The Books Princess Diana Superfans Need to Read
- 1/14
The Books Princess Diana Superfans Need to Read
There are two types of Princess Di fans: Those who got up super-early to watch the royal wedding in 1981, then did so again to cry buckets during her funeral in 1997 and later bought the purple Beanie Baby that bore her name. Then there are those who are just recently hopping on the fandom train, thanks to the fourth season of The Crown. Welcome to those of you who are just arriving to this party: The drama is spicy, the outfits are fabulous and the story is the stuff of legends.
If you're looking for more information about what it was really like for Diana moving within the Windsor inner circle, you're in luck. She spilled the royal tea in the biography, Diana: Her True Story — in Her Own Words written by Andrew Morton, which likely informed part of the TV show. But there are lots more books about Princess Diana where that came from, including tell-alls from people who knew her well, and even fictionalized accounts that pull from the headlines we all devoured at the time. Consider the below your royal reading list, if you're not ready to leave the Windsor grounds behind just yet.
- 2/14
1) Diana: Her True Story
Andrew Morton
amazon.com
$33.99
This raw, compelling biography caused major drama when it first came out because Diana had secretly recorded herself and sent the tapes to Morton through a go-between. It pulled back the curtain on Diana and the highly secretive royal family. This one's a must-read for Diana fans.
- 3/14
2) The Diana Chronicles
Tina Brown
amazon.com
$16.69
Written by the former Vanity Fair and Tatler editor, this book came out of 250 exhaustive interviews with those closest to the late princess. This juicy tome dives into the cast of women who surrounded her, from her own mother and stepmother to the enigmatic Queen, bad-girl Fergie and the other woman, Camilla Parker-Bowles.
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- 4/14
3) Remembering Diana: A Life in Photographs
National Geographic
amazon.com
$22.28
If you're also obsessed with Diana's sartorial style (and who isn't?) this gorgeous coffee table book documents the most memorable moments in her too-short life. More than 100 photographs from her childhood through her courtship, royal wedding and work during her tenure give us a look into her life.
- 5/14
4) Diana: Closely Guarded Secret
Inspector Ken Wharfe
amazon.com
$23.41
Diana's bodyguard knew her better than most, since it was literally his job to stay close to her. This biography offers an insider look at her difficult years in the royal family from someone who was there for the whole thing.
- 6/14
5) The Diana I Knew: Loving Memories of the Friendship Between an American Mother and Her Son's Nanny Who Became the Princess of Wales
Mary Robertson
amazon.com
$16.20
Back when she was still Diana Spencer, the future Princess of Wales babysat Robertson's son. The American businesswoman and Diana eventually became lifelong friends, giving her an intimate perspective on Di's youth and the qualities that she retained even as her life changed.
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- 7/14
6) Dressing Diana
Tim Graham and Tamsin Blanchard
amazon.com
$148.78
Diana turned heads just about every time she stepped outside, and for good reason. This collection focuses on her fabulous outfits, which still inspire our closets today.
- 8/14
7) Diana: Finally, the Complete Story
Sarah Bradford
amazon.com
$24.99
As a career biographer, Bradford has revealed the stories of Queen Elizabeth, Princess Grace and even Jackie Kennedy. While less salacious than some other accounts on this list, her version offers a factual walk through Diana's life for those who want all the details.
- 9/14
8) A Royal Duty
Paul Burrell
amazon.com
$20.00
Written by the man who worked as Diana's butler during her marriage and for several years after, this book captures what it was really like to work for her. It's emotional, open and a unique take on what life in the spotlight was like for the princess and her real personality.
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- 10/14
9) Diana In Search of Herself: Portrait of a Troubled Princess
Sally Bedell Smith
amazon.com
$39.36
If you've read anything about Diana, you know her path through life was far from smooth. She struggled in ways The Crown doesn't even touch on, but this book does. It covers her trials, triumphs and where she fit into the royal realm.
- 11/14
10) The Day Diana Died
Christopher Andersen
amazon.com
$12.95
On August 31, 1997, Diana died in a car accident in Paris, France, alongside Dodi Al Fayed and the car's driver, Henri Paul. This book lays out the events and circumstances that set the stage for her death, as well as the aftermath that's still not fully resolved.
- 12/14
11) Diana in Private: The Princess Nobody Knows
Lady Colin Campbell
amazon.com
$29.95
The British aristocrat Lady Colin Campbell made waves when she first put out this gossipy tell-all. It's racy, saucy and should probably be taken with a pinch of salt. But it's also worth adding to your royal repertoire, even if we wouldn't call it definitive.
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- 13/14
12) Untold Story: A Novel
Monica Ali
amazon.com
$15.00
This revisionist history imagines what would have happened if Diana had survived the car crash and continued on her journey into middle age and beyond. It's propulsive and will satisfy those who can't help but ask themselves, "What if?"
- 14/14
13) Who Was Princess Diana?
Ellen Labrecque
amazon.com
$3.99
For kids who've caught royal fever and want to learn more, this chapter book will fit the bill. It also offers a nice complement to the Disney princess canon, if you'd like to give aspiring royals a look at what the job really looks like.
When you've finished the hit TV show, read these.
