Beautifully illustrated, this book looks at the nine women who have been Princesses of Wales. From Joan, the "Fair Maid of Kent," through the tragic Katharine of Aragon, Henry's VIII's first wife, and the tempestuous Caroline of Brunswick, the mistreated wife of George IV, to the present fairy-tale, headline-catching Princess, their stories are told with insight and compassion.
Long before her tragic death, Diana, Princess of Wales was a beloved modern icon, relatable to the general public in a way that transcended the barrier between royal and commoner. As a member of the royal family in an age of mass media, her fairy-tale wedding to, and painful divorce from, Prince Charles was played out on the world stage. Later, her humanitarian work for the Red Cross, her campaigns against landmines, and her work with the sick, especially AIDS victims, added a compassionate element to the royal family in the eyes of the world—and the world, ten years later, still hasn't gotten enough of Lady Di. This objective, accessible volume explores Diana's fascinating life, including her aristocratic upbringing, her whirlwind engagement to Prince Charles, her rocky marriage, her post-divorce status as global humanitarian icon, the media's frenzied treatment of her death, and her charitable legacy, including her sons' coming-of-age and their attempts to honor her memory.
Diana Spencer grew up to be the princess of Wales. But when she was a little girl, she did not dream she would become a princess. When she was still quite young, her older sisters went off to boarding school and her parents decided to live apart. This was very difficult for sensitive Diana, and her self-esteem began to suffer. Things were not helped when she began feeling inferior to not only an accomplished older sister, but also her clever younger brother. Diana was a good athlete and was gifted at connecting with other people. Still, she struggled to find her place in the world. Diana thought marrying the prince of Wales would make everything okay in her life. Joining the royal family did bring her some happiness, but in other ways it brought her tremendous pain. Read about the little girl who struggled to find herself and became one of the most famous and beloved women in history.
The title "Princess of Wales" has enjoyed a high profile in recent years, and the events of 2005 placed it once again in the spotlight. Yet until now we have lacked any published overview of the history of the title and the lives of the women who have held it. Deborah Fisher looks back to the Norman conquest of Wales, and earlier, to describe the princess's changing role, bringing the picture comletely up to date and speculating on future developments. Incorporating material from a variety of sources, she unravels a history that includes love, duty and motherhood along with adulterous passion, divorce and tragic death--a history that often repeats itself.
