28 years after Princess Diana’s death, new evidence is emerging about her complex personality. Considered a figure of compassion and elegance, Diana also had moments of emotional withdrawal and rigidity, say former Buckingham Palace collaborators.
Princess Diana had moments of stiffness PHOTO: Profimedia
Princess Diana remains one of the most loved and admired public figures of the 20th century, celebrated for her naturalness, empathy and charisma. But behind the perfect image was a much more complicated side, says Dickie Arbiter, former press secretary of the Royal Family, who worked closely with Diana for five years, according to Radar Online.
“I had the opportunity to meet her and in doing so I began to understand what kind of person she was,” says Arbiter in his memoir, “On Duty With the Queen.” “In short, it was complicated. It was okay when things went her way. But if something unexpected appeared, something that contradicted what she wanted, then she would “freeze” you completely and let you simmer until she decided to welcome you back into her circle“.
According to the Arbiter, these standoff periods could last “days or even weeks” and no one was safe from them. “I’ve learned not to take it personally”he confesses.
“Extraordinary in public, tense in private”
Former employees of the Palace confirm this duality. Diana could “light up a room” when the cameras were on, but behind closed doors there was intense emotional pressure.
“She had an extraordinary ability to capture a room when filmed, but in private she was often tense” says a former royal adviser. “She wanted things done a certain way, and if anyone contradicted her, even slightly, she suddenly became distant“.
An episode related by Arbiter perfectly illustrates this behavior. At a time when England’s national football team had suffered a major defeat, Arbiter suggested canceling a planned reception at the Palace. Diana refused to change the schedule, and after the discussion, she did not speak to him for two weeks.
Intense, involved, sometimes unpredictable
Those who have worked with her describe her as a deeply emotional, passionate and dedicated woman, sometimes to the extreme.
“When he got involved in a project, he did it completely. This intensity was part of her brilliance, but it could also make her unpredictable. She couldn’t stand being told what to do or being constrained by royal rules”, says a former member of her team.
However, contributors point out that Diana was undoubtedly a consummate professional. “She was warm, charismatic, relatable. She had a natural talent for winning over audiences, as if she’d been doing it all her life.”states the Arbiter.
A legacy that continues
Experts in the monarchy believe that these accounts do not affect its image, but make it more real and relatable. “Diana combined deep empathy with remarkable inner strength. She was vulnerable and strong at the same time, a contradiction that captivated people”says a specialist in the history of the Royal Family.
Today, her legacy continues through her two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, who have taken on both her commitment to humanitarian causes and her direct and personal way of relating to the public.
