantrums, her stubbornness, her need for being the centre of attention at all times, were obviously all borne out of the need to survive and to feel appreciated. That is how this extremely shrewd young woman emerged as the media darling that grew so much in people’s hearts and in courtiers’ bottoms. It was also how, a sensitive but very selfish man as the Prince of Wales, felt disenchanted about his wife from a very early stage in the marriage. Charles, himself a very deep thinker, could not comprehend how she was not interested in expanding her mind: “I don’t understand it, she doesn’t read. Can’t you get her to read?” (Page 195). Later on she did, albeit too late for the marriage to survive. And that’s when, following the advice of one of the most sensible astrologers of Britain by the name of Penny Junor, she took to charity work with enthusiasm and gusto. Birthright, Help the Aged and CRUSAID were one of the many charities she would champion during her short but intense life.

The book comes to an end just before their divorce, stating, “Barring a calamity, she will remain a large part of our lives for the remainder of this century and well into the next.” (Page 331) Funny how certain clichés could come true with such easiness.

Fans of the late Diana, Princess of Wales and those who want to feel part of a Royal Family, without having been born into one.

I have to give kudos to Lady Colin Campbell, herself an accident of nature (see below) for her talent as a writer. The book starts with one of the most eloquent portraits I have read about a person. It is indeed as if one was with the Princess face to face: “As she approaches, the first thing you notice is how tall she is…” The next thing that strikes you is how animated yet serene she is (…) she is warm, witty and down-to-earth: she is natural…” “Diana’s mouth is non-descript. It neither enhances nor detracts from her face.” “Her nose could never be called conventionally beautiful… [however] … without it, her face would lose much of its impact and all of its uniqueness.” (Pages 1 & 2)

Because of an interest in learning more about the British aristocracy’s ways and standards of living, I picked up this book which does have a lot of gossip, but one can tell right from the get go that it was written by a true insider in such circles. I did some research on the charities Diana championed. A good place to start is a website called "The Work Continues" ( http://www.theworkcontinues.org ) It's the official site for the Princess of Wales Memorial Trust Fund, presided by her eldest sister, Lady Sarah McCorquodale.

“Diana in private: the Princess nobody knows” was as explosive as the Morton book “Diana: her true story”, when it came out. The difference lay, mainly, in that the latter was evidently pro-Diana and anti-Charles; while Lady Colin’s claimed to present an unbiased view of the relationship between them. Even though I wouldn’t call this book ‘unbiased’,it is presented as a recollection of many people who obviously were in close contact not only with the Royal Couple, but with the whole of the Royal Family.

Lady Colin Campbell was born in Jamaica. The victim of fused labia and a deformed clitoris, she was registered as a boy and brought up like one. At 21 she had an operation to correct the deformities and married an English aristocrat called Lord Colin Campbell. Eventually they separated and she kept custody of their adoptive children. Nowadays, she makes her living as a writer from her London home just off Sloane Square, the place where Princess Diana used to live when she was single.

The book covers details from the Waleses everyday life to their most public appearances, and it is a deep study of their personalities. More than once, it is suggested that the institution of the Monarchy will not tolerate people who may put it in the merest of jeopardies, even if they do come from privileged backgrounds, have produced the “heir and the spare” and are the future consort. It opens up a question of how, in the end, such people are dealt with.

Interested in buying this? Support Writing.Com by making your purchase of Diana in Private: The Princess Nobody Knows   from Amazon.Com!

Created Jan 03, 2004 at 9:48pm • Submit your own review...