A statue of Diana will be installed at Kensington Palace on 1 July (Getty/The Independent)
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The life, legacy and tragic death of Lady Diana has been documented time and again. Known for her vivaciousness when it came to interacting with the public, she often demonstrated her values by focusing on people over prestige.
But she also used her status to be a true trailblazer by raising awareness of issues close to her heart, from domestic violence and mental health to working to change attitudes toward Aids. All this meant that Diana quickly became known as “the people’s princess”.
A statue of the late Princess of Wales will be installed at Kensington Palace on 1 July to honour what would’ve been her 60th birthday. It was commissioned by Prince William and Prince Harry in 2017 and was initially intended to mark the 20th anniversary of their mother’s death and to recognise her “positive impact”.
If you’re searching for ways to learn about Diana’s life, we suggest turning to books, of which there have been plenty written in the past quarter-century.
So, join us in celebrating what would’ve been Princess Diana’s birthday with these top titles. After all, the people’s princess spoke openly and candidly about being a royal.
You can trust our independent round-ups. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
‘Diana: Her True Story – In Her Own Words’ by Andrew Morton, published by Michael O’Mara
In 1993, at the height of her recognition, Princess Diana announced she was reducing her official royal duties to live a more private life following her separation from Prince Charles. During her time in the royal family, she was best known for her humanitarian efforts and her attempts to reshape the monarchy in order to show its emotional side.
Diana: Her True Story documents the princess's long-term legacy through revealing, never-before-published material from original interviews, as well as an account of the events that surrounded her death. Just when she was finding her freedom and happiness, her life was cut short, making this a heartbreaking story.
‘Remembering Diana: A Life in Photographs’ by Tina Brown
Serving as a tribute to mark the 20th anniversary of Diana’s death, this book, with a foreword by journalist Tina Brown, celebrates the life of the princess in pictures. It contains more than 100 photographs, many of which you won’t have seen before, and remembrances of her from her famous friends including Bill Clinton, Mother Teresa and Eton John.
‘Diana: Closely Guarded Secret’ by Inspector Ken Wharfe, published by John Blake Publishing Ltd
The first royal protection officer to publish a memoir, Ken Wharfe was a crucial figure in Diana’s life for nearly seven years. Wharfe saw her through her highs and lows, and Diana: Closely Guarded Secret feels like a balanced account, full of insights into the princess’s daily life. Providing a fly-on-the-wall perspective of the high-pressure years in Buckingham Palace, it’s a heartfelt and honest story.
‘The Diana Chronicles’ by Tina Brown, published by Cornerstone
Said to be one of the most well-researched insider books on Diana’s life, Brown conducted more than 250 interviews with members of the princess’s inner circle. It’s essential reading for anyone interested in how she became the people’s princess, and the battles she endured to ensure her legacy.
‘Diana: In Pursuit of Love’ by Andrew Morton, published by Michael O’Mara Books Ltd
The sequel to Diana: Her True Story, Andrew Morton employs his formidable skills as a researcher and investigative writer to uncover the truth. The book reveals stories of key figures in the princess’s life, such as her lover James Hewitt, her butler Paul Burrell and Prince Charles's valet, Michael Fawcett. Written in chronological order, it’s a definitive study of Diana.
‘Call Me Diana: The Princess of Wales on Herself’ by Nigel Cawthorne, published by Gibson Square Books Ltd
Journalist Nigel Cawthorne provides a fresh perspective on the interviews Diana gave throughout her life. Gathering her most noteworthy words, from her very first in public, when she had been cast into the media spotlight as a young girl, to her last. Some well known and some forgotten, the quotations in Call Me Diana are said to provide an eye-opening read.
