The Princess and the Duchess

Press, 17 December 1988, Page 23

The Princess and the Duchess

Diana. By Ingrid Seward. Weidenfeid and Nicholson Hodder and Stoughton, 1988. 196 pp. $34.95. Duchess. By Andrew Morton. O’Mara Books Macmillan, 1988. 159 pp. $29.95.

(Reviewed by.

Tui Thomas)

So much is written about Princess Diana and the Duchess of York in the media that it is becoming difficult for authors to find anything new to say about them. But Ingrid Seward, so the book’s jacket on the Diana biography claims, has entree into the world in which the Princess of Wales moves and, as the editor of the magazine “Majesty,” has close royal contacts. Hence Seward can give more details than most about the “coltish” young Lady Diana Spencer who is maturing into the gracious and very beautiful Princess of Wales. The media’s “fairy tale princess,” who set out to marry and won her Prince Charming, is now a fable of the past. The reality today is that the Prince and Princess of Wales have had to adjust to the grim demands of Royal life “in harness.” They are completely different people in character and personality, have quite different interests — apart from their two much-loved little sons — and have to cope with particular marriage problems. Most writers call Diana "enigmatic.” “What goes on behind those big, blue and shyly averted eyes?” they ask. Who knows? Ingrid says “nerves” have always been one of Diana’s problems; that she is highly-strung and sensitive; still insecure about her looks, and worries about putting on weight. The Princess suffers considerable backache, as many tall people do (she is sft lOin). She has a jealous streak in her nature and banishes from her circle any women who have been close to the Prince of Wales in the past. Diana is essentially a lonely person

because of her position, so no-one should begrudge her the occasional and much publicised prank she gets up to with the Duchess of York and other friends. Through the alleged ups and downs of her married life and the pressures of her public life, Diana “remains a caring and considerate woman, aware of her responsibilities and prepared to meet them,” the author says. And that augurs well for the day when Prince Charles ascends the Throne and Princess Diana becomes his Queen Consort. By then, it is hoped, they should be in harmony. Ingrid Seward’s portrait of Princess Diana brings readers closer to the future Queen. The 32 pages of superb colour photographs by many different cameras, tell almost as much about Diana’s moods and activities as does the well-researched script. The photographs chosen catch expressions, for the record, of a concerned mother, a mischievous spectator, and a regal beauty in formal dress, just to mention a few. Hot on the heels of Ingrid Seward’s biography of the Princess of Wales comes Andrew Morton’s book on the Duchess of York. The former Sarah Ferguson is known as the Royal version of the New Woman: independent, highly motivated, full of character, and with a dignified informality. Though she has little regard for Royal conventions, this does not seem to interfere with the Queen’s affection for her. The Duchess is recognised as a very natural person, with a-rare gift for the job. The Royals appreciate that. She has a good business head under that mass of auburn hair and works hard for “the Family Firm” at a growing number of welfare works, the author says. He sees her as the first Royal Yuppie, the girl who has “knocked the starch out of Prince Andrew and

pounded the stuffiness out of the Palace.” A natural horsewoman and a brilliant skier, the Duchess is the first royal lady to hold a licence to fly both a fixed-wing plane and a helicopter. Such achievements take courage and it will be interesting to see if she continues her daredevil ways now that she has the responsibility of motherhood. The Duchess is still affectionately known as “Fergie,” but in some quarters her popularity is waning. Too keen on enjoying herself, her public critics say, and Andrew Morton hints at it in a subtle way. The so unalike Duchess of York and the Princess of Wales are close friends, but this author detects a tenuous rivalry between them. Not in fashion or good works, he says, but in their circles of friends. Each young woman attracts groups of followers and that is where the competition sets in. Each has a different public image. While the Princess veils herself in mystique, the Duchess revels in being friendly and outgoing. “Not afraid to live at street level.” Andrew Morton, the author of “Inside Kensington Palace” which was recently reviewed on this page, is said to be the Royal Family’s favourite Fleet Street reporter. He is a strong, no-gush writer. He put two years’ research into this, the first full biography on the Duchess of York. The book includes 40 black and white photographs, some of which were lent by Major Ronald Ferguson, father of the Duchess, from his family album. The work of many top photographers is included, showing Sarah as a child, through her life, to the go-go Duchess of York today. But what a pity at least some of these fine photographs were not reproduced in colour for the sake of a few extra dollars on the price of a copy of this very readable book.