Blog #10

The People’s Princess


“Without doubt she has left a superb legacy of bitterness, humanity and caring behind her. A veritable Queen of Hearts and yet fallible. She associated with the wrong people, sometimes put her foot in it with verbal gaffes, sometimes behaved illogically and yet gained wholeheartedly the love, sympathy and understanding of the public” (Thomas 45).

In the twentieth century Princess Diana was one of the most famous and most photographed women in the world. She was a woman of many faces, and expressed issues most celebrated people would shy away from due to public criticism. She pushed through a life living under a microscope, yet existed with a sense of self-respect and determination. Journalist Andrew Morton exposed the story about Diana, with the Princess’s permission, in his book Diana: Her True Story (Taylor 27). Morton disclosed psychologist Erik Erikson’s theory on Princess Diana that she had an identity disorder, which rooted in her juvenile failure to construct an acceptable adult character. Bulimia and self destructive behavior was her pattern before her 1992 separation with Prince Charles, “but afterwards she bravely faces her identity crisis, resolved it, constructed a fully satisfactory adult identity, made public her private pain, applied her herself anew to charity work and her role as a mother, and became a role model for many persons” (Taylor 27). Coming clean with her personal tribulations was an accomplishment among prominent figures in the limelight. Diana expressed her imperfections, which was frowned upon because a woman in her position had a façade to live up to. She was the Princess of Wales; a prominent social figure who was expected to live a life that led up to the standards of monarchy. However, as a public figure broadcasting her psychological affairs she opened the floodgates for others to evaluate themselves. The decision by Diana to publicize her harrowing battle with bulimia resulted in double the number of sufferers coming forward seeking treatment (Lister). “Identification with a public figure’s struggle with bulimia might have encouraged women to seek help for the first time,” the researchers wrote (Lister). Bulimia is often an incredibly secretive disease, and women do not come forward easily, but clearly Diana had enormous influence on people. Diana was aware of the effect she had on people and manipulated it to help others. She used her personal problems and self-interest as a way to evolve social norms at the time in Britian.
Diana’s success with the public, despite her faults, was a first hand example as to why she could be honest with her enthusiasts and the few disbelievers. People adored her not only for her charming personality, but because she was genuine among a group of individuals who continue to live up to an idealistic perfection. The Princess encouraged people not to be afraid to speak up in a time where etiquette required separate domains for men and women, and that sphere approved hypocrisy. The monarchy conserved a traditional double standard that overlooked male adultery while condemning divorce. Adulterous behavior for females was hardly considered possible, much less condoned. It was a way of life that was instilled from the time of childhood; even as little girls royalty knew their boundaries. For example, Marion Crawford, nanny of then Princess Elizabeth, instilled into Queen Elizabeth to preserve the monarchy’s image by respecting the double standard (Taylor 52). This value system carried on into Diana’s term as princess and she was looked down upon for her affair, even after it was widely known Prince Charles carried on his old relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles after he and Diana were married. Diana knew she was breaking the tradition of inequality courtiers enforced, yet she thought the court protocol was ripe for change since public attitudes had already begun to change (Taylor 53). Her adversary was her husband’s department, the courtiers who are the connection between the Royal Court and the outside world (Taylor 47). The court had a deep commitment to image; courtiers threatened her when she threatened the royal image.
Diana continued to disobey the courtiers and the image of the Royal family by informing the public about the behind the scene behaviors of her not so perfect life. She was declared to be “more human than the other royals” (Thomas 46). She embraced her drawbacks and grew from them, she did things most would not, and most of all stood for her own beliefs. She attempted to stay grounded amongst a group of elites who sought only to uphold the royal image. Under these circumstances Princess Diana’s influence was enough reason to aim to revolutionize cultural attitudes. She knew she had the power for social direction, so she spoke out for the benefit of the people. She tried to retreat from the public eye several times, but always returned because she understood that she had power over the public. Diana realized she had a great opportunity if she was able to combine self-interest with a public request on rights for women (Taylor 116). Being princess and so widely honored, it was her duty to make
a difference. Britain was in the process of shifting to values that sanction individual autonomy and self-interest, and Diana lent a hand even whenever feasible. Diana exemplified the shift when she focused public attention on her being asked to surrender by the royal family. Since the monarchy symbolizes British values, her declaration of self-interest became a symbol of changes in British values (Taylor 115). Yet, this did not come easy, Diana would face many obstacles. Princess Diana’s incessant behavior was not liked by everyone, especially the Royal family. They had worked so long protecting the monarchy and upholding it to certain standards; some felt they were losing it with Diana as princess. She was untraditional and self loathing in the eyes of Queen Elizabeth. Diana’s public life left room for scrutiny and disapproval of the Royal family. Diana not conforming to the royal family way of life, and revealing her sufferings to the world, made it possible for the royal family to cast her as a bit unworthy. Not publicly, but out of sight they made Diana feel out of place. In an official interview provided by the BBC, when asked about her depression and how it affected her marriage she responded with, “Well, it gave everybody a wonderful new label - Diana's unstable and Diana's mentally unbalanced. And unfortunately that seems to have stuck on and off over the years”. Then when asked about her issue with bulimia she answered, “You inflict it upon yourself because your self-esteem is at a low ebb, and you don't think you're worthy or valuable. You fill your stomach up four or five times a day - some do it more - and it gives you a feeling of comfort”. The princess loved by so many was living a life of turmoil fueled by the way she was neglected. It was not like royalty to suffer from diseases such as depression or bulimia, especially disclose it to the world. As royalty, you must live up to perfection, and the pressures tarnished Princess Diana’s self-esteem. Communicating with the world about her personal affairs was a sense of redemption for Diana, but as for the royal family it was a smear to the royal reputation. The courtiers had it out for Diana and were often very hostile. The hostility of the courtiers was confirmed by eyewitness testimony by Lady Colin Campbell; she blamed the court for security lapses that endangered Diana (Taylor 54). Diana’s lack of orthodoxy put her at risk; at risk for ridicule, danger and spite.
Princess Diana was trying to set a new standard for the role of royalty that eventually backfired. While Princess Diana did many great things with charity, she led a life of an open book, which caused anxiety and aggression among the royal family. Her self-interest revolution was her greatest strength and her greatest weakness. For it encouraged others to help themselves, it also generated a level of controversy.