The Princess

By: Wendy Holden

Narrated by: Mary Jane Wells

"Readers are transported to 1961 Britain in this fascinating tale about beloved Princess Diana....What follows is an astonishing story of Diana's route to the altar and beyond."—Woman's World

The whole world saw Diana Spencer step from a gilded carriage for her wedding. But before that fairy-tale moment came a difficult journey.…

Bestselling author Wendy Holden explores the astonishing backstory and young adulthood of the ultimate royal celebrity.

Britain, 1961: A beautiful blonde baby is born to Viscount Althorp, heir to the Spencer earldom. But Diana grows up amid the fallout of her parents’ messy divorce. She struggles at school. Her refuge throughout is romantic novels. She dreams of falling in love and being rescued by a handsome prince.

In royal circles, there is concern about the Prince of Wales. Charles is nearing thirty and the right girl needs to be found, fast. She must be young, aristocratic and completely free of past liaisons. Pure and innocent.

Eighteen-year-old Diana Spencer is just about the only candidate. Her yearning to be loved dovetails with royal desperation for a bride. But the route to the altar is perilous. There are hidden dangers. Ruthless schemers. Can Diana’s romantic dream survive?

Critic reviews

“Full of delicious details and spot-on portrayals of several familiar royal personages, this delicate, sometimes wistful story will delight fans of historical fiction and British royalty.”--Booklist

"Readers are transported to 1961 Britain in this fascinating tale about beloved Princess Diana Spencer."--Yahoo.com

“Holden’s unique framing device allows readers to get an intimate look at the early life of Princess Di, giving them a fresh perspective on a woman whom many people feel they already know.”--Library Journal

My 2nd Review of this book

Review I did immediately after finishing book was WRONG. The author was so magnificent in telling the story it made me feel sad for Diana and the monarchy. Worth reading

Royal gaslighting

Interesting perspective. Very believable. A young girl struggling to figure out how to best use her gifts and talents falls prey to the image makers and protectors. Terribly difficult to look at Charles and Camila with respect.

Very interesting and informative

Dianna was an adorable person and the book confirmed that. Hard to look at Charles and Camilla knowing their past.

Outstanding narration

It was interesting to follow along on this story that has captured the attention of millions, even decades later. The narrator is an excellent actress who voices each character differently. With lots of dialogue, it would be challenging to follow without her expertise in narration.