Tina Brown Reappraises Princess Diana
In a new book, The Diana Chronicles, Tina Brown, former editor of Vanity Fair and Tatler, gives a damning indictment of Diana’s character and life.
Brown claims to be a friend of the late Princess, having lunched with her in New York just weeks before she died. The book, written to coincide with the 10th anniversary of her death, is set to be a bestseller on both sides of the Atlantic.
The book is significant because of the number and quality of the people who have spoken out for the first time. It comes out just two weeks before the Concert for Diana in July, and must be causing her two sons and the organizers some considerable consternation.
Since we don’t yet have a review copy of The Diana Chronicles, here are a few juicy snippets gleaned from a newspaper account, from which you’ll gather Tina Brown didn’t think very much of her :
“Diana was a spiteful and manipulative neurotic.”
“Diana wanted a ‘guy with a Gulfstream’ [a private aircraft]”
“She loved Charles’s title more than him.”
“Charles did love Diana and wanted her back.”
“She did not throw herself downstairs [when pregnant, as she claimed in the Morton book].”
“Diana ogled herself in newspapers.”
“She would never have married Dodi.”
Strong stuff, which adds to the mountain of contradictory reportage available on her life. When accounts of a person vary quite so much as Diana’s do, it usually reflects a person who tries to be all things to all people.
Disagree John. When accounts of a person vary quite so much as Diana’s do, it reflects a lot of very disloyal people getting used to a rich and famous person to use her. With friends like these…
By kit on April 23rd, 2007 at 1:32 pm
But why are they “disloyal”, Kit?
By John on April 23rd, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Actually, John, when accounts of a person vary quite so much as Princess Diana’s do, it indicates that a number of people are cashing in on her fame and tragedy by writing “tell-all” books about her, and that is generally all it indicates. I would not believe anything Tina Brown wrote or said about anyone, especially Princess Diana. The timing of this rubbish is especially infamous.
By Gigi on April 23rd, 2007 at 2:23 pm
They are “disloyal” John because they were never truly Princess Diana’s friends during her lifetime. They are the sort who want to be close to a famous Royal to share the limelight, talk about her behind her back while she lives and then when she dies, cash in on her fame by writing books about her. There are many reprehensible people who behave this way. Many of them can be found in the media.
By Gigi on April 23rd, 2007 at 2:33 pm
“But why are they “disloyalâ€, Kit?”
1) ‘Brown claims to be a friend of the late Princess’
2) ‘you’ll gather Tina Brown didn’t think very much of her :
“Diana was a spiteful and manipulative neurotic.†‘
See any contradiction right here?
By kit on April 23rd, 2007 at 2:41 pm
But she wrote a supportive article, blaming Charles, back in 1985.
The new book has interviewed over 250 people, including Tony Blair, and these views arise out of what they say.
By John on April 23rd, 2007 at 2:45 pm
There are thousands of ways to manipulate a quote to make it say what the author of a book wants it to convey, John. This kind of misrepresentation has been going on for quite a while and has, I believe, fatally damaged the credibility and reputation of the media worldwide. If Tina Brown wrote a supportive article blaming Charles back in 1985, it is because Tina thought that position at that time would further her agenda and goals. Princess Diana is dead and Prince Charles will be king, so Tina writes a book that she thinks will make her acceptable in the corridors of Charles’ court. And, of course, make Tina a great deal of money. None of it will be mine.
By Gigi on April 23rd, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Yes, it was once thought the late Princess was taking the monarchy to a new level (In a way she did.), but the balance of power has shifted and so, naturally, have Tina’s affections.
Diana was 19 years-old when she married the Prince. To accuse a 19 year-old girl of some of the things Tina is now accusing her is very low. Everyone understands Diana was emotionally unbalanced. We also understand she died before she had the chance to emerge from the tailspin of her divorce. Let her rest.
By Mrs. Peperium on April 23rd, 2007 at 6:39 pm
Hi everyone, I just wanted to say that no matter what kind of person Diana was in private a TRUE friend would let her rest in peace. Being that she was a human being like all of us, I’m sure she had her faults, but to publicly drag the name of a woman you call your friend through the mud, when she has no chance to defend herself is simply childish. Diana spent her time caring for her children and helping those in extreme poverty, yet all she gets are her “friends”( who are aware that there is still great interest in Diana) trying to sell juicy stories about her to make an easy million ,they don’t care whether or not we know the facts about Diana, they can tell the truth about her or lie about her all they want because she is no longer here. I believe that when there is big money involved its easier and much more lucrative to lie, fib, exaggerate, and even make up stories (as with many low life tabloids) than it is to tell the truth. I think even friends of Hitler would allow him to rest in peace. I thought Princess Diana was a good, decent woman and no matter what Tina Brown or anyone else may have thought of her she deserves to have her name finally put to rest.
By Jean on April 23rd, 2007 at 6:49 pm
I agree , kit, Jean, and others, ..with friends like these. I’m saddened by Tina Brown’s desire to enrich herself off of her late friend. It’s not as if Ms. Brown needs the money. Did Diana have one really true friend, that will let her rest in peace; at this point I do wonder. Let the Princess rest in peace.
By mandy on April 23rd, 2007 at 8:42 pm
Enough is enough.
By Pri on April 23rd, 2007 at 11:40 pm
Thanks Mandy, I’m sure most of us can say that when someone we love dies we don’t have to worry much about people stomping all over their memory. Diana may have been the “People’s Princess” but she was also a mother, a daughter, and a sister and all of this really isn’t fair to them. She is no longer public property and all these books about Diana, whether its to praise her or degrade her, really should come to end.
By Jean on April 24th, 2007 at 12:18 am
Just another wannabe journalist who probably met Diana once than had deluded herself into thinking Diana was her friend. there are many journalists who claimed to know her well and wrote sugary sweet tales while she was married to the POW but once she divorced him and then died the cattiness and currying favor with the court of Charles seemed to be the agenda. I say let Diana rest in peace after ten very long years and boycott this trash of a book. As for Tony Blair I am sure he only met her once he became PM and nothing more.
By Trudie on April 24th, 2007 at 1:33 am
Well said and right on the mark as well! Thank you for posting that, Trudie, I agree with you.
By Gigi on April 24th, 2007 at 2:59 am
Thanks Gigi and I also agree with you none of the money she makes off this book will be mine either. I also didn’t buy Burrells second book for the very reason why enrich the pockets of so called friends and confidents when she is not here to defend herself. I believe the only true friend she had was Lucia Flecha de Lima a lady of true discretion.
By Trudie on April 24th, 2007 at 11:41 am
“Did Diana have one really true friend, that will let her rest in peace; at this point I do wonder.”
Hasnat Khan. He really loved the princess and could have made millions from his stories of her. Instead he lives in a cramped flat, and only makes money from heart surgery to send to his family in Pakistan. A great man.
By kit on April 24th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
Kit you are also correct but Lucia was friends with the Princess longer than most throughout the eighties. Hasnat Khan was the one man to truly keep his friendship with Diana under wraps.
By Trudie on April 25th, 2007 at 1:36 am