From biographies of the late princess told (allegedly) in her own words to a revealing investigation into the House of Windsor, here are six books about Princess Diana that are worth reading. Whether you’re looking for more Diana after watching The Crown or before seeing Spencer, here are some options to add to your shelf.
1. The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown
This thoroughly researched and exhilarating account of Diana’s life is a must-read for anyone interested in how she became an icon and the battles she fought to secure her legacy. It’s not a quick read - Ms. Brown, a former editor of The New Yorker and Vanity Fair, has done some serious research - but there’s more than enough personality and insider information to make it an interesting book.
Buy: The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown
2. Diana: Her True Story - In Her Own Words
Andrew Morton’s best-selling biography was first published in 1992 and caused a sensation with its revelations about Diana’s unhappy union with Prince Charles, her complicated relationship with the Queen, and a host of other secrets that made the tabloids. The source of Morton’s devastating information? The princess herself. An updated version of the book is now available, with even more information from recordings Morton and Diana made during their long, candid and always shocking conversations.
Buy: Diana: Her True Story - In Her Own Words
3. Remembering Diana: A Life in Photographs
For image lovers, this coffee-table book compiles over 100 photographs of Princess Diana taken throughout her life and also includes memorabilia from famous admirers such as Bill Clinton, Mother Teresa and Elton John. A foreword by Tina Brown-who wrote The Diana Chronicles-helps put the tribute in context.
Buy: Remembering Diana: A Life in Photographs
4. Diana in private: The princess nobody knows
Written by British aristocratic troublemaker Lady Colin Campbell - who also wrote books about the Queen Mother and Prince Harry - this 1992 bestseller was initially dismissed as too gossipy to be true, but it has proven some of its claims over the years. It’s not the book we’d turn to for a definitive view of the late princess’s life, but it’s a fun, daring read, and a good way to round out your royal reading list.
Buy: Diana in private: The princess nobody knows
5. The Royals by Kitty Kelley
Biographer Kitty Kelley has let her sometimes venomous pen loose on a wide variety of bold names, from Frank Sinatra to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. In this investigation of the House of Windsor, published in 1997, she focuses on the British royal family and exposes Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and, of course, Princess Diana. The book was not published in England because of strict libel laws (and in the United States, its release just after Diana’s death earned it a mixed reception), but it became a bestseller and remains one of the most discussed royal books of all time.
Buy: The Royals by Kitty Kelley
6. A Real Life Fairy Tale Princess Diana
Looking for a more kid-friendly version of Diana’s story? Consider this picture book about the late Princess of Wales, which chronicles her life from childhood to her marriage to Prince Charles, with an emphasis on her philanthropy.
Buy: A Real Life Fairy Tale Princess Diana
