When did your opinion of Diana change and why? - Page 39

Lady Laura · #**761** 03-25-2009, 06:52 PM

My opinion of Diana has never changed, she has always made me uncomfortable.
Her marriage to Prince Charles was so painfully ill matched in every way but especially emotionally and intellectualy. These are two people who were both emotionally starved, and needed much stronger partners than the other was. I never liked how fascinated she was, not only with the press, but with celebrities. I always think she would have been quite at home snobbing it up in New York or Hollywood having her picture plastered everywhere.
I feel she had no right trying to turn a nation against its future king, and she nearly succeeded.
But two things in particular really disgusted me. One was her very unroyal behaviour of calling members of the press to tell them where she would be, so that they could turn up and snatch pics of her "unexpectedly", while she then would turn around and complain about such attention.
The other is her pathetic dalliance with that loser Dodi...her taste in men was something to be desired, the thought of him gives me the creeps.

Grace Angel · #**762** 03-28-2009, 05:15 PM

Well, Prince Charles also did things that turned people against him. He had a very old fashioned concept of the British Monarchy, thought he could have a mistress and a wife, etc. But Diana did indeed blur the line between celebrity and royalty. Her dealings with the press as you note were a mistake. Dodi was indeed a poor choice, but I doubt it would have lasted. She mostly dated losers- remember James Hewitt? But Hasnat Khan was a good choice on her part.

MARG · #**763** 03-29-2009, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grace Angel

Well, Prince Charles also did things that turned people against him. He had a very old fashioned concept of the British Monarchy, thought he could have a mistress and a wife, etc. . . . .

Not to turn this into another C.D.C. row, but the definition of a Mistress is that of a kept woman. Was she? We know they were lovers, as indeed we know Diana and Hewitt were lovers, but was he the male version of a Mistress? Were each of her lover's?

It's so easy to throw stones and blame the other side but essentially, in a marriage, you and you alone are responsible for your own actions, as indeed were Charles and Diana.

The notion that infidelity is the other partner's fault because they were unfaithful is about as valid as "He/she always makes me lose my temper and then I end up hurting her/him . . . . they made me do it!

Ugh! Adults are responsible for their own actions and there subsequent repercussions.

Grace Angel · #**764** 03-29-2009, 11:47 AM

What about that quote that you find in some books about Charles saying that his precedessors as Prince of Wales had mistresses so he expected he could too? I don't know the source (original) for this quote nor can I remember the exact wording of it. Diana and Charles certainly both had blame for the break up of their marriage though.. but this is kind of off topic for this thread, I guess.

Skydragon · #**765** 03-29-2009, 11:55 AM

I don't think it was anything that Charles actually said, just the normal invention or rumour, IMO.

Roslyn · #**766** 03-29-2009, 07:17 PM

I've always accepted he said it, but that he said it in the middle of an argument. I read an extract from Ken Wharfe's book where he described the way Charles & Diana would behave when they were having a fight: Diana would get all riled up and stomp about and Charles would be cool and in control and bait her. I can see him saying it in those circumstances.

Skydragon · #**767** 03-29-2009, 07:38 PM

Was it in Wharfes book or somewhere else Roslyn? I find it hard to believe that any man would be saying this, even in the heat of an argument.

Grace Angel · #**768** 03-30-2009, 12:23 AM

You can find it in several books, as I have read so many I'm not sure where it started. I first read it in the book about Princess Diana and fashion by Jackie Modlinger. But it has appeared in more serious books than that.

Skydragon · #**769** 03-30-2009, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grace Angel

You can find it in several books, as I have read so many I'm not sure where it started.

I am sure you can, but many books as you know parrot one another and I wondered where it originated ie, where and when did it first appear.

Lady Laura · #**770** 03-30-2009, 08:05 PM

Yes, Hasnat Khan had some substance at least...Dodi was engaged to a model during his tryst with Diana...bleh!

Roslyn · #**771** 03-30-2009, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skydragon

Was it in Wharfes book or somewhere else Roslyn? I find it hard to believe that any man would be saying this, even in the heat of an argument.

I can.

Arguments between spouses can bring out the very worst in otherwise sensitive, rational people. You are lucky to have not experienced that sort of thing.

I do not have a source for Charles actually saying the words about her seeming to want him to be the only PoW without a mistress. What I was talking about was an extract that reveals something of the dynamics of their relationship which led me to believe Charles could in fact have said those words. I finally found it. It is from Chapter 11 of Closely Guarded Secret, and appears about half way down the page linked below. Wharfe is talking about what went on when he was waiting with Diana and Charles to go to the state banquet for the King of Norway, in 1992 I think. Diana Continues To Fascinate - CBS News

I think the account of that incident shows the gulf between them, and also something of the dynamics of their relationship and the way they responded to each other. In isolation it probably doesn't mean much, but I think it does when you take into account the many statements that have been made about how they were not on the same wavelength and how Diana had a volatile temper and would get wound up and scream and rant irrationally.

Having read this account by Wharfe, I have no trouble believing that there was a pattern in which Diana had moods where she got more and more wound up and wouldn't let up or be influenced by reason. I can imagine Charles trying to remain calm but being worn down to the point where he was so exasperated he would either walk out or strike back with words he knew would have deadly effect. The Diana Wharfe was describing would certainly have driven me crazy.

Mermaid1962 · #**772** 03-30-2009, 10:46 PM

So Wharfe wasn't within earshot when the statement in question was made?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roslyn

the words about her seeming to want him to be the only PoW without a mistress. What I was talking about was an extract that reveals something of the dynamics of their relationship which led me to believe Charles could in fact have said those words. I finally found it. It is from Chapter 11 of Closely Guarded Secret, and appears about half way down the page linked below. Wharfe is talking about what went on when he was waiting with Diana and Charles to go to the state banquet for the King of Norway, in 1992 I think. Diana Continues To Fascinate - CBS News

MissBojangles · #**773** 06-11-2009, 09:08 AM

I am thirty years old, and have followed Diana since I was seven, in 1986. I first 'got into'Diana when the wedding of Andrew and Sarah was in the news, and as much as I found Fergie interesting, Diana caught my interest and that was it!

I have idolised her throughout my life, and will always support her memory, but I do acknowledge that she was a human being with real faults and didnt' always do the right thing.

I did sort of for a while feel a bit let down by Diana during her romance with Dodi Al Fayed. Not because of the man, but because of the attention seeking antics that she got up to that period (i.e making catty remarks about people etc). However, in the weeks before her death I pretty much got back to normal about my feelings for Diana.

The way I see her is that she wasn't a saint. Only a human being with some really superb qualities.

wedmonds · #**774** 06-13-2009, 08:02 PM

My opinion of Diana, Princess of Wales changed when I saw the 2006 film titled 'The Queen'. It took me into some insight on what it was like on the other side. And what the royals had to deal with putting up with this woman. I personally, do not think that she was the sweet innocent person that the papers tried to portray. I am not favoring Charles either. I am simply saying that she had her faults as well. Diana did some things to destroy that marriage by, nagging Charles all of the time, not trying to fit in with the other members of the royal family, and causing bad press for the royal family and embarrassment. The media simply does not understand what it was like for Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother who tried there best to make sure that she didn't ruin the house of Windsor. May the Queen Mother rest in peace!

sirhon11234 · #**775** 06-13-2009, 08:16 PM

The film wasn't 100% accurate.

Grace Angel · #**776** 06-15-2009, 03:55 PM

The film wasn't totally accurate as has been pointed out, but it's true that Diana had trouble fitting in with the RF. They were just different people, and I don't think you can blame the RF or Diana that they didn't mix well, they never would have, there were just too many differences.

Duchess · #**777** 06-15-2009, 06:20 PM

you do have to keep in mind that the movie was based on what was "thought" to have been going on within the royal family at the time...not actually what happened.

Mermaid1962 · #**778** 06-16-2009, 12:04 AM

Yes, that's true. I haven't seen the movie, and I'm not sure that I want to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duchess

you do have to keep in mind that the movie was based on what was "thought" to have been going on within the royal family at the time...not actually what happened.

**Zonk** · #**779** 06-16-2009, 10:27 PM

I am a "fan" of Diana's and have never seen the movie for a variety of reasons...although I do own the DVD and I heard that Helen Mirren was fantastic in it. I simply have no desire to relive that moment..as it was very upsetting.

That being said, I am pretty comfortable knowing how the Queen operates and I am going to go with the assumption thta the movie is defiintely not 100% accurate. While Tony Blair might share his thoughts and memories of the events that transpired...the Queen is comfortable with a select group of people and they would never betray her trust. Its Hollywood's idea of the actual events.

In regards to Diana's relationship with Charles, James and Hasnat....I think she was truly looking to be loved. Its a shame that the marriage with Charles didn't work out...they were in love in the beginning but didn't love each other another to fight for their love or work it out.

jcbcode99 · #**780** 06-16-2009, 10:50 PM

I think the age difference was one of the greatest undoing factors for Charles and Diana; she married him at such a young age; she went from being someone's daughter to someone's wife and had to create her identity under the watchful gaze of the media, her husband, and the Crown. That had to have been nerve-wracking. I have said, and will say again, that I do think she was a spoiled and spiteful child, and that she in many ways was still a child when she became the PoW and therefore, used childish tactics when trying to gain attention or get her way. I personally never believed the suicide attempt stories--I thought that was just more attention seeking on her part. Look at her life, her relationships, the way she would tip the press about her whereabouts--all attention seeking. Dont' get me wrong--I think she was a magnetic person, but I also think she was a manipulative person as well. I think that manipulation, childishness, and vindictive nature is what ultimately led Charles back to Camilla.
I do think, that around 34 she found herself and her purpose, and as a result, she found peace in her life; it is truly sad that she died so young.