Did the Queen like Diana?
The relationship between Queen Elizabeth II and Diana, Princess of Wales, was a complex tapestry, woven with the threads of duty, affection, frustration, and ultimately, shared tragedy. Their connection evolved over time, from the early days of Diana's fairy-tale entry into the royal family to the turbulent period that followed.When Diana Spencer first entered the House of Windsor, the Queen viewed her as a breath of fresh air — a young, vivacious woman who could bring warmth and modern appeal to the sometimes-staid institution of the monarchy. The Queen had witnessed Diana's upbringing as a part of the Spencer family, who were close to the royals, and there was an initial fondness, perhaps even an expectation that Diana would seamlessly adapt to the rigors of royal life.As Diana and Charles' marriage began to unravel, the Queen's role in Diana's life took on new dimensions. Her Majesty, a figure of stoicism and adherence to royal protocol, found herself in the position of an observer and, at times, a reluctant mediator in the increasingly public and painful breakdown of the Wales' marriage. The Queen's preference for privacy and her aversion to airing personal matters in public put her at odds with Diana's more open, emotionally candid approach.The publication of Andrew Morton's book, "Diana: Her True Story", which laid bare the Princess's struggles, placed the Queen in an uncomfortable spotlight. She had to balance her affection for Diana as a person and the mother of her grandchildren with the need to protect the monarchy's image. While Diana felt that the Queen should intervene in her marital issues, particularly regarding Charles's relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles, the Queen believed in hoping for the best and maintaining the family's privacy.When Diana delivered her explosive BBC Panorama interview, disclosing her innermost feelings and the intricacies of her failed marriage, the Queen was deeply troubled, both personally and for the institution she had served all her life. The interview was seen as a breach of the royal family's unwritten code of silence, a departure from the discretion the Queen so highly valued.Despite these challenges and moments of despair, the Queen's concern for Diana remained. She offered reassurances when Diana feared for the custody of her children, demonstrating a protective instinct towards her daughter-in-law. There was a sense of familial duty that even the stormiest of times could not completely erode.The Queen's reaction to Diana's death was emblematic of their entire relationship — characterized by a struggle to reconcile the private with the public, the personal with the institutional. Her initial silence and absence from London in the immediate aftermath were interpreted by many as coldness. However, it was a decision born out of concern for her grandsons, Prince William and Prince Harry, and a desire to shield them from the overwhelming public grief. It was a grandmother's instinct to protect rather than a monarch's to preside.When the Queen did address the nation, it was with a tribute that acknowledged Diana's human touch and dedication to her charitable causes, reflecting a genuine respect for her former daughter-in-law's qualities.In summary, the Queen's feelings for Diana were layered and complex, marked by moments of empathy and affection, as well as tension and distress. Their relationship was a dance between two women bound by circumstance, navigating the choppy waters of royal life with their distinct perspectives and experiences. Through it all, the Queen, in her steadfast manner, remained a figure of continuity, even as Diana's life and legacy continued to shape the royal family and the nation's consciousness long after her tragic passing.
