Queen 'didn't like' being in debt of Tony Blair following Princess Diana's death
QUEEN Elizabeth II reportedly "rather resented Tony Blair's intrusion" into her family life following the death of her former daughter-in-law, Princess Diana.
Queen ‘didn’t like’ being ‘in debt’ to Tony Blair says expert
Queen Elizabeth II felt conflicted about her feelings towards Tony Blair following the death of Princess Diana, according to a group of royal experts. While the former Prime Minister had "saved her" from a public fall in grace by persuading her to return to London, she reportedly did not like being in his debt.
Royal expert and historian Dominic Sandbrook said: "Nobody likes to be in someone else's debt and I think the Queen probably did feel simultaneously, he had saved her, but at the same time she didn't like the fact that he'd done it.
"She didn't like him for it.
"She had the last laugh, I mean she's not the person who can't show her face in the street because people will call her a war criminal."
Historian Dr Piers Brendan continued: "No good deed goes unpunished of course and whether she rather resented Blair's intrusion into her family affairs, only history will relate."
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Mr Blair played a huge role in handling the fallout of Princess Diana's death, which saw the tabloids and the public turn against the Queen due to her perceived coldness.
The Queen's former daughter-in-law died following a car accident in Paris in 1997, after her vehicle was chased by paparazzi and eventually lost control.
Her sudden death at the age of 36 and her reputation as the most glamorous and famous woman in the world sparked widespread mourning across the globe.
Thousands came to leave flowers outside her home at Kensington Palace and the British press began to question why the monarchy had not given a formal reaction.
At the time of Diana's death, on August 31, 1997, the Royal Family were on holiday at their summer residence, Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
It was the Queen and Prince Philip's firm belief that they should remain there with the two young princes, William and Harry.
However, over the next five days, headlines such as 'Show us you care' and 'Where is our Queen?' began to appear in the press.
There was also public outrage at the fact that the Queen had refused to allow the flag to fly at half-mast above Buckingham Palace, and wished for the funeral to be a private family affair.
During this period, Mr Blair was regularly contacting the Royal Family and their advisors, urging the Queen to return to London and be with the mourners.
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In contrast to the Queen, Mr Blair had been greatly praised for his response to the tragedy after he made an emotional speech where he labelled Diana, 'The People's Princess'.
Eventually, the Queen bowed to public pressure and returned to London a day before planned, where she stepped outside the gates of Buckingham Palace to view the floral tributes.
She also allowed the flag to fly at half-mast and agreed for the funeral to be a televised royal ceremonial service at Westminster Abbey.
On the evening before the funeral, she made a live televised appearance where she paid tribute to Princess Diana.
She praised Diana as an "exceptional and gifted human" and stated that she spoke as both "your Queen and as a grandmother".