Re: Princess Diana - Part 2

[Kalafrana]

The wedding bouquet was on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior by the next morning, though, personally, I would have preferred to see Kate lay it herself at the end of the service.

Ann

[Mari]

With that Crowd and all those Photographers, TV People from around the World I don't think there was a way for Kate to do that! Just in the U.S. We had practically half the Media over for the Wedding! I think it went off perfectly and like clock work but I know the channel I watched insinuated Security was sweating it...
Love all the photos...I thought about Princess Diana that day! And I don't know how much it was covered... but here they had a Commentator Guest who knew Princess Diana. They commented on seeing Prince William under a little stress that day, chew his lip at the Altar and some other things that reminded them of Princess Diana in body language. Prince William used to have a lot of Diana's gestures...

[Lindelle]

The wedding bouquet was on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior by the next morning, though, personally, I would have preferred to see Kate lay it herself at the end of the service.

Ann

She was still a bride at the end of the service and probably wanted to hang on to it for a bit longer, say for the wedding pics.

[prinzheinelgirl]

I'm rather new on reading seriously on Diana. I have this nagging thought on my mind about something that I read on Tina Brown's book on her. I apologise if my question is quite trite but would appreciate response(s).

Diana apparently said to Prince Philip (when he threatened to take away her title if she continued to misbehave) that : "My title is a older than yours" in reference to her Spencer heritage. What exactly did she mean, considering:

1. she had no title of her own; she was never a peer of the realm, never Countess Diana Spencer (what she had was just a courtesy title).
2. the Spencers got their title in 1761 (baron) and 1765 (earl), surely Philip's lineage as grandson of a king (althoiugh deposed) and title of Duke of Edinburgh was not only superior but older than "hers" (which was not hers at all)? 

as of now, i'm thinking perhaps she just her displaying her ignorance as she was not a bright and academic girl, who probably had little concern for such forms/subtleties even though she came from an aristocratic family...and was just displaying undue bravado?   

[Kalafrana]

The Greek monarchy only dates from 1861, but Philip was a Prince of Greece and Denmark before 1947. The Danish monarchy is very old, going back to the 10th century.

Diana was talking tripe!

Ann

[blessOTMA]

Diana apparently said to Prince Philip (when he threatened to take away her title if she continued to misbehave)  ?   

I really can't see Diana saying that, at least to him.

[Kitt]

I think Diana was technically correct if she was really referring to her heritage.  Philip’s grandfather became the Greek king in 1863. He was a Dane.  His grandmother was married to a Battenberg. That family came into existence when Julia Hauke,  Grand Duke Louis III of Hesse created her Countess of Battenberg in 1851, and at her marriage to Grand Duke Louis' brother Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine, elevated her title to Princess of Battenberg in 1858. The Battenburgs were a morganatic marriage.
I also believe that Diana was not a "blond bimbo", and could have easily shot this off to Prince Philip.  She just should have said family and not title.
All the best, Kitt

[Kalafrana]

Diana was certainly not known for her intelligence. Despite an expensive education she only managed one O level (in art!).

The Duke of Edinburgh took his mother's surname of Mountbatten when he was naturalised, but his male line goes straight back to the Danish royal family.

Ann

[Grace]

...and she was not known for her LACK of intelligence either.  Her "expensive education" did not focus on academic achievement anyway if you recall.

[blessOTMA]

Oh certainly Diana could have thought of this in time to say it ...but I don't believe she would be that rude to his face. The fact that  it was true would make it extra rude of course. But she seems to have respected the Queen and Prince Philip,  at least in her treament of them in person. Indeed Diana didn't have many 0 leavls...however imo she had what cannot be learnt.

[prinzheinelgirl]

thank you for your replies.

i find diana smart, but only when she wanted to get back (retaliate) at someone and in doing her public duties (her staff praised her as very professional and organised). other than that.....  

tina brown's book seems well-researched and she had all those connections and supporting evidence so i don't doubt that the scene did happen. i think diana was indeed  disrespectful to her father-in-law in saying that ("my title is a lot older than yours"), and i haven't found enough information to support her statement (from what i have read so far, the oldenburgs were an older line than the spencers, moreover they were sovereigns)  but then she wasn't so smart when she got hurt/angry.... so sad. i see that tina brown's book was discussed much earlier in this thread but my specific question wasn't. if anyone could give further help on this particular matter, it'd be most appreciated. 

[Kalafrana]

'and she was not known for her LACK of intelligence either.  Her "expensive education" did not focus on academic achievement anyway if you recall.'

I disagree. I have yet to come across anyone praising her intelligence. Her school may not have been super-academic, but she did take a full diet of O levels and failed all but one, then drifted about vaguely and did voluntary work in a kindergarten. She was born in 1961 (two years after me) - past the age in which girls were not expected to get an education.

Ann

[Martyn]

Academic achievement and intelligence are not always linked.  It must also be added that people develop at different rates; many successful mature students are those who have not managed to realise their full potential at typical GCSE age (of course O and A level in Diana's era).

None of the Windsors are renowned for their academic achievement, including Prince Charles.  Few however would doubt his reputation nowadays as an intelligent and cultured man.

A word to the wise prinzheinelgirl.  Tina Brown's book is endlessly diverting and no doubt contains truth and fact; there is however much that is anecdotal and thus should be taken with a pinch of salt........

[ashdean]

A word to the wise prinzheinelgirl.  Tina Brown's book is endlessly diverting and no doubt contains truth and fact; there is however much that is anecdotal and thus should be taken with a pinch of salt........

Very true Martyn....Tina sadly at times does mix fact & fiction in a cocktail shaker..

[prinzheinelgirl]

A word to the wise prinzheinelgirl.  Tina Brown's book is endlessly diverting and no doubt contains truth and fact; there is however much that is anecdotal and thus should be taken with a pinch of salt........

Martyn:

There is no need for sarcasm here ("a note to the wise prinzheinelgirl"). I made it clear that I'm new to books on Diana and would appreciate any other views other than what Tina Brown presented in her book.  Tina's book is just two of what I have read on Diana so far and I have yet to read and sift through other materials on her to get a more balanced view.

Not that I'm so interested in Diana, because what I'm really interested in are 17th & 18th century Austrian and Spanish royalty. I'm just very curious about her (supposed) remark to Prince Philip.