Diana: Portrait of a Princess

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.

Book Description

Diana.

From her first exposure to the world as the girlfriend of the future King of England to her death as perhaps the most revered figure of the century, she captured the imagination and the love of literally hundreds of millions of people. And, from her first portrait of Lady Diana Spencer in 1980 to her last shoot months before Diana's tragic death and finally to Diana's funeral, Jayne Fincher -- the only female royal photographer working with the explicit approval and full cooperation of Buckingham Palace -- was there. Granted unprecedented access to the Princess of Wales and the extended royal family for 18 years, Fincher amassed an enormous archive of more than 30,000 striking images of Diana. She captured on film Diana's transformation from a shy, awkward teenager to an elegant and sophisticated woman. Diana: Portrait of a Princess collects in one spectacular volume for the first time ever the best of these extraordinary photographs.

Here are some of the most famous images of Diana ever published...and here also are hundreds of never-before-seen candids, outtakes, and portraits, the definitive photographic document of Diana's life -- as fiancee, wife, and then ex-wife of the Prince of Wales; as mother to princes William and Harry; as philanthropist, as ambassador, as fashion muse. But more than a simple collection of images, Diana: Portrait of a Princess is a personal and deeply felt memoir with behind-the-scenes insight into the moods and complex personality of Diana. This narrative, a collaborative effort with royal writer Judy Wade, incorporates detailed impressions and experiences gathered in photographing the Princess. Featuring more than 500 pictures -- three-quarters of them never before seen -- and including dozens of revealing anecdotes, Diana: Portrait of a Princess is all exquisite tribute to a woman who carried the hearts of the world in the palm of her hand.

Customer Reviews:

Beyond beautiful pictorial.......2006-04-15

It's very hard to believe that next year will be a whole decade since the untimely death of Diana, Princess of Wales. What's a shame is the fact that today's teenagers and those in their early-20's probably don't remember her and I'm sure the "Windsors" are in their glory over that.

But Jayne Fincher, royal photographer, has put together a coffee table book that is loaded with rarely published images of the one and only Princess of Wales and it should be a required addition to anyone's royal library.

Ms. Fincher's photographs really brought out Diana's natural charm and inner beauty and that's what makes this volume so special and the scope of the loss even deeper. (It's been hilarious seeing the paparazzi trying to find her replacement ever since 1997 with "winners" such as Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie, and Angelina Jolie.)

In any case, this is a beautiful photography book and a tasteful tribute to Diana. - Donna Di Giacomo

The BEST pictorial Diana book out there.......2006-03-16

TONS and TONS of pictures -lots that aren't common- and interesting but brief stories explaining what she was doing in each photo, like where she was and general background on the situation. Photos by Jayne Fincher, who followed Diana all over the globe ever since she first appeared in on the royal stage in 1980. I love the layout of the photos and captions. Includes photos from her funeral. I own dozens of books on Princess Diana, from between 1981 and 2006, and this is by far my absolute favorite! It's a terrific, beautiful pictorial of her entire life, with just enough text to add some interesting stories as you flip through the thousands of photos.

Beautiful Portrait Book.......2005-04-11

This was a breathtakingly beautiful tribute to the late Diana, Princess of Wales, but I wish there had been more text to go along with the incredible pictures. If you are a serious collector of Diana memorabilia or just a casual fan, this is one book you should own.

Who can believe that it's all in the past?.......2002-05-11

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.......2002-05-09

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.

The People's Princess: Cherished Memories of Diana, Princess of Wales, From Those Who Knew Her Best

Average customer rating:

Horrible
King of Cashing In on The Anniversary
Tributes to Diana from her friends and fans from the heart
The People's Princess: Cherished......

The People's Princess: Cherished Memories of Diana, Princess of Wales, From Those Who Knew Her Best
Larry King
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 030733953X
Release Date: 2007-07-17

Book Description

In the ten years since Princess Diana’s shocking and tragic death in 1997, her hold on the world’s imagination has only increased. For The People’s Princess, Larry King asked many people who knew Diana, some officially and some more personally, for their favorite memories.

Sir Richard Branson recalls Diana sitting in the cockpit of one of his private planes with baby Prince William on her lap; as they flew past Windsor Castle she announced, “On our right you have Grandma’s house!” Heather Mills, who, like Diana, has been a tireless campaigner for charitable causes, recalls Diana’s work to eradicate the scourge of land mines, as well as the time she was photographed shaking hands with an AIDS patient in a London hospital, doing so much to counteract the stigma associated with the disease at the time. British radio and television personality Chris Tarrant recalls how clearly nervous he was upon meeting Diana for the first time, and how she put him at ease with an incredibly rude joke about Kermit the Frog. Photographer Tim Graham remembers Diana lying on the floor with baby William in order to coax a smile from the young prince. And her chief bodyguard recalls how happy and at peace she seemed on the day he agreed to her simple request: to be allowed to walk, truly alone for once, along a beautiful, deserted beach.

Some of these recollections are warm and intimate, celebrating Diana for her ability to make a human connection with everyone she met, others are perceptive and revealing, even about Diana’s human failings and frailties. Together, they coalesce into a multifaceted portrait of a woman that the world has long desired to know a little better.

Customer Reviews:

Horrible.......2007-08-09

You know its bad when you have Barbara Eden as one of the people who pay tribute to Diana. Yes that Barbra Eden as in "I Dream of Jeannie". Did I miss something? The book's title suggests that the tributes are written by "those who knew her best" Who are these people coming out of the woodwork..Tyra Banks, Donald Trump, etc. Some of these people never even met her how can they know her best? I am a die hard Diana fan and have most of her books but I must say this one put me to sleep. Did you ever hear the expression,"I was so bored I couldn't kill myself"? Well lets just say it was that bad. Don't waste your time nor money. If you really must read this just go to the library. This has got to be the worst Diana book I have ever read.

King of Cashing In on The Anniversary.......2007-07-22

Unlike the other reviewers to date, I disliked this book and found it a bid to cash in on the anniversary of Princess Diana's death. How well did Larry King - or many of those who contributed to the book - really know her?

I usually enjoy compilations and had there been more substance, this would have been no exception. Instead, I found the book shallow and barely skims the surface. Perhaps these people did know her, but after reading the book, a more appropriate title would seem to be ".... From Those Who Met Her". I wanted to like this book, but it was like going to dinner and getting only a few hors d'oeuvres.

Tributes to Diana from her friends and fans from the heart.......2007-07-21

A really wonderful book--a series of tributes to the late Princess of Wales by people from all walks of life, the famous and not so famous.The tributes are from people who knew Diana and met her and some were close friends, some were from people who admired her and were inspired. Each tribute is a vignette from one paragraph to several pages summing up their impressions of Diana and their experiences. Among these are: Larry King, Donald Trump,Sarah Bradford, Heather Mills, Joan Collins, Barbara Eden, Richard Kay, Twiggy, Catherine Walker, Tessa Dahl, and Ken Wharfe. I was moved by Tessa Dahl, a contemporary of the late Princess, she wrote about the parallel lives she and the Princess led and her story was quite moving. Bravo to Heather Mills who wrote in her tribute: "Remember--monuments are not erected to those who criticize, but rather to those who have been criticized." I also liked actr Christopher Biggins tribute and agreed fully when he wrote: "The biggest mistake of her (Diana's)life was to fall in love with her husband. If she hadn't cared for him so much it would have made everything easier to deal with. I don't think anyone had ever taken her aside and explained that her husband had a mistress. She was too young and innocent..." This is a vivid book that captures the personality of Diana. I do have several quibbles but these don't detract from the excellence and spirit of this book. One is that in Joan Hanger's tribute she writes that Will Carling "admitted" having an affair with Diana. I don't recall this happening and Carling who was in the middle of a nasty divorce would not have said a word. And those who knew the late Princess deny that there ever was a physical affair. The second is that in the Timeline at the end of the book, James Hewitt is said to be the man that Diana conversed with on the Squidgy Gate tapes, it was not Hewitt but James Gilbey. The third is the rather sour "tribute" by Dickie Arbiter who seems to pay tribute a little too grudgingly. I am thankful that Joan Rivers was not asked to pay "tribute" to Diana particularly after her rather acid appraisal of Diana after she died (she was invited to Charles and Camilla's wedding and appeared on Larry King and added particularly nasty comments about Diana). This is a fantastic book, Diana fans will want to buy this.

The People's Princess: Cherished.............2007-01-18

Excellent book - reading and pictures - adore Princess Diana's legacy.

Diana: A Tribute to the People's Princess

Average customer rating:

This is an excellent book for everyone.
A must-have for Diana book collectors!!
This is a very excellent tribute to Diana.
This book was excellent it had some different photos
This is one great book!

Diana: A Tribute to the People's Princess
Peter Donnelly
Manufacturer: Courage Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0762403268

Customer Reviews:

This is an excellent book for everyone........1999-03-11

This book has been in my collection since its publication and has been read many times. It's still difficult to believe that this beautiful, young princess is no longer on her earthly sojourn but has moved on to a much better place.

The forward is written by The Reverend Tony Lloyd who is The Executive Director of The Leprosy Mission. The following quote is taken from the foreward on page 11: "Leprosy may not be mentally and physically damaging, but it is often erroneously seen as a curse from the gods, and the 'victims' then become outcasts. Since Diana herself was the frequent victim of pain and anguish, she had a special empathy for those who suffered in the same way. It is not a coincidence that five of her six remaining charities are associated with stigma.

"She was charismatic, witty, and, above all, a womain of extraordinary compassion. This was demonstrated both in the limelight and, more often, when there were no cameras or reporters present." So many times, one tends not to read the preface or the forward of a book and, often, valuable information can be gleaned from these. I, for one, feel that the last sentence of the above quote is crucial since there are still may people who think that Diana did everything in full view of cameras.

If one collects books on Diana, this book is a must. There is not any new material, there are several pictures not seen before; however, as with all books, it is presented in a different format and style. One is taken through Diana's life as a toddler, as a small girl, as a teenager, as an adult, and lastly, through her funeral service and to her final resting place on the small oval island at Althrop - her ancestral home.

Following are three quotations of Diana's: "I shall get married when I am sure that I am in love, so that we will never be divorced," said by Diana as a small girl - page 15. On page 30, "I thought I was the luckiest girl in the world when I looked at Charles through my veil. I had tremendous hope in my heart." On page 72, "I think the biggest disease this world suffers from in this day and age is the disease of people feeling unloved, and I know that I can give love for a minute, for half an hour; for a day, for a month, but I can give. I'm very happy to do that and I want to do that."

This is a great, but sad tribute to the late Diana, Princess of Wales. This book contains many beautiful pictures in color and a few in black and white. This book is a must for anyone who collect books on Diana, Princess of Wales.

A must-have for Diana book collectors!!.......1999-02-06

Just when you think that you've read all there is about the late POW, along comes this well-written volume. It wasn't just the same old text with a few changes of words to make you think it was all new. I really found this book refreshing in content. One of the best coverages of the funeral I've read to date! Also pictures that I had not seen previously--and I have an embarrassingly large collection of them! However, while you're waiting for this book at Amazon.com to be released, I purchased mine at Waldenbooks on the clearance table for $2.99. I was shocked to see such a great book at such a steal, it's definatly worth the asking price here!

This is a very excellent tribute to Diana........1998-05-15

I have a few books about Diana, but this one, A Tribute to the People's Princess, I found to be very excellent. It shows Diana in many pictures in her different roles in life:Princess of Wales, mother, wife and humanitarian. I recommend everyone who wants to learn more about Princess Diana, to read this book, you'll be glad you did.

This book was excellent it had some different photos.......1998-04-02

I have many books on Diana and was pleased to see this one come out. It has nice colourful pictures of her and some different poses. Highly recommend it.

This is one great book!.......1997-11-22

This is an awsome book on Lady Diana. It has TONS of pictures. I enjoyed it ALOT!!

Diana, An Amazing Life: The People Cover Stories, 1981-1997

Average customer rating:

Good stuff but not really worth the money if you stil have the magazine issues
Diana Our England,s Rose
Diana covers - brought back lots of memories!
DIANA AN AMAZING LIFE FROM PEOPLE MAGAZINE
none

Diana, An Amazing Life: The People Cover Stories, 1981-1997
Editors of People Magazine
Manufacturer: People
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 193382106X

Customer Reviews:

Good stuff but not really worth the money if you stil have the magazine issues.......2007-10-11

Kind of a start to finish collection of selected People Diana covers/articles. It's nice to look through and read (would make a nice keepsake for the Diana fan)- especially if you missed some issues like I certainly did- but not really worth buying if you still have the original copies in good condition. I don't regret buying it but had hoped for just a bit more than a buyer gets here. There was a paperback edition out at first, haven't seen it recently, only slightly cheaper but this version would be the one to get for durability.

Diana Our England,s Rose.......2007-10-01

Hi, I bought my People Magazine Tribute to Diana at local B&N Bookstore and i am so happy that I did!!! I love the history of Diana,s life from the begining as alittle girl, meeting Charlas, the engaement, the births of William and HARRY,diana,s sister in-law Sarah, her marriage troubles and diana rising up a Pheonix the fire bird.I am so glad Dodi made Diana so happy. I love all the colour photos!!! BIG CHEERS TO PEOPLE MAGAZINE!!!!

Diana covers - brought back lots of memories!.......2007-09-14

I really enjoyed this re-visit to the People covers! It was a great way to look back!

DIANA AN AMAZING LIFE FROM PEOPLE MAGAZINE.......2007-09-10

THIS WAS AN EXCELLANT BOOK WITH BEAUTIFUL PICTURES AND ARTICLES AND IT LEFT YOU FEELING LIKE YOU KNEW THE PRINCESS FROM THE BEGINNING OF HER LIFE TO THE END. AN EXCELLENT TRIBUTE TO HER LIFE.

none.......2007-09-04

I would have liked to see a book with more of the People stories, not just the covers.

The Day I Met Diana Princess of Wales: the People's Story

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The Day I Met Diana Princess of Wales: the People's Story
S. Hills
Manufacturer: Long Barn Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Average customer rating:

Colorful Photograph Book Of The Life Of Diana
Satisfying and colorful

Diana: The People's Princess
Melissa Burdick Harmon
Manufacturer: Metrobooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1586635816

Book Description

Devoted mother, dedicated charity supporter, and beautiful fashion icon, Princess Diana was, above all, a compassionate person who won the hearts of people everywhere. Through 125 photos and intriguing commentary, this is a look back at this amazing woman's life: her fairy-tale rise from shy young girl to Princess of Wales, her crumbling marriage, her triumph as a strong, independent, world-renowned figure, and her tragic death at too young an age. This magnificent treasury shows her as a teen; a teacher's assistant and nanny; a blushing bride whose wedding was watched by millions worldwide; a mother nurturing her sons, an influential fashion plate whose every dress was closely scrutinized; a public figure hobnobbing with celebrities such as John Travolta; and most importantly, as a kind and generous human being comforting the desperately sick and injured. Every warm image reveals why she was known as the "People's Princess."

Customer Reviews:

Colorful Photograph Book Of The Life Of Diana.......2004-12-20

This book covers Diana's entire life including baby pictures of her. The color photographs are large-size and high quality. The book is suitable to place on a coffee table. The informative text fully explains the more than 125 photographs included in the book. If you like Diana you will love this book and not be disappointed. Enjoy!

Satisfying and colorful.......2003-04-14

Diana: The People's Princess is a lavish picture book provides a close-up of Princess Diana's life, providing over a hundred photos and a lively text which chronicles the progress of her life both before and after her marriage to Charles. Fans of Diana who want a coffee table celebration of her accomplishments will find Diana: The People's Princess to be satisfying and colorful.

Diana, Princess of Wales: Young Royalty (Childhood of World Figures)

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Diana, Princess of Wales: Young Royalty (Childhood of World Figures)
Beatrice Gormley
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1416900217

Book Description

Diana Spencer grew up to be the princess of Wales. But when she was a little girl, she did not dream she would become a princess. When she was still quite young, her older sisters went off to boarding school and her parents decided to live apart. This was very difficult for sensitive Diana, and her self-esteem began to suffer. Things were not helped when she began feeling inferior to not only an accomplished older sister, but also her clever younger brother. Diana was a good athlete and was gifted at connecting with other people. Still, she struggled to find her place in the world. Diana thought marrying the prince of Wales would make everything okay in her life. Joining the royal family did bring her some happiness, but in other ways it brought her tremendous pain.

Read about the little girl who struggled to find herself and became one of the most famous and beloved women in history.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful!.......2000-11-15

Obviously, this is not the life story or a novel about Princess Diana. For what it is (basically a coffee table book) this is a gorgeous collection of photos. I am a collector of such portrait books, so I didn't see many pics never before published. But for the reasonable price, this is a worthy purchase.

The Diana Years.......2000-09-23

This is a beautiful tribute to Diana. Although Diana's years have ended she will be remembered for many years to come.

A Fitting Tribute To The Diana Years........2000-01-02

This commemorative volume celebrates the unique magic of the Princess of Wales. The book features a superb collection of photographs of Diana and her life, that was updated and expanded after her death. Major chapters are: Farewell, Shutter Bugged, Once Upon A Time, Hands-on Mom, The Princess at Peace, and much more. A sufficient amount of text accompanies the wealth of large, full color, sharp, candid photos. A must for fans of Diana. Completely indexed. A welcome 5-star addition to your home library.

This is great book for a princess who graced so many covers........1999-01-28

Diana, Princess of Wales, was a favorite for the cover of People Magazine as he was with many other magazines throughout the world. This is a marvelous book which captures the late Princess in some of her most glamourous and elegant moments. This could easily be called a photographic-biography, and, it is a book which I have looked at and read many times. As far as I am concerned, Diana is a person who is glamourous whether she is wearing the most expensive dress or a simple pair of jeans.

"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

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful pictures.......2000-05-01

This book is very well designed with all its colored pictures that are just so beautiful. Please visit angelfire.com/journal/grahamw to see my sale of this book.

Average customer rating:

A nice tribute
This is a great tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales.

Diana: the people's princess
Nicholas Owen
Manufacturer: Readers Digest
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0762100753

Customer Reviews:

A nice tribute.......2004-01-09

Like much of the rest of the world, I was captivated by then-Lady Diana Spencer as she became known to the world through her association with Prince Charles, and I followed the developments with interest through the build-up to the royal wedding, the early marriage, the difficult years, and finally, Diana's tragic death in Paris in 1997. Her death was a stunning blow to many; one is reminded of the song 'you don't know what you've got 'till it's gone', for the world seemed to stop for the tragedy, which is still being played out in various sectors to this day.

There really was a fairy-tale aspect to Diana's life - she was always larger than life, and being perhaps the most photogenic royal of all time, every newspaper, periodical and media outlet wanted to be on hand to document her every move. This was certainly no fairy-tale existence for her, as she recounted in various ways to her few friends; one will likely never know the complete story of her life and death, but there are enough strands about that one can piece together happy times and sad times.

This particular book is one of the many that appeared shortly after her death, as people everywhere scrambled to get a last remembrance or memorial of Diana, as if her death would stop the production and sale of her story and image. It has many of the 'standard' photographs one has come to expect in any royal-family or Diana book - pictures well known now around the world from her childhood, courtship, marriage, and funeral.

The book is divided into six primary sections: Diana's Early Life; Diana and Charles; Diana the Devoted Mother; Diana, Queen of Hearts; Diana and Friends; and finally, Goodbye England's Rose. Here there is a very basic history, essentially free of controversy and strife, recounting merely the basic facts with stoicism tinted with a bit of sadness of the break-up of the world's most famous marriage. The photographs include the famous balcony scenes after the wedding, Diana alone in front of the Taj Mahal (a symbol of great love from another royal husband), Diana with her sons, and finally, pictures of the funeral and the island in the Spencer estate.

It is sad to look back after these many years at the glamourous pictures, realising the back-story that was taking place at the time. I collected royal books for many years prior to this, and this is not an exceptional book either in content or in style, but is rather made exceptional by the subject, Diana herself, and the obvious care the author (a correspondent of Independent Television Network in Britain) and compilers devoted in bringing things so quickly to the public.

More will be written of Diana, surely, but the record of Diana must certainly be a visual one, complete with photographs, and this collection represents many of the best.

This is a great tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales........1999-03-25

This was one of the first books which I purchased after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. This book has been read and appreciated many times by me. One is taken through Diana's childhood, through her teenage years, through her coursthip with Prince Charles, through her marriage, through her charities, through her untimely and tragic death, and through her funeral services. As far as I'm concerned, Dodi could have been omitted.

In the Foreward, Trevor McDonal, OBE, writes: "The sudden and tragic death of Diana, Princess of Wales affected the people of Britain and the world as perhaps no other event in modern times.

"...Her death seemed to touch the chord that unites us all as people, as members of the vast and disparate human race, as partners in the great of nations. I have come to believe that there are several reasons why this is so. Diana had become, by the time of her death, an international superstar like no other before her. Although she was no longer married to the Prince of Wales, the heir to the throne, her superstar status was underpinned by her royal connections. To all intent and purposes she was regarded by her millions of admirers as fully royal, touched by thr indescribable regal magic. Another reason is that she was stunningly beautiful, In an age when technology enables pictures to flatter their subject unashamedly, Diana's good looks outdid the photographer's art. As Shakespeare's Cleopatra was described, Diana's entrance into a room 'beggared all description.'...

"Many of us in the media knew the Princess well. She had a great sense of humor, laughed easily and was unfailingly charming. But she could also be wilful and manipulative and was always ambivalent about how much of her royal status she wanted to use and when. Diana was no saint. She made silly mistakes and even grosser misjudgements. She was not infallible. But then niether are we. Part of her charm was her vulnerability. She was very human and it is now obvious from her many tributes to her, that she was capable of showing great humanity. When it was clear that she would never be Queen of England, Diana said, with what seems like wonderful prescience, that she wanted to be Queen of People's Hearts, The People's Princess. The response by the pepople to her death suggests that she achieved, in overwhelming measure, everything that she wanted to be.

"The undoubted value of this book lies in the simple fact that the images it contains will never die...the pictures of the glamous Princess; the pictures of her with her boys, the young Princes, who she loved so much. And then there are those forever haunting images of her coffin arriving back from Paris and the panorama of scenes of her funeral on the day an entire nation stopped to pay its respects. These will be pointed at and talked about long into the twenty-first century.

"They show that in her short life, marked by pinnacles of joy and depths of despair, Diana, Princess of Wales, became an icon who captured the world's imagination as no other public figure of our time."

The above quote sums up this book. It is beautifully written and contains pictures both in color and in black and white. Anyone who collects books on Diana, Princess of Wales, will certainly want this book

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