"The Princess and the President" - Valery Giscard d'Estaing, 2009

[Skydragon]

Former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing has written a novel about a passionate affair between two characters based on him and Princess Diana. The extraordinary book has caused a sensation in France, with many believing that the 83-year-old really was one of Diana’s lovers.

Read more: Diana had 'passionate affair' with the former president of France | Mail Online

[Nico]

The same news in the french press. The "Figaro" is usualy a very serious source ...

Le Figaro - Politique : Les amours romanesques de la princesse et du président

I really hope it's a bad joke.

[Skydragon]

"I kissed her hand and she gave me a questioning look, her slate-grey eyes widening as she tilted her head gently forward."
"I stood up and pushed back my chair to allow the Princess of Cardiff to sit down. She thanked me with one of those oblique looks that revealed all her charm.

Extracts: Valery Giscard d'Estaing's The Princess and the President - Telegraph

To be published next month, Giscard's "The Princess and the President" recounts the secret and passionate love of a French leader and a Welsh Princess.
President Jacques-Henri Lambertye and Princess Patricia of Cardiff meet at the closing dinner of a G7 summit at a time when the young British royal has been left miserable by her husband's adultery.


Valery Giscard d'Estaing novel hints at affair with Princess Diana - Telegraph
-----------------------------
An old mans fantasies!

[TheTruth]

*Chokes on her coffee* Now that's just hilarious . I think "fantasy" is the key word for this story…

http://www.20minutes.fr/article/3492...-l-enquete.php

[susan alicia]

Diana had 'passionate affair' with the former president of France | Mail Online

a gentleman does not tell, what a

[iowabelle]

I can't imagine that if Diana and the French president had been having an affair that some servant wouldn't have spilled the beans. If it had happened during Burrell or Ken Wharfe's times, we already would have known.

[altagrace]

I read about this novel coming out. "La princesse et le president; President Jacques-Henri Lambertye and Princess Patricia of Cardiff..."
First of all it's a novel, it's fiction, so the author can write whatever he/she wants.
I agree that VGE and Diana as an item is highly improbable.

It is amazing to me that everybody assumes the author meant Diana. Too easy, too obvious!
I think we need to look further: How about Giscard and Princess Margaret? Think about it: In the days Giscard was president- 1974-1981, P. Margaret was just separated-divorced and yes, very unhappy.
Now THAT has potential doesn't it!

Just speculating! and smiling!!

[Katrianna]

Just another person trying to make money off of Diana.

[TheTruth]

Originally Posted by altagrace

I read about this novel coming out. "La princesse et le president; President Jacques-Henri Lambertye and Princess Patricia of Cardiff..."
First of all it's a novel, it's fiction, so the author can write whatever he/she wants.
I agree that VGE and Diana as an item is highly improbable.

It is amazing to me that everybody assumes the author meant Diana. Too easy, too obvious!
I think we need to look further: How about Giscard and Princess Margaret? Think about it: In the days Giscard was president- 1974-1981, P. Margaret was just separated-divorced and yes, very unhappy.
Now THAT has potential doesn't it!

Just speculating! and smiling!!

That would make a great story indeed!

I totally agree on the speculative part - there's absolutely no genuine proof we can rely on to affirm that these two people are without a doubt VGE and Diana.

However, I think the author had a wonderful time concocting this little fiction, slipping in details and allusions.
President Jacques-Henri Lambertye: composed name, just like VGE and we didn't have many president with long names.

Princess Patricia of Cardiff: Now, this one is quite obvious I believe. "Patricia" is a name with "a" and "i", just like in Diana. The fact he chose the title of "Princess" rather than Duchess or Countess and even more evidently, he took the city of Cardiff, capital of Wales… (of all places!)
Finally, she's being nicknamed 'Pat' on various occasions in the book… Wonder if it has anything to do with people calling Diana, 'Princess Di', especially in France.

Now I'm really trying to think "coincidence" here!

I guess VGE was bored of only existing in the mind of people like a President who did quite a few wrong things during his term and who's now at the Constitutional Council, deciding on issues that the average French doesn't even care about… He just wants his little fame shot.

[Lighthouse]

pray tell it's not true!

[TheTruth]

Giscard says he invented the facts.

Le Figaro - Politique : Giscard sur Lady Di : «J'ai inventé les faits»

With Google Translator (quite a bad translation but you can decipher the essential info):
Google Traduction

[Mermaid1962]

I wish my French were better, TheTruth. The Google link isn't working for me.

Originally Posted by TheTruth

Giscard says he invented the facts.

Le Figaro - Politique : Giscard sur Lady Di : «J'ai inventé les faits»

With Google Translator (quite a bad translation but you can decipher the essential info):
Google Traduction

[TheTruth]

Originally Posted by Mermaid1962

I wish my French were better, TheTruth. The Google link isn't working for me.

No worries Here's to catch up: "I invented princess love story": France's Giscard - Yahoo! News

I believe it's obvious he invented it - Diana was cured of going out with older men after her rather erratic relationship with Charles.
In 1984, during the first problems in the royal couple, VGE was already 58 *gasps!*

It's however very possible that the two shared long conversations and got along well. I would tend to look more into a genuine fatherly concern than any lovestory.

[Nico]

Giscard says he invented the facts

Well not a big surprise! I'm not sure it's particulary tastefull from a former head of state to first fantasize like this about a woman dead 12 years ago and second to play with the memory of Diana,a very sensitive point as we all know. The whole story is just gross.

[queenofthelight]

Here is a cover of the new Paris Match, Princess Diana on it: Paris Match, 3149, Lady Di et Valéry Giscard d'Estaing

[Grace Angel]

Yes, I think this guy was just too old for Diana to be interested, she generally didn't go for way way older men. Even Charles was only 12 years older than she. If I am not wrong, I know some of her lovers were somewhat older than her, but I believe she never was in a relationship with anyone that had more than 12 years on her ( Charles)?