Whether adored or despised, Princess Diana is never forgotten
Edward White's Dianaworld, about the phenomenon of the former Princess of Wales, shows an indefatigable resourcefulness. It is not really about the woman herself but about the effect she had on people who never laid eyes on her. White has drawn the line at reading the lachrymose, often crapulous, outpourings in the condolence books – and who can blame him? But he has unearthed contemporary commentary from Spare Rib, the Faversham News, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and countless other publications. These are extremely illuminating, often evincing views that were quickly suppressed after the Princess's death. I was pleased to be reminded of the widespread horror in early 1997 at how vulgar Diana's wardrobe had become. Anne de Courcy, observing the white jeans, pumps and gold jewellery, lamented the 'Sharonisation' of Diana.
White is also conversant with the atrocious secondary literature. Even to read the titles in the seven-page bibliography is to feel soiled. (Diana in Private: The Princess Nobody Knows.) Everyone except her good friends has written their memoirs – her protection officers, her bodyguard, her psychic healers, her press officers, her most caddish lovers. And, of course, her frightful butler.
But there!
I really neither know nor care
For what the Dear Old Butler thought!
In my opinion, butlers ought
To know their place, and not to play
The Old Retainer night and day!
Dianaworld addresses many areas where the impact of the princess was clear, strange and quantifiable.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
12 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Video of Morgan Gibbs-White transfer U-turn gets same response from ALL football fans
Tottenham were seemingly closing in on the signing of Morgan Gibbs-White earlier this month but the Nottingham Forest star has now signed a record contract to stay put Morgan Gibbs-White has officially committed his future to Nottingham Forest - just weeks after the attacking midfielder looked all but certain to join Tottenham. News broke earlier this month that Spurs had triggered a £60million release clause in the 25-year-old's contract. However, Forest were left angered by what they considered to be an illegal approach from their Premier League rivals for one of their most influential stars. Gibbs-White has since played for Forest in pre-season as all talk of finalising said move to Spurs went quiet. And the club have now confirmed that Gibbs-White has signed a club-record three-year deal, putting an end to speculation over the midfielder's future. A video showing Gibbs-White and Evangelos Marinakis, the club's owner, was posted online to announce the news. But some mischievous fans have quipped that the Forest star looked like a 'hostage' in said video. One social media user joked: "Nothing like a hostage video with your captor standing beside you so you don't cry for help! #FreeGibbsWhite". Another poster quipped: "Gibbs-White fake smiling with his owner after being held hostage at Forest just like Olise at Palace." A third football fan said cheekily: "A lot of interesting moments throughout this transfer window. Obviously United's chase of players, Liverpool splashing huge cash, Arsenal always in the news, the Isak situation & a lot more. But I didn't expect a Morgan Gibbs-White hostage video. Never a dull moment". Despite the jokes from fans, Gibbs-White said that he was 'excited' for what's next at Forest after the club qualified for Europe last season. Speaking to the club's official website, he said: "I've felt at home at Forest from the moment I arrived. The support from the fans, my teammates, and everyone around the club has been unbelievable. "I believe in what we're building here – and with the backing of Mr Marinakis and the enormous ambition he has, I want to be part of making something special. I'm excited for what's to come." Forest owner Marinakis, who posed with Gibbs-White in photos celebrating the new contract, said: "Morgan is a special player – not just in terms of talent, but character and mentality. He represents everything we want this football club to be: he is a winner, talented, ambitious, fearless, and proud. "There was significant interest from various clubs, but we were determined to build our future with Morgan at the heart of it. I promised our fans we would not only compete, but grow stronger and stronger every season. Today is another big step in that journey." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Next shoppers race to buy 'flattering' linen dress that 'disguises tummies'
Shoppers say they are "surprised it's not gone off the shelves." Next has been thoroughly impressing us with its summer edits this year. From graphic prints to ditsy patterns, it has been bang on trend. Not to mention that many items tend to get snapped up quickly. For those that have any vacations still on the horizon, or are in need of something for the warmer weather we are experiencing, we know just what to buy. The Linen Midi Dress is currently the subject of glowing reviews, with a perfect rating from impressed fashion fans who have "fell in love with it." Whether heading abroad or staying at home, this 100 percent linen dress is sure to be a breezy choice for those balmy summer days when we need something both cooling and stylish. Falling to a trendy midi-length hemline, it also features an elasticated shirred waistline for a comfortable fit, with one shopper suggesting it's a choice for those who "want to disguise tummies." Pure Linen Midi Dress £69 Next Buy here Product Description Finished with gathered straps, a frill trim and bow detailing, it's a feminine and romantic dress that will look perfect when paired with sandals all summer long. As of writing, Next's linen dress is available in sizes six to 26, with some tall sizes included, across two colours, white and lilac, but the latter is selling out faster. For fashion fans looking to shop around, the high street offers an abundance of similar styles, as we have spotted New Look's White Tie Front Shirred Midi Dress priced at £33.99. Those who want to invest in the on-trend butter yellow colourway, then a similar style from Nobody's Child is this Floral Embroidered Melissa Midi Dress that costs £79. As for Next's Pure Linen Midi Dress, it has received all glowing five-star reviews from fashion fans who think so highly of it that they are "surprised it's not gone off the shelves." A positive review read: "It's a gorgeous dress and very flattering on especially if you want to disguise a tummy. Slightly transparent on top but nipple covers do the trick. I'm surprised it's not gone off the shelves. "I have the white and I am pleased that the style will last many years in my wardrobe. The linen surprisingly and pleasantly doesn't get too wrinkly." A second happy customer wrote: "Bought for my daughter as we had seen it in shop, she fell in love with it, so bought her it, lovely dress everyone comments on it, looks lovely on, and very well made." Fashion deal of the week New Balance has just launched a massive sale ahead of the summer, with up to half-price off. Hate that break in period with stiff footwear? Then look no further than the Unisex RC42 Shoes, said to be "comfy straight out of the box", that have been reduced from £90 to just £45, saving shoppers 50 percent off the original asking price. Featuring the classic minimalist silhouette that can be worn with everything from denim jeans to leggings, these trainers have been particularly designed for those with an active lifestyle. Crafted from a "lightweight" suede/mesh construction, they boast a low profile that is suitable for those who spend long periods of time on their feet, while the a padded tongue and cushioned rubber sole ensure all day comfort. Finished with the classic signature 'N' branding on the side, the half-price discount covers two colours - granite with white and linen with sea salt. As of writing, sizes range from a four through to nine, including a few half-sizes. Shoppers can't stop praising the New Balance RC42 Shoes, as they have earned a 4.2 rating and glowing reviews for their "comfortable" design that means they "don't even have to break them in." One five-star review read: "Very cute and comfortable right out of the box. On trend and has a somewhat cushioned midsole—perfect for wearing all day." And someone else simply said: "Very pretty, good for a wedding guest or summer outing." While there are no negative reviews as of yet, which speaks to the frock's popularity, it is worth noting that, as one review above suggests, it is slightly see-through. For some shoppers, this may pose an issue, so it is something to consider before purchasing.
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Scotsman
Search on for Scottish celebrity lookalikes to be made up on stage by artist who 'faked' Princess Diana photo
Alison Jackson's photographs first became famous in the 1990s Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A photographer who shot to fame after 'faking' a picture of Princess Diana and Dodi al Fayed in the 1990s is to create lookalikes live on stage at the Fringe in a bid to lift the lid on celebrity fakery. Alison Jackson will make up audience members on stage in Edinburgh to look like well-known celebrities and hold a photoshoot to demonstrate her work, which she says she hopes will "burst the bubble" of celebrity culture. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She hopes to recreate the meeting planned for this weekend in Scotland between Donald Trump, Sir Keir Starmer and John Swinney by pinpointing lookalikes who look like the three politicians, as well as creating images of Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi, alongside other well-known names including Taylor Swift, David Attenborough and Harry Styles. Known as the first to create false images of celebrities presented as art, she now uses elements of AI in her work, as well as lookalikes and even real celebrities. Her show, Alison Jackson's Faking Famous: You Can Be a Celebrity Too, is her Fringe debut after a short run of live shows in London which were cut short by the pandemic. 'It's a new show, because I wanted to do a reveal of behind the scenes of how you make a celebrity,' she said. 'I think it'll be quite an extraordinary thing to see, because people really do care about crafting. If you have a look at social media, everyone's busy trying out new products, how to get their hair straight, how to get the right body shape. There's a lot of craft involved in that.' She added: 'Everywhere, celebrities are busy trying to make themselves famous. The media is trying to make the celebrities famous. Social media, everyone's in on it, it's just this vicious circle of commerce.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She is bringing her usual Donald Trump lookalike, who is flying in from New York with his own kilt - but is on the hunt for doubles for Mr Swinney and Sir Keir. Alison Jackson's iconic image of what appears to be Princess Diana giving the middle finger. | Alison Jackson Ms Jackson became known for her photography in the 1990s, after she created a photo of what appeared to be Princess Diana giving the middle finger in 1998, followed a year later by a mock-up family portrait of Diana, Dodi al-Fayed and their fictional child. She said: '[When I started] I was commenting on the media fake news, and the rise of information that wasn't correct in the media using imagery. And now, we're still continuing to have misinformation and disinformation, and nobody's managed to break that bubble. 'I try to break the bubble by making it look as real as possible, but actually, you know it's not real. You always know that these are lookalikes, but after a while, which is intentional, you don't care. And the whole guessing game of whether it's real or fake or not seems to be enormous. People are always trying to work it out.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The three-night performance will also see her attempt to recreate a picture of Princess Diana, using an audience member. Her show, at Assembly Checkpoint from 20-23 August, will include a competition with a panel of celebrity judges, who, along with the audience, vote on the best lookalike, as well as revealing stories from her infamous shoots.
