Click for the photo at Times LIVE

 American admirers of the late Princess Diana should take advantage of an opportunity to visit a traveling exhibit, organized by Earl Spencer, now showing at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania until December 31, 2009.

Earl Spencer appeared on The Today Show last week and was interviewed by Matt Lauer. Among the objects brought by Spencer for the interview were the beautiful black, cleavage-baring Jacques Azagury dress worn on the Princess’s last birthday, for her last public engagement; a large, red pedal car from their childhood; and her autographed pink ballet slippers. He also brought some family films which I have never seen, including footage of the family leaving Diana’s christening and some charming film of Frances in slacks, rolling around on the ground and playing with her children.

The Philadelphia exhibit contains other Diana treasures, including her wedding dress, with its matching shoes, bag and parasol. Spencer family jewels are also included. Among them is a diamond tiara but it does not appear that the tiara which was worn by the Princess at her wedding is included. The featured tiara is described as being composed of a Greek key pattern ca. 1860 and surmounted by nine associated palmettes ca. 1840. This piece struck me as being two separate tiaras which were combined, and according to a note in a previous exhibition that is precisely how the Spencers created this tiara at the end of the Victorian period. The hybrid tiara is not a very successful piece in my opinion. Some writers claim that the Princess wore this tiara, but I don’t remember Diana ever wearing this larger Spencer tiara. Other RF jewel experts agree that they have no knowledge of Diana wearing the hybrid tiara in public.

Diana’s former chef, Darren McGrady, who now cooks and sells books as the Royal Chef, is preparing a brunch on Sunday, December 20, in conjunction with the exhibit. The brunch will feature some of the Royal Family’s favorite recipes. Darren’s website is http://www.theroyalchef.com.

Regular adult tickets to the regular traveling exhibit cost about $23 and should be ordered in advance. For more information about the exhibit and tickets, contact Museumtix.

For more information about the main article describing the exhibit, see Times LIVE – Princess Diana exhibition opens

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Click to see the article at the Church Times

As the 12th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death approached, some of us were convinced that we would never again see such an outpouring of grief around the world. Well this past June we were proven wrong; when Pop Icon Michael Jackson died the world once again joined forces to mourn another of their beloved figures.

The time once again approaches where I tend to stop and think about what we have learned from all this. Twelve years on, what’s left of Diana’s legacy? When doing this,  I like to work backwards from her death. After three investigations and an inquest we’re still left with a number of people doubting that her death was an accident. Personally I feel those conspiracy theories will forever remain. It doesn’t seem to matter how much evidence the police release, there will always be those who will say it’s merely a coverup. The main source of the conspiracy theories, Mohamed Fayed, Dodi Fayed’s father, decided after the inquest to end his decade-long quest for his version of justice. For many fans including myself it was a relief. After his humiliating performance at the inquest I too agreed that it was time for Mr. Fayed to end his charade. Read more…

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 If you thought anything more out-of-place and ridiculous couldn’t be done after Mohamed Fayed’s Diana-Dodi statue enterprise, then think again. Since the 4th of July, you can come across the Diana – The People’s Princess exhibit at Downtown Disney. Among the personal objects, you’ll encounter many unseen ones, especially for the American public. That’s what the ad says.

When you think about the Disney Princesses, the names of Princess Aurora, Cinderella, and Snow White come to your mind… Soon Diana? Now lets be serious for a moment: Since when, of all places in the US, do you have to make an exhibition at Disney to gather a few coins for charities… Especially when the one concerned isn’t a pink Minnie Mouse but a deceased former royal.

If some still want to give it a try, it’s open until November 30, 2009. And yes, you’ll have to pay: $14.50 for adults and $5.00 for children (even kiddies have to pay at Disney: not fair.)

All we can hope for is that no one will have the sick idea to depict her life on Cartoon Network… (wouldn’t be nearly as good as the Powerpuff Girls!). There’s already a comic book which has been released today, and no, it’s not about DC comic’s Diana Prince aka Superwoman (link).

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 Princess Diana will become a comic book hero in a series called “Female Force” which honors influential women. Publishers Diamond Comic Distributors (DCD) said, “The biography will look at the admirable British icon who won hearts around the world as a princess, public figure, philanthropist and parent.” Other women already honored include Michelle Obama, Hilary Clinton, Sarah Palin and Caroline Kennedy. The princess would be the first non-American featured. 

The comic book is scheduled to be issued on July 1, which would have been the princess’s 48th birthday. The comic book publisher had not informed Clarence House about their plans.

Perhaps the comic book will include images of the princess wearing Queen Sonja’s Wonder Woman tiara?
For more information, see this article at the Daily Mail.

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 Prince William spoke openly about losing his mother, Princess Diana, at a lunch for The Child Bereavement Charity, which was once supported by Diana.

Now her eldest son is its patron.

“Losing a close family member is one of the hardest experiences that anyone can ever endure,” Prince William said. “Never being able to say the word ‘mummy’ again in your life sounds like a small thing.

“However, for many, including me, it’s now really just a word — hollow and evoking only memories.

“I can therefore wholeheartedly relate to the Mother’s Day campaign as I too have felt — and still feel — the emptiness on such a day as Mother’s Day.”

The charity is launching a campaign to help others during the British version of Mother’s Day to remember their own mothers, or mothers remember their children.

For the UK, Mother’s Day falls on March 22nd.

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  In 1993, the entertainment world battened down the hatches and prepared for the bitchiest onslaught in recent times as the Kenneth Williams Diaries were published, followed by the publication of his private correspondance to friends and fans. Even those who thought they’d be praised were suprised; Michael Parkinson was taken aback to find he’d been branded a “North country nit.” A similar wave of dread must have passed over the bigwigs of the London scene when Diana Princess of Wales died: could there be diaries or letters with what she really thought laid down in black and white for all and sundry to see should some eager publisher get a-hold? Well there are letters but to the relief of many, her correspondence with top government officials won’t be published. Of course there’ll be the nutters who try and cite the Freedom of Information Act as an excuse to find out whether Diana was really talking about an international ambassador role or just flirting with the Prime Minister (isn’t that what these kind of documents only ever throw up?) but do we really need to steal any more privacy from Diana and her family?

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