Whether you’re mourning the end of The Crown or want to get the tea on the British monarchy, you can get your royal fix with these must-read books about Princess Diana.
Princess Diana’s life is the stuff of legends. A committed philanthropist with a gift for relating to others, the Princess of Wales repeatedly endeared herself to the masses by breaking protocol and proving she was more human than royal.
As you’ll see in biographies like Andrew Morton’s Diana, the young princess, although far from perfect, was determined to remain true to herself. If you’re more interested in hearing the princess’ own words and thoughts, Call Me Diana contains some of her memorable quotes regarding many of the most important events and aspects of her life.
Despite her tragic death, Princess Diana’s legacy lives on through her sons, Princes William and Harry, and she will forever be remembered as the people’s princess.
1. Diana by Andrew Morton
Widely regarded as one of the best books to read about Princess Diana, Morton’s bombshell biography shocked the world when it was first published in 1992 — mainly due to Princess Diana’s secretly-recorded tapes that were sent to Morton.
Even decades after her death, the beloved Princess of Wales and her troubled life continue to captivate and touch countless people. Morton reveals that she didn’t lead the typical happy life of a princess: She dealt with depression and bulimia on top of her marital struggles.
2. The Way We Were by Paul Burrell
Butler, confidant, friend — Paul Burrell faithfully served Princess Diana for over 10 years, earning him the title of “the only man she ever trusted.” With honesty and compassion, he paints a realistic portrait of the Princess of Wales, one that reveals the human beneath a larger-than-life facade.
The Way We Were, like other books about Princess Diana written by those close to her, carries a level of intimacy and insight you won’t find in other biographies.
3. The Real Diana by Lady Colin Campbell
Before Princess Diana partnered with Andrew Morton, she originally sought out royal insider Lady Colin Campbell to work on a biography. Despite a falling out between the two that put an end to their collaboration, Campbell went on to finish her work.
A compilation of 35 interviews with friends, family members, and acquaintances of Princess Diana make up the bulk of The Real Diana. Informative and entertaining, Campbell portrays the legendary princess fairly, discussing the good she did during her lifetime as well as the mental health struggles that plagued her throughout her life.
4. The People’s Princess by Flora Harding
Separated by centuries and connected by a forgotten diary, two Princesses of Wales forge an unlikely connection that transcends time.
Harding mixes fact with fiction in her well-researched revisionist history that parallels the lives of two women beloved by the masses but stifled by the protocols of their positions. Fans of Lady Di will be delighted to learn more about Princess Charlotte who, like Diana, won the hearts and minds of her people but tragically met an early demise.
5. Shadows of a Princess by Patrick Jephson
Like Burrell’s The Way We Were, Shadows of a Princess is a first-hand account of Princess Diana’s life as told by a trusted aide. Jephson, who worked for the royal family for eight years, details everything from the day-to-day of palace life to the collapse of Diana and Charles’ marriage.
6. Call Me Diana by Nigel Cawthorne
“I am not a political figure, I am a humanitarian figure, always was, always will be.”
Cawthorne sorts through Princess Diana’s many interviews and compiles a collection of some of her most memorable and iconic quotes. From statements on her engagement to Prince Charles to her final interview before her death, here are the Princess’ thoughts in her own words.
7. Untold Story by Monica Ali
Ali takes a highly intriguing premise and turns it into a gripping work of alternative history: What if Princess Diana had not died in a car accident, but rather staged her own death so she could escape an assassination attempt?
Most Princess Diana books recount her life up until her tragic death in 1997. Ali explores a new route by envisioning what it would look like if the iconic woman had been able to live life on her own terms.
8. Diana by The Editors of PEOPLE
With over a hundred gorgeous, full-color photographs and interviews with those closest to her, People magazine celebrates the life and legacy of Princess Diana with a special edition that marks 20 years since her passing.
9. Diana by The Editors of LIFE
Similar to People, LIFE pays tribute to the most famous woman of the 20th century with a special edition that chronicles her influence on the monarchy and beyond.
Beloved by many, Princess Diana’s generosity and compassion is on full display in this touching remembrance. Despite her death, which prompted a worldwide outpouring of grief, the editors of LIFE show that Diana’s extraordinary legacy continues to live on in her loved ones and in the causes that were close to her heart.
