Princess Diana still influences crown and country - EXPRESS COMMENT
TWENTY years on from Princess Diana’s death and it seems all has not been forgiven and forgotten.
Twenty years on from Princess Diana’s death and it seems all has not been forgiven and forgotten
Although Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, have gained the public’s respect for their considerable charitable contribution, there is a sense that they will never be able to move on from their adulterous past.
Clarence House will have hoped Camilla’s approval rating would be much higher after a 12-year charm offensive since she married Charles in 2005.
Over more than a decade the Duchess has gone from being the most hated woman in Britain to something approaching a national treasure.
Yet the public has spoken in our exclusive poll and the message is clear: two thirds still do not want Camilla to be Queen.
This is not just a reflection of Camilla’s indelible status as the “third person” in Charles and Diana’s marriage but an acknowledgement that as Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, our current Queen’s title is not something that can be taken for granted.
These findings do need to be seen in the context of recent events. As we prepare to mark the 20th anniversary of her death, we have reached “peak Diana” with documentaries raking over the intimate details of marital troubles the heir to the throne has long put behind him.
Prince Charles and Camilla have gained the public’s respect for their considerable charitable work
Princess Diana shares touching moment with her sons
Diana’s legacy of openness clearly lives on through her sons
The Channel 4 programme Diana: In Her Own Words, which was watched by 3.5 million viewers, included the princess’s claim that her husband “refused to be the only Prince of Wales who never had a mistress”.
Although there is no actual evidence Charles ever said this, the suggestion of such an abuse of royal privilege sits uncomfortably with today’s new era of monarchy.
Hence why those surveyed last week appeared so supportive of William and Harry in speaking out about their mother.
Diana’s legacy of openness clearly lives on through her sons, who are all the more popular for it. The nation’s desire to see Meghan Markle marry into the Royal Family is also a sign of our forward-thinking times. If a mixed-race American actress does end up becoming a princess, then the transformation of the House of Windsor that started with Diana will truly be complete.
Taylor Swift had taken on a DJ who allegedly groped her during a meet and greet
Sisterhood speaks out and stands up against sexism
SHOWBUSINESS stars such as Taylor Swift and Holliday Grainger should be congratulated for speaking out against sexism in the industry.
Singer Swift’s decision to take on a DJ who allegedly groped her during a meet and greet has never been about money. The 27-year-old only wants one US dollar in symbolic damages to serve as a reminder that women are not playthings.
Actress Grainger is also standing up for sisterhood in questioning why female stars should be paid less than men for doing the same job.
Long may such gender equality continue, not only for the famous but also their female fans.