The Day Diana Died

 

I don't really read a lot about the royal family, but I was curious about this book.  Anderson has written a complete story of the accident, the people involved, and Diana's life leading up to the end of it.  It is a fascinating account, if occasionally a bit too involved.

(also, he definitely needed a proof reader!  Entirely too many typos...maybe it was because it was the Kindle edition).

Whenever I read anything about the royal family, I realize how dysfunctional the family is.  When Charles was growing up and his mother was away for several months, when she came home, she didn't hug him, she shook his hand.

The coldness of Elizabeth after Diana's death is very difficult to read.  Her only concern was finding out whether Diana had any royal jewels, which should be returned to the palace immediately. She seemed surprised that so many people around the world were shocked by Diana's death and she had to be convinced to allow a public funeral...after all she had removed Diana from the royal family and so she didn't deserve to have a public funeral!

It was also surprising, and somewhat comforting, to read of Charles' response to learning of the death of his ex-wife.  It wasn't until she died that he realized that he really did love her.

Diana was not the person many think she was.  She had her faults as well, though her treatment by the Royal family and her forced marriage to a man who was in love with someone else had a great deal to do with how she behaved after their split.  But she was an amazing mother and dedicated herself to many charities.  Her death had a great movement on changing the monarchy.

Elizabeth was lucky that she lived long enough after her chilly response to Diana's death that she was loved by the time she died!

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