"The death of Princess Diana on August 31,1997, was one of those rare and terrible events that so jars people that they never forget where they were when they hear the news. It was inconceivable that the glamour, the goodness, and the verve that was Diana could have been erased in an instant. The void left by this remarkable woman whom William, 15, and Harry, 12, called Mummy and British Prime Minister aptly annointed 'The People's Princess ' was huge. Its dimensions could only be grasped six days later when the 36-year-old Princess of Wales drew millions of mourners into London's streets and another 2 billion people to their TV sets. The world had lost a patrician with a common touch - a beacon, a magnet, and a friend." p.9
I watched her funeral services just as I watched her marriage in 1981. I think the most poignant picture of her funeral was that of her former husband, Charles, Prince of Wales; her son, Prince Harry; her brother, Earl Spencer; her son, Prince William; and her former father-in-law, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; as they walked behind her cortege the last mile of its journey to Westminster Abbey. Who can ever forget Prince Harry's roses with a simple card with "Mummy" written on it as it topped her casket.
On the stroke of 11am on September 6, the chords of "God Save the Queen" sounded in the Abbey as the Welsh Guard entered to place Diana's casket on a catafalque between the Spencers and the Windsors. This was followed by Diana's favorite hymn, "I Vow to Thee, My country," which was chosed by her son, Prince William.
After the services, Diana's casket was placed was placed in the hearst for its long journey to Althrop, her ancestral home. At times the windshield wipers had to be turned on to wipe away the floral tributes which were thrown on the hearst. Many floral tributes were left at the gates of Althrop. These were taken by her brother the next day and placed on the island where she is buried.
P.19 begins a chapter ABOUT FACE. I liked the following which appears on the same page - "Her genius was a figt for projecting mood while preserving mystery...
"How many times could we look at that face? Infinitely, it seemed. In 16 years, Diana never lost her power to fascinate. How did did she do it? Hers was certainly not conventional beauty. The nose, for example, was too long and broad. But the generous scale of her smooth features formed a perfect stages for her distinctly and enchanting unroyal bredth of emotions. Diana was a woman of a thousande espressions, each a tantalizing peek into her soul, Whe could be bashful or brazen, somber or sultry, poised or playful. Like Greta Garbo and Jackie O., Diana kept back part of herself, mainntaining the mystery. Perhaps that was the basis of her seduction. She made us think we knew her so well; yet we didn't really know her at all."
On pages 24-25, the lovely picture of Diana taken at Highgrove, while she was sitting on the steps, is elegant. She is wearing a pair of red checked pants, a red sweater, a white blouse, and casual shoes - very simple, yet beautiful. On p. 38, there is a picture of Charles and Diana as they meet the press for the first time after their marriage. Diana had already witnessed pictures of Camilla Parker Bowles fall out of her husband's diary. Yet, when reporters asked her about married life she replied, 'highly recommended.' She kept the picture incident to herself even though she must have been hurting deeply.
"At age 19, when she first blinked for the press, Diana was unsophisticated, but nontheless naturally shrewd - always listening, watching, learning. Bereft of guidance from the royal household, Diana gamely set out to carve a role for herself that went far beyond producing the requisite 'heir and a spare.' As she redefined royal glamor, championed unchic causes, and opened ger heart to people the world over; she reshaped the creaky role of princess for a celebrity-worshipping, mass-media age; in the process, she left behind an incomparable album of absorbing images. Though divorce ended Diana's chance of becoming Queen of England, the phenomenal outpouring of grief and affection that attended her death made it evident, to commoner and royal alike, that she'd earned the title she once said she coveted: Queen of People's Hearts."
The chapter titled SHE COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT is my favorite. "On a magical evening in 1985, Diana proved to be one singular sensation." Diana had asked the famous Britsh dancer Sleep to choreograph a routine for her to perform at the Christmas benefit for the Friends of the Covent Garden at the Royal Opera House. It was to be a surprise for her husband and diana chose Billy Joel's "Uptown Girl." For about two thirds of the program Diana sat beside her husband in the roual box. Then, Diana slipped out and changed into the dress which she had chosen for this event. Wayne Sleep said he remembered walking on stage and there was a big round of applause. He recalls, 'Oh, you ain't seen nothing yet.' He said he told her to walk on for eight counts and then stand for eight more counts because the people aren't going to believe it. She did so and was very nervous at first. Sleep said, "Every step we took was followed by a huge round of applause and everything else, Diana was performing for an audience of one - her husband - whose box was right over the stage. Sleep says, 'She kept looking up at Charles. there was an enormous sense of fun between them...He was very happy and smiling the whole time.' The routine lasted four minutes and Sleep and Diana took eight curtain calls.
Of Dians's many roles, it is clearly the role of Motherhood which she enjoyed the most. She took all her roles seriously, but once they began school, Diana always planned her schedule around the school calendar, She was very much a hands-on Mom.
"As captivating for her flaws as for her glamour, Diana remains an intriguing riddle. Magical in life, tragic in death, the People's Princess has entered the real myth. Paradoxically, even as admirer exalt Diana, it was her flaws and vulnerabilities that made her the most widely loved royal of all times. Her special gift was making the people she met feel special." p157
This book is filled with beautiful pictures and must be read to be truly enjoyed. This refers to the hardback book which contain 161 pages and measures 81/4x11inches
