The Princess
By Wendy Holden
Pub Date: August 1, 2023
Berkely
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
*Historical Fiction
Interesting novel! This book paints Diana as. Naive young woman who falls in love with the idea that she is in a fairy tale romance and fails to understand the reality of Prince Charles indifference and us love affair with Camille. I felt sorry for Diana.
I would recommend this for royal watchers and readers who still feel the loss of Diana years later.
4 stars

Content warning: manipulation

The Princess begins with the story of Sandy, an orphan who attends school with Diana Spencer. Sandy admires Diana for her ability to make everyone feel important and included. Sandy recognizes that Diana is someone special, but she has no idea how special and beloved her friend will one day become.

The story then jumps to Sandy's reunion with Diana, Princess of Wales in 1992. Diana tells her old friend about how her marriage to Prince Charles was orchestrated by several palace agents including Charles' grandmother The Queen Mother. Narration switches between Diana, Charles' valet, Charles, and even The Press during the period of introducing Charles to Diana and their inevitable engagement and wedding.

Diana is painted as a naive young woman who is in love with love and convinces herself that she is in a fairy tale romance with Prince Charles. She ignores the signs of Charles' indifference and his relations with Camilla Parker-Bowles. The reader can't help feeling sorry for the young woman who was manipulated by the royal family's machine into a loveless marriage.

Recommended for royal watchers and readers who still feel Diana's loss decades later.