The Royal Representative

Archive for the ‘Diana Princess of Wales’ Category

From “The Royalist” (thanks World of Royalty!)

Mirren Unmoved By The Death of Diana
Written by Joanne Leyland
Tuesday, 25 March 2008

While the death of Diana, Princess of Wales ultimately presented her with an Oscar-winning role as ‘The Queen’, Dame Helen Mirren has revealed that the tragedy itself essentially passed her by.

Quizzed about her reaction to the car crash which claimed the life of the 36-year-old princess, her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul, the actress who in reality had little time for Diana in life has admitted: “I honestly can’t remember where I was when Princess Diana was killed. I was in America but don’t recall where.”

“Everyone I know says they remember that moment, but I do not.”

Dame Helen, who in 1996 referred to the princess as “really nauseating — and half crazy, poor thing”, was equally unmoved by the public outpouring of grief which was witnessed on the streets of London in particular in the week between Diana’s death and her funeral on September 6th 1997.

Says Dame Helen: “I did not see the public reaction as grief. I saw it as people, like addicts, having their drugs taken away from them.”

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Wow, Dame Helen does not mince words. It’s a nice change to see someone publicly speak their mind so clearly and astutely without worrying about being politically correct. This is one of the reasons I love Princess Anne, too.

I have just added a new book to my online “bookcase” at Amazon.com. Diana, by Sarah Bradford is an extremely revealing book that I simply had to include. Royal Representative reader Kelly asked if I had read the book. Since I had read Sarah Bradford’s book on the Queen, Kelly wanted to know if I had read her book on Diana. I said that I hadn’t, but wanted to.

I decided to finally go down to the book store and buy my own copy. I pored over it and started developing a review (due in December). Take a look at the reviews at Amazon and see if it is a book that you want to include in your own collection.

Rachel Johnson comments on the insanity that is the obsession with Diana, even after death. Diana’s Dead, Get Over It

On reflection I believe my attendance could divert attention from the purpose of the occasion, which is to focus on the life and service of Diana. I’m grateful to my husband, William and Harry for supporting my decision.

- Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall in a statement regarding her change of heart at attending Diana’s memorial.

I feel that it is avoiding an awkward situation. It’s not something that occurred by force, but rather out of grace.

She has been dead for a decade, but people still try to cash in on the fame of Diana, Princess of Wales. Books, “previously undiscovered” items, and many other things regarding Diana are flooding the market. The late Princess is especially prominent in the media in this tenth year since her passing, and her presence will be extremely prominent at the end of summer when the time of her accident occurred.

It figures. Paul Burrell and an assortment of mystics, “friends”, and associates certainly did their dirty jobs at getting famous at Diana’s expense. Her brother, Earl Spencer, occasionally chooses to chat about his sister at this time of year, too, though he doesn’t really have anything substantial or new to say.

If you thought all that was tacky, wait for this: the princess is now being thrown in with the prostitutes.

“Great,” think William and Harry. “Even more good news for us to read.”

An exhibition in Oxford, by artist Stella Vine, is to include paintings showing Princess Diana’s crash and the faces of the five prostitutes murdered in Ipswich last year. What a wonderful combination.

Next we have “Our blond obsession, from Di to Paris” by Megan Daum in the LA Times.

Diana may have been more dignified, more naturally beautiful and less heavy handed with the peroxide, but she’s also the one who paved the way to fame for Hilton and future generations of the under-talented and overexposed.

Diana and Paris, separated at birth. This is what the late Princess’ icon status has become. The thing that is truly sad is that on any other plane of existence, this would be considered coming down in the world. Being the society that we are, however, this will make Diana last forever. No criticism, exposé, scandal, or even death will ever diminish her popularity.

Sorry Harry and Wills; society has accepted your mother in to its collective bosom and are keeping her there, along with all its trash. What a sad way to go.

Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall has been invited by William and Harry to attend the memorial service marking the tenth anniversary their mother’s death.

This invitation is seen as proof that the Princes have fully accepted Camilla as a member of their intimate family circle, and want to include her in one of the most sensitive, life-changing events that they have ever experienced.

“William and I love her to bits. She’s made our father very, very happy, which is the most important thing.” - Harry on Camilla

Naturally, Diana’s siblings Earl Spencer, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, and Lady Jane Fellowes will be in attendance. It has been reported that the Princes’ uncle and aunts helped them draw up the guest list. But how will the public react to Camilla’s presence at Diana’s memorial? Your comments please.