London: At the 20th death anniversary of Princess Diana, her former private secretary Patrick Jephson unveiled his new book ‘Shadows of A Princess’. The American editioned book was published today which throws light on how the Royal Family failed to respect Princess Diana, she deserved.
“Remembering Diana… can be summed up in one word — a word traditionally synonymous with the British Crown, exemplified by Elizabeth II’s lifetime of service. The word is decency. Yet in some corners of the royal establishment, two decades of spin doctors and a naive fondness for the slippery arts of news management have put the word and the idea at risk…” Jephson writes.
“Diana alive was a decency test for the British Royal Family, which some of them failed,” he adds.
Jephson had served as a former Royal Navy officer- Diana’s private secretary-for eight years, did not mention the names which Windsors he has mentioned in his book. He is now a U.S citizen, reports Daily Mail.
“Elizabeth’s successor faces an acceptability hurdle that some courtiers may be slow to recognise. A little perspective from recent history might guide them,” he pens.
He argued that Diana, feeling ‘ill-prepared and untrained for the role in which she found herself’, believed she had been ‘left to sink or swim’.
“Her private life offered no consolation, with a husband who . . . saw her as a rival to be feared rather than a companion to be cherished,” he writes, criticising Charles for his lack of support for his wife.
Charles’s ‘energy, time and attention were devoted to another woman who was older, more experienced and was the wife of a former courtier who seemed immune to the insecure princess’s suffering, he mentions.
“No wonder Diana suffered from chronic self-doubt, poor self-image and a persistent eating disorder.”
Some may wonder whether Jephson himself has failed the decency test. In 2000, he was accused of ‘betrayal’ for publishing his book about his time in Diana’s service.