Diana Frances Spencer, known as Princess Diana, was both an icon of her times and a pop culture legend [1]. Decades after Diana's tragic death, the public is still enchanted by her style [2], her politics, and everything that Diana embodied: fresh blood in the royal family. The release of season four of Netflix's popular historical drama The Crown, which features Emma Corrin as Princess Di [3], heightened the widespread fascination with a woman whose life was so public, yet she continued to be misunderstood. This list of books can help sate your curiosity about the late Princess Diana of Wales, and hopefully dispel some of the rumours that tabloids have spread over the years.
The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown
Vanity Fair's former editor Tina Brown penned The Diana Chronicles [4], which was published in 2007, near the 10th anniversary of her tragic death. Based on hundreds of interviews from those in Diana's inner circle, it's arguably the definitive biography of Princess Di's life.
Diana: Her True Story — In Her Own Words by Andrew Morton
Published in 1992, Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words [5] is one of the only books about Diana that the princess had a say in. Author Andrew Morton writes of Diana's relationship with Prince Charles, her life in the palace, and her wildest dreams for the future.
Remembering Diana: A Life in Photographs by Tina Brown
Tina Brown uses real photographs of Diana to tell her story visually. Remembering Diana: A Life in Photographs [6] features over 100 pictures of the princess.
Queen of People's Hearts: The Life and Mission of Diana, Princess of Wales by Michael W. Simmons
Michael W. Simmons tries to make sense of the contrast between Diana's public image and who she was behind closed doors in Queen of People's Hearts: The Life and Mission of Diana, Princess of Wales. [7]
Diana: A Closely Guarded Secret by Ken Wharfe
One of Diana's protection officers Inspector Ken Wharfe cowrote Diana: A Closely Guarded Secret [8]. Due to Wharfe's position, he had a personal relationship with the princess.
A Royal Duty by Paul Burrell
Paul Burrell, author of A Royal Duty [9], was one of Diana's butlers, making his account authentic and intimate.
Shadows of a Princess by Patrick Jephson
Bestseller Shadows of a Princess [10] is written by Patrick Jephson, Diana's private secretary. Jephson tells of Diana's marital and personal troubles in this intimate account.
Dressing Diana by Tim Graham and Tamsin Blanchard
Fashion editor Tamsin Blanchard teamed up with photographer Tim Graham to put together Dressing Diana [11], a photographic account of the late princess's life through fashion.
Little Girl Lost by Mary Clarke
Mary Clarke, who worked as Diana's nanny, tells the story of the late Princess of Wales's childhood in Little Girl Lost [12], discussing the development of Diana's eating disorder and more hidden facts.
Guarding Diana by Ken Wharfe
Guarding Diana [13] is Inspector Ken Wharfe's second account of the princess. In this book, he describes travelling the globe with Diana.
Princess Diana: The True Story of the People's Princess by Katy Holborn
Katy Holborn writes of Diana's misunderstood public and private lives in Princess Diana: The True Story of the People's Princess [14].
Diana: Story of a Princess by Tim Clayton and Phil Craig
Tim Clayton and Phil Craig write an objective account of Diana's life, detailing how she could actually be vindictive, reminding us that she, too, was human. Diana: Story of a Princess [15] contains seven never-before-published pictures.
Diana in Search of Herself by Sally Bedell Smith
Sally Bedell Smith dives deep into Diana's inner turmoil in Diana in Search of Herself [16], published in 2012.
Princess Diana: A Biography of the Inspirational Royal by Benjamin Southerland
Benjamin Southerland's account Princess Diana: A Biography of the Inspirational Royal [17], tells of Diana's tumultuous marriage, motherhood, commitment to philanthropy, and her untimely death.
The Bodyguard's Story by Trevor Rees-Jones
Trevor Rees-Jones was the bodyguard of Dodi Fayed, Diana's suspected partner, and the sole survivor of the crash that killed Diana and Fayed. In The Bodyguard's Story [18], Rees-Jones tells of the aftermath of Diana's death and Fayed's father's at-times obsessive commitment to avenging his son's death.
Diana: Style Icon by Dan Jones
Another account of the late-princess's timeless styles, Dan Jones's Diana: Style Icon [19] is currently available for preorder and is set to be released in March 2021.