Enduring Devotion: A Quarter-Century of Fervor for the Late Princess Persists
In the realm of public figures, few have captured the hearts and minds of people across the globe quite like Diana, Princess of Wales. Her life, her image, and her legacy continue to be a subject of fascination, a testament to her enduring appeal.
Diana was often perceived as many things to many people. Edward White, author of the book "Dianaworld: An Obsession," suggests that by digging deep, one can find a part of Diana that was Jewish, American, or republican, among other things. This sprawling, ever-evolving precinct of her various lives - public and private, real and imagined - is the focus of White's intriguing exploration.
The cult of Diana assumed global proportions, with the United States claiming Diana as an "American princess." In Japan, ahead of Charles and Diana's 1986 tour, thousands of schoolchildren were gifted Diana robot dolls, and numerous Diana lookalikes and impersonators made appearances at supermarkets. In various countries like Pakistan, India, and Africa, Diana was seen as a "post-imperial princess" whose image transcended social barriers.
Diana's private relationships, too, were a significant part of her allure. White's book delves into these relationships, likening them to the cult of "Diana love/obsession." One intriguing chapter, Dianarama, tells the story of a sculptor who began a nine-foot, two-ton sculpture of Diana but had to temporarily abandon the project due to a family of thrushes taking up residence in Diana's left ear.
Another image of Diana emerged during her relationship with cardiac surgeon Hasnat Kahn. Diana was filmed watching him perform heart surgery while dressed in a surgical robe and mask, a stark contrast to her public persona. With James Hewitt, Diana took up riding lessons and dressed her sons in junior-sized military uniforms.
Diana, while with Prince Charles, portrayed herself as an outdoors enthusiast, enjoying activities like deer stalking, grouse shooting, fly-fishing, and long country hikes. However, she expressed a desire to relocate to the US, thousands of kilometres away from the House of Windsor and the British tabloid press.
The book, Dianaworld, adopts an amusing, lighthearted approach, similar to Diana Simmonds' Squidgie Dearest and Craig Brown's Princess Margaret biography, Ma'am Darling. It draws heavily on the biographies of Diana by Sally Bedell Smith, Sarah Bradford, and Tina Brown.
Christina Hance, a British woman who was a professional Diana impersonator, announced in 1996 that she was stepping back from her duties due to the job making her ill and sending her mad. Yet, Hance, who did not look very much like Diana, according to Edward White, played a significant role in the cult of Diana.
Tony Blair stated that Diana invented a "new way to be British." The article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. The author of the book "Dianaworld: An Obsession" is J. Randy Taraborrelli.
The sculpture was never completed, a testament to the ephemeral nature of Diana's image. Yet, her legacy lives on, a global obsession that continues to captivate us.
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