June 16th 2024.
Diana's book, "Her True Story," made quite the stir when it was first published in 1992. And even after her tragic death in 1997, it continued to cause controversy. It seems like her son, Prince Harry, has followed in her footsteps with his own autobiography that sent shockwaves around the world. Titled "Spare," the book exposed Harry's experiences within the Royal Family, much like how Diana's book revealed her own struggles.
It's almost like history is repeating itself, as Diana was heavily involved in the writing of her book, which caused quite a stir at the time. "Her True Story" was released on this day, 32 years ago, on June 16, 1992. Written by Andrew Morton, the book claimed that Diana had attempted suicide multiple times and delved into her eating disorder and the breakdown of her relationship with Prince Charles. Morton claimed to have used reliable sources for the book, including Diana's friends and family, and Buckingham Palace initially denied that Diana had any involvement in its creation.
But after Diana's untimely death, it was revealed that Morton had actually worked closely with her to write the book. To maintain plausible deniability, they never met in person. Instead, Morton would send written questions to Diana through their mutual friend, James Colthurst, and she would record her answers on tapes and send them back. This was a shocking revelation, and in response to the disbelief, Morton released parts of the tapes and their transcripts to prove Diana's involvement.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams described the publication of "Her True Story" as "extraordinary for its time." He also added that Buckingham Palace was never quite sure of Diana's level of cooperation until after her death. According to him, "her support for its contents was demonstrated almost immediately when she arranged to be photographed outside the home of a former flatmate who was quoted in the book." The press reaction was divided, with some defending the royal family and others attacking Morton for his revelations.
Some of the most shocking revelations in "Her True Story" came from the secret tapes that were released after Diana's death. The book claimed that Diana had attempted suicide up to five times in the 1980s, with the first attempt being in 1982 and the last in 1986. Diana also confessed to struggling with bulimia, which she developed while on her honeymoon with Charles after he commented on her weight. She also spoke about her deep jealousy towards Camilla, who was initially thought to be a close friend, but it later came out that she had carried out three affairs with Charles while he was still married to Diana. She tried to discuss this with both Charles and Queen Elizabeth, but they both met her with silence, which only added to her pain.
In the tapes, Diana also spoke about her struggles with the constant media attention and intrusion into her life. She said, "The whole world was focusing on me. Every day, I was on the front page of the papers. And I thought this was just so appalling. I hadn't actually done anything specific like climb Mt. Everest or do something wonderful like that." This further fueled her decision to tell her side of the story through Morton's book.
The release of "Her True Story" coincided with Queen Elizabeth II's "annus horribilis" (horrible year) and marked a turning point in the public's perception of the royal family. The book's success, with over 7 million copies sold in 80 countries, also led to increased scrutiny towards Charles, which ultimately contributed to the couple's divorce at the end of 1992.
It's not clear if a similar book, written or contributed to by an active member of the royal family, could be published today. However, one thing is certain: both "Her True Story" and "Spare" have caused major rifts within the British monarchy and the public they serve. According to Fitzwilliams, "Spare" confirmed the royal family's belief that Harry and Meghan cannot be trusted. The couple's decision to step down from their royal duties and monetize their royal connections through interviews and documentaries has only added to the divide. Only time will tell if they will publish another book, but one thing is for sure, the public's fascination with the royals continues.
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