Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words - A Review of the Book by Andrew Morton that Tells the Real Story of Princess Diana

Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words - A Review

If you are a fan of Princess Diana or interested in her life story, you might have heard of or read the book Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words by Andrew Morton. This book is considered to be one of the most revealing and controversial biographies of the late princess, as it was based on her own secret recordings and interviews with her close friends and family. In this article, we will review the book and its main themes, as well as its reception and impact on Diana's life and legacy.

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Introduction

Who is Andrew Morton?

Andrew Morton is a British journalist and author who specializes in celebrity biographies. He has written books about celebrities such as Madonna, Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie, Monica Lewinsky, Meghan Markle and others. He is best known for his 1992 book Diana: Her True Story, which was later updated and republished as Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words in 1997 after Diana's death.

What is the book about?

The book is a biography of Princess Diana, based on her own words and accounts from her close friends and family. It covers her childhood, her marriage to Prince Charles, her struggles with bulimia, depression and self-harm, her role as a mother and a public figure, her affair with James Hewitt, her divorce from Prince Charles, and her death in a car crash in Paris. The book reveals many shocking and intimate details about Diana's life that were previously unknown or hidden from the public.

Why is the book important?

The book is important because it gives a voice to Diana, who felt silenced and misunderstood by the royal family and the media. It also exposes the dark side of the royal marriage and the pressures that Diana faced as a princess. The book also shows Diana's courage, compassion, charisma and humanity, which made her one of the most beloved and admired women in the world. The book also influenced public opinion and sympathy towards Diana, especially after her death.

The main themes of the book

Diana's childhood and family background

The book reveals that Diana had a troubled childhood, marked by her parents' divorce when she was six years old. She felt abandoned by her mother, who left her father for another man. She also felt rejected by her father, who remarried a woman that Diana disliked. She grew up feeling lonely and insecure, craving for love and attention. She attended boarding schools where she was bullied by other girls for being shy and clumsy. She also suffered from dyslexia, which affected her academic performance.

Diana's marriage and relationship with Prince Charles

The book reveals that Diana's marriage to Prince Charles was unhappy and doomed from the start. She met him when she was 16 years old, and he was 12 years older than her. He was already in love with Camilla Parker Bowles, who was married to another man. He proposed to Diana because he felt pressured by his family and the public to find a suitable bride. Diana accepted his proposal because she was naive and romantic, and she hoped that he would love her. However, she soon realized that he was cold and distant, and that he was still seeing Camilla behind her back. She felt betrayed and humiliated by his infidelity, and she tried to win his love by changing herself to please him. She also tried to cope with her loneliness and frustration by developing bulimia, a eating disorder that made her binge and purge food.

Diana's struggles with bulimia, depression and self-harm

The book reveals that Diana suffered from bulimia for most of her adult life, starting from the early days of her marriage. She used food as a way of escaping from her emotional pain and stress. She also suffered from depression, anxiety and low self-esteem, which made her feel worthless and hopeless. She also attempted to commit suicide several times, by cutting her wrists, throwing herself down the stairs, or overdosing on pills. She felt trapped and desperate in her marriage, and she did not receive any support or help from the royal family or the palace staff. She also felt misunderstood and harassed by the media, who constantly scrutinized and criticized her appearance, behavior and actions.

Diana's role as a mother and a public figure

The book reveals that Diana's greatest joy and achievement was being a mother to her two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. She loved them unconditionally and devotedly, and she tried to give them a normal and happy childhood. She also tried to protect them from the negative effects of the royal life and the media attention. She also wanted them to be compassionate and caring towards others, especially those who were less fortunate or suffering. She took them to visit homeless shelters, hospitals, orphanages and other places where they could see the reality of the world.

The book also reveals that Diana was a natural and charismatic public figure, who used her fame and influence for good causes. She was involved in many humanitarian and charitable activities, such as supporting AIDS patients, landmine victims, children in need, cancer research and others. She was not afraid to touch or hug people who were sick or injured, breaking the protocol and stigma that surrounded them. She also used her fashion sense and style to convey messages and emotions, such as wearing bright colors to cheer up people or wearing black to mourn someone's death. She was admired and loved by millions of people around the world, who saw her as a role model and an inspiration.

Diana's affair with James Hewitt and divorce from Prince Charles

The book reveals that Diana had an affair with James Hewitt, a former cavalry officer who was her riding instructor. She met him in 1986, when she was 25 years old, and he was 28 years old. He was handsome, charming and attentive, and he gave her the love and affection that she craved for. He also helped her overcome her fear of horses, which she developed after a riding accident. They had a passionate and secret relationship for five years, until 1991, when they broke up because of the media exposure and pressure.

The book also reveals that Diana decided to divorce Prince Charles in 1992, after their marriage became irreparable. They had been living separately for years, and they had no communication or intimacy. They also had different interests and personalities, which made them incompatible. They also had different visions for their roles as royals, as Diana wanted to be more modern and progressive, while Charles wanted to be more traditional and conservative. They also had different views on parenting their sons, as Diana wanted them to be more independent and adventurous, while Charles wanted them to be more disciplined and dutiful.

The reception and impact of the book

How did the book come to be?

The book came to be because Diana wanted to tell her side of the story, after years of being silenced and misrepresented by the royal family and the media. She contacted Andrew Morton in 1991, through a mutual friend, Dr James Colthurst. She agreed to cooperate with him on writing a biography about her life, on the condition that it would be kept secret until it was published. She recorded six tapes of her voice, answering questions that Morton sent to her through Colthurst. She also gave him access to her personal letters, photographs and documents. She also asked some of her close friends and family members to speak to Morton on her behalf.

How did the public and the media react to the book?

a bestseller. It also sparked a media frenzy and a public debate about Diana's life and the royal marriage. Some people praised the book for being honest and courageous, and they sympathized with Diana's plight and admired her strength. They also criticized the royal family and Prince Charles for being cold and cruel, and they demanded that they treat Diana better and respect her wishes. Other people condemned the book for being disloyal and sensationalist, and they blamed Diana for betraying the royal family and damaging the monarchy. They also accused her of being selfish and unstable, and they questioned her motives and credibility.

How did the book affect Diana's life and legacy?

The book had a profound effect on Diana's life and legacy. On one hand, it gave her a sense of relief and empowerment, as she felt that she had finally spoken her truth and freed herself from the shackles of the royal life. It also gave her more confidence and independence, as she decided to pursue her own interests and passions, such as humanitarian work, fashion, art and culture. It also gave her more popularity and respect, as she became a global icon and a champion of the people.

On the other hand, it also brought her more problems and challenges, as she faced more scrutiny and hostility from the royal family and the media. It also made her more vulnerable and isolated, as she lost some of her friends and allies who were loyal to the royal family. It also made her more restless and unhappy, as she struggled to find love and peace in her personal life. It also made her more exposed and endangered, as she became a target of paparazzi and conspiracies.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words is a remarkable book that tells the story of one of the most fascinating and influential women in history. It reveals the joys and sorrows, the triumphs and tragedies, the hopes and fears of Princess Diana, who lived a life that was both extraordinary and ordinary. It also shows the impact that she had on the world, both during her life and after her death. It is a book that is worth reading for anyone who wants to know more about Diana, or who wants to be inspired by her courage, compassion and charisma.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about the book:

• Q: Is the book accurate and reliable?

• A: The book is based on Diana's own words and accounts from her close friends and family, so it is accurate from her perspective. However, it may not be objective or balanced, as it does not include other perspectives or opinions from other sources. It may also contain some errors or exaggerations, as Diana may have misremembered or embellished some details.

• Q: How did Prince Charles react to the book?

• A: Prince Charles was shocked and hurt by the book, as he felt that Diana had betrayed him and exposed their private matters to the public. He also felt that the book was unfair and biased against him, as it portrayed him as a villain and ignored his side of the story. He also felt that the book damaged his reputation and credibility as a future king.

• Q: How did Diana's sons react to the book?

• A: Diana's sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, were too young to understand or read the book when it was published. They only learned about it later in their lives, when they were old enough to cope with it. They had mixed feelings about the book, as they loved their mother but they also respected their father. They also felt that the book was a personal matter between their parents, and that it should not have been made public.

• Q: Where can I get the book?

• A: You can get the book from various online platforms or physical stores that sell books. You can also download it as an ebook or an audiobook from various websites or apps.

• Q: Is there a movie or a TV show based on the book?

• A: Yes, there is a movie based on the book called Diana: Her True Story, which was released in 1993. It starred Serena Scott Thomas as Diana and David Threlfall as Charles. There is also a TV show based on the book called The Crown, which is a Netflix original series that depicts the life of Queen Elizabeth II and her family. The fourth season of the show, which was released in 2020, featured Emma Corrin as Diana and Josh O'Connor as Charles.

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