Diana, Princess of Wales (UK)

[Auroranorth]

A sane and stable family that have not run to the press about him (other than her uncle Gary, and even then he didn't say anything terrible, but that's still not the fault of her parents/siblings) who support each other and are clearly very close and loving would definitely be a draw to someone who probably only ever saw that while growing in books and movies, or maybe with school-friends.

[Ladybug]

Has anyone watched the latest Diana documentary on HBO Max, The Princess? I started it last night and got to the point where her affair with Hewitt was exposed. The documentary has no narration or interviews, there are no "royal experts" giving their opinions. It's constructed out of archival news and film footage. There's lots of somber, maudlin music. The focus is on the media and the public's perception of Diana.

Some early takeaways-

Despite the overwhelming interest and media attention, in Diana's early interviews she was really charming, poised, and gave good answers. The charisma was off the charts.

She didn't marry Charles with any agenda to be a global superstar or activist. She just wanted to be a wife and mother and support Charles. Watching the footage of her at engagements, meeting people and having genuine conversations with them, you see how very good she was at the mundane stuff. She made people feel special and showed genuine interest. There was nothing fake about her. But later on, you can tell she's acting for the cameras a bit, example: the Taj Mahal visit.

Even in a time without the internet or social media, the documentary makes it seem like the press attention was even more intense for Diana than it ever was for Kate or Meghan. Everywhere she went there were 2-3 dozen photographers following her.

There are clips where Charles's jealousy of her popularity and irritation with her is very obvious. I have always said Charles was a deeply selfish man and this doc only reinforces it. The tension in their marriage was palpable and noticeable from very early on. It wasn't a secret, and their marriage disintegrated in the public eye.

The most modern thing about Diana in terms of the monarchy was that she wanted a real marriage and expected her husband to be faithful to her. Charles wanted to live as a bachelor and have his affairs (Camilla wasn't the only one, she was just his favorite). Diana gave him the kids, and maybe they had their happy moments, but Charles never gave 100% to the marriage. Diana brought a lot of emotional baggage to the marriage and was incredibly young, but I think if Charles had gave a better effort, she would've been happier. YMMV

So far they've covered two of her affairs, the Squidgy guy and Hewitt.

[tiggertoo]

I’ll have to check it out.

I just finally watched season 4 of The Crown. I was reluctant to watch it because it deals with modern day events that I’m familiar with. I kind of wish I hadn’t watched it. I found the actor playing Charles very annoying. He walked around with his head hunched over the entire series! And the scene where he screams at Diana because her trip to New York upset Camilla was brutal. I don’t believe there’s any factual proof of that happening. It made him seem like a monster.

And as you say, Diana had a special charisma. I don’t think the actress playing Diana could capture that.

And I still miss Claire Foy as the queen. I’m a fan of Olivia Coleman, but I don’t love her portrayal. And too much Margaret Thatcher.

Man, I have nothing good to say about the season.

[Ladybug]

Hugo Vickers has written a book debunking The Crown. The show is a compelling drama, but it shouldn't be taken as factual. I think the best historical picture of Diana and Charles's courtship, marriage, and divorce is Tina Brown's Diana Chronicles. It puts it all into perspective and gives a ton of context.

[ladyboy]

I just watched The Princess - it was interesting. Seeing Harry at the end made me feel a bit more sympathy for him and his weird press obsession - the amount of cameras following his mother was just ridiculous - although he is much more in the Charles level of interest if he were to be honest. Also, Britain! That was your moment to slough off the stupid monarchy and you missed it. (Oh, also, I hadn't realized the Queen was so busty. Deep thoughts...)

[magazinewhore]

I, too, watched The Princess. And it's well done and pretty comprehensive account of her life in the media. You definitely get the sense that she couldn't win. Her job as a princess is to be liked but she was too good at her job for the family. The misogyny of that her role is so stupefying. Be a virgin! But be sexy! But not too sexy! Be classy! But also be common! But not too common!

I agree that although Emma Corrin is very good as Diana in The Crown, she isn't as magnetic as the real Diana, which is kind of funny because you'd think attractive actors could do pull that off, but I think it speaks to the "stardust" Diana had. Diana had that ability to shape shift from innocent youth to sultry woman in a moment (or at least seem like she did). She has that thing where you literally can't take your eyes off her. I always come back to an article probably about the time of her death that asked what a princess is for, and the answer was "to be looked at." And what a fucking thankless role that is, but how well she did it.

Coming up on the anniversary of her death again. Always bittersweet to think of where she might be now. But then again, what a mess the fam has become.

[mojogirl]

I just started reading The Diana Chronicles. We're almost exactly 25 years away from her death, feels eerie reading it in these dog days of summer.

I do wonder how she would have handled aging in this age of social media.

[Ladybug]

I stumbled across this video from 1981 of Charles and Diana's first visit to Wales after they married. Look who's theme dressing in the colors of the Welsh flag! And she has a lady-in-waiting behind her taking the bouquets of flowers from her that the crowd is giving her.

[magazinewhore]

I think that Wales tour was just about when she first announced she was pregnant with William.

[Deleted]

Honestly, with every recent reference to the Prince and Princess of Wales my brain sees Charles and Diana not Will and Kate.
It just sounds so odd to me to hear them referred to as The Wales and not The Cambridge’s.
Are thier kids now known as George, Charlotte and Louis Wales or Cambridge !?