The Queen and Di: The Untold Story

Rating:
Summary: An interesting twist
Review: As editor of Majesty Magazine, Ingrid Seward knows better than to bite the hand that feeds her. The Queen and Di is a remarkably balanced look into the relationship between Queen Elizabeth II and the late Princess Diana. Seward selects several areas of the women's lives and compares them, the way they were raised, the early years of marriage, reactions to their husband's infidelities, and relations with the public, and other. I found this tactic to be a bit wanting. There is a definite pro-royal family slant (the opening chapter presents a diagnosis of Diana's mental illness, I'd like to see what a psychiatrist has to say in regards to the Queen's personality profile), though I found the book to be more objective than some of Seward's previous books and interviews. Trying to compare these two women is a hopeless task there is a vast age difference, and the times and circumstances in which they were raised too different. In essence, these same differences, between Diana and her husband, is what doomed the royal marriage, and perhaps kept anyone from offering help. Because she is familiar with the royal family, Seward has some real insight and some stories that aren't already mashed to death by other media sources. The passages where Diana discusses the early love between her and Charles is very affecting, and reminds us there was at one time, a love match. What makes this book unsatisfying is we already know the end, the princess dies without finding happiness.

Rating:
Summary: Palace Propaganda
Review: Finally we are over the fervor of Diana mania. Despite the trashy title, this is a good book, solid in its research and well-grounded in its conclusions. Diana wasn't the "People's Princess" that the Prime Minister called her at her death. She was a very sick woman who, in her selfishness, did great harm to a thousand-year institution of the monarchy. Seward is balanced and honest in her appraisals of the public strengths and private weaknesses of the late Princess of Wales. It's sad reading: first because her own story is one of deliberate self-destruction; then because of the harm she did her husband and the family she married into. In Seward's view the Queen was the best of the Royals to her, generous to a fault. Diana's failure (unlike that, say, of Princess Margaret or Jackie Kennedy Onassis) was to put her personal pleasures before duty and country. I recommend this book to anyone whose primary recollection of Diana was the American-style hysteria of her funeral.

Rating:
Summary: Even Handed, Fair
Review: Having shied away from the more obsequious books on the shelves in recent years, something made me pick this book up and give it a go. I have been quite favorably impressed.

This book classifies the late former Princess of Wales, Diana, and Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth during similar times in their lives. The author covers familiar ground: childhoods, educations, courtships, marriages, marital challenges, child rearing, and public perceptions without sensationalism or conjecture, achieving an impressive objectivity. Although I know some die-hard Diana sympathizers may take issue with some of the details or interpretation of blame (for example, Diana's alleged premarital virginity -- which the author endorses -- and the he-said, she-said within the Wales' marriage), the author's tone makes her both pleasant and easy to read. She is inherently believable.

This book would be perfect for someone curious about the late former princess and her formidable mother in law, but who's never read much on them in a factual medium (that is, something beyond People Magazine or a "blabloid"). I think even most Diana fans would appreciate the author's even-handedness on more sensitive details on the late former princess's life, and fans of the Queen would be further convinced of England's monarch's steadfastness and devotion to her country.

I like this book. I think most others with an interest in British royalty would, too.

Rating:
Summary: Even Handed, Fair
Review: Having shied away from the more obsequious books on the shelves in recent years, something made me pick this book up and give it a go. I have been quite favorably impressed.

This book classifies the late former Princess of Wales, Diana, and Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth during similar times in their lives. The author covers familiar ground: childhoods, educations, courtships, marriages, marital challenges, child rearing, and public perceptions without sensationalism or conjecture, achieving an impressive objectivity. Although I know some die-hard Diana sympathizers may take issue with some of the details or interpretation of blame (for example, Diana's alleged premarital virginity -- which the author endorses -- and the he-said, she-said within the Wales' marriage), the author's tone makes her both pleasant and easy to read. She is inherently believable.

This book would be perfect for someone curious about the late former princess and her formidable mother in law, but who's never read much on them in a factual medium (that is, something beyond People Magazine or a "blabloid"). I think even most Diana fans would appreciate the author's even-handedness on more sensitive details on the late former princess's life, and fans of the Queen would be further convinced of England's monarch's steadfastness and devotion to her country.

I like this book. I think most others with an interest in British royalty would, too.

Rating:
Summary: Sad...
Review: I find Ms. Seward's writing to be painful to read. For an editor of Majesty magazine, I expected her to have class in her manner of writing and respect in her depiction of the British royal family. She would have been well suited as a writer for the tabloids instead. Her manner of retelling is very gossipy, and biased. She can't seem to help but include her spiteful opinions of the late princess. I find her to be a very disrespectful person to be writing such a book. If you are looking for historical background or a respectful account of the Queen and the late princess, this is not the book to read.

Rating:
Summary: The Queen and Di: The Untold Story by Ingrid Seward
Review: I would not recommend this book to anyone. I felt cheated. The book was extremely biased on part of the Queen. I do not think that Ingrid Seward was objective as a writer. It is such a pity that she could not give any respect to the person that made her magazine sell. Back in the 80's, Diana was prominently featured in Majesty magazine. No one bought it to see what the Queen wore. I was expecting a little more honesty than I read in this book. Queen Elizabeth and Diana were just people. A mother and daughter in-law. There was a divorce. No one is perfect, but this book would lead you to believe that all the royals were. Save your money.

Rating:
Summary: Sad...
Review: If you are like half of the population and interested in all the gossip about the House of Windsor and the late Princess of Wales, then this book should be one that you should read. This book is about the relationship between Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana. This book, to my belief, is a piece of evidence on why we as the public should respect Her Majesty, and why we should understand what their relationship is truly about. The book describes Diana's first State duty with the entire Royal Family in November 1984 at the State Opening of Parliament. Diana was having her hair being done for the event and insisted that she wore her hair up knowing that it was not long enough and looked different. The next day Diana's hair was on the headlines not the Queen, on which should have been a day of her publicity. This was the beginning of the popularity contest between these two women.
The author Ingrid Seward, is editor of Majesty magazine. She has written many books about the Royal Family that has kept her in the bestsellers list for twelve years.
This book all and all will give you a better knowledge about both women and will teach you the inside story of what happened behind the palace walls of two remarkable women and there relationship that is so widely known and questioned by the public.

Rating:
Summary: God Save the Queen!
Review: Thank you, Ms. Seward for writing a fair and reasonable book. It's gratifying to read a work that illuminates how hard our queen tried to accomodate the late Princess of Wales and what a truly lovely person she is. Elizabeth II is a great queen -- history will bear this out -- and I think we often take her far too much for granted. God bless and keep her!

As a British subject currently residing the states, I remain astonished at the rabid interest our royal family holds for Americans.

Rating:
Summary: Palace Propoganda
Review: This book is definitely biased in favor of the House of Windsor. It appears that the author thought it prudent to align herself with the powers that be rather than report an accurate historical account. There are too many contradictary sources to believe that this is an accurate portrayal of the relationship between the Queen and Princess Diana.

Rating:
Summary: Diana Trashing...Again
Review: While I am sure Diana was no saint, she was a young, innocent girl - key word, girl, when she married the much older, more worldly Charles. So how could this be a marriage of equals? It never was and if Diana learned to use the press for her benefit, well, so what, as she learned from the masters. I did not need another trashing of Diana. Please...like Camilla was not Charles's mistress before, during and after his marriage ended? To imply otherwise, ruins any credibility the author had. Also, Charles' friends say Diana never slept with him after Harry? How do they know that - what proof of is there, especially when Diana is 6 feet under? How convenient. Why was this re-hash published? Maybe because it shows the Queen in a better light and this is her 50th anniversary?