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The Real Diana

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The Real Diana

By: Lady Colin Campbell
Narrated by: Sophie Roberts
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Who was the real Diana? What was it like to be so privileged yet so anguished, so beloved yet so self-loathing, so spoiled yet so despairing? The Princess of Wales was all these things--far more complicated, conflicted, and intriguing a person than the wildly disparate saint or lunatic she is frequently portrayed to be.

Royal insider Lady Colin Campbell sets the record straight on many of the most controversial aspects of Diana's turbulent life: how Charles and Diana's engagement came to pass, though it seemed ill-advised to those closest to both of them; what their honeymoon was really like; the truth behind Diana's bulimia, her widely reported suicide attempts, and her obsession with Camilla Parker Bowles; Diana's search for love and fulfillment with numerous men before, during, and after her marriage; her brilliant manipulations of the press; and her relationship with Dodi Fayed.

Lady Colin Campbell's New York Times bestselling biography Diana in Private was the first to expose the truth about Diana and her troubled marriage. In The Real Diana, she reveals that the reason she knew so much about what went on behind the palace gates was because Diana herself was the source. Drawing upon these confidences--as well as on conversations with countless people who knew Diana and with Diana herself in the final years of her life--Lady Colin Campbell combines true insight with true compassion to bring us the most intimate and revealing portrait of the Princess of Wales that we will ever have.

©2004 Lady Colin Campbell (P)2022 W F Howes
Politics & Activism Royalty Marriage Thought-Provoking
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a very good and informative read, very well written fair and very well explained giving Charles's side also Diana's, very believable. I thoroughly enjoyed this book highly recommend.

Beautifully written.

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It confirmed a lot of what I thought about the late Princess Of Wales in the last decade or so. Don’t get me wrong, I think Diana had a kind heart and did so much good for the world but nobody’s a saint. It hasn’t degraded my admiration for her at all, it’s just nice to see her portrayed as a real life human with real life problems. It explains so much and my empathy runs deeper for her because of it.
Before this all we’ve had is candy-coated stories of Di’s struggles — of which she had many more than we’ll ever know, I’m sure, but some things should remain private.
I remember her bad press in the 90s, including her not caring about the relationships she herself tore apart. To paint someone in such a saintly light diminishes who they really were as a person. She was very toxic and flawed at times, as we all are.
I do think had Charles been allowed to marry Camilla first, Diana would’ve lived a very full and happy life. I honestly believe marrying a man so much older with all that influence destroyed her and that’s a real shame but she was put in her position for a reason, she brought attention to so many causes that needed someone like her.

I wasn’t keen on the gossipy opinions, lady C should’ve kept her “information” factual and left what I’m guessing was attempted humour out of it. I also didn’t like the narration, it was a little grating, much like Harry’s Spare but he chose to narrate for himself and we can’t choose what we sound like. If you’re getting to choose the style and voice, I’d have thought something more captivating would’ve been apt. After all, Diana has more fans than detractors. She deserved better, but that’s just my opinion.
Not sure I’d recommend this book but I’ve spoken about it’s contents with a few people.

Wasn’t Keen On Narrator

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Great book interesting to the end factual information answers to what everyone think of incident

Real diana

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So good , so well researched and completely fascinating. Author very fair. A real eye opener.

Completely Fascinating

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I am not a royalist but I am fascinated by people. This beautifully written insight into Diana’s personality and actions is a generous portrayal of a woman who was, in essence, a self indulgent, unintelligent Sloane Ranger. The author does well to recognise Diana’s good points, but I would have struggled to forgive the nastiness she unleashed on the people, often friends, she used and abused along the way to achieving her coveted position of Princess of Wales. At least she did some remarkable charity work.

Remarkable!

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