Reading Guide
From The Princess
The Princess by Wendy Holden
Princess Diana was the most famous woman in the world, celebrated across the globe for her poise and glamour. But before stepping out of the royal carriage at St. Paul’s she spent nineteen years as the shy, awkward Lady Diana Spencer. How did the aristocrat ugly…
Paperback
Reader's Guide
The Princess by Wendy Holden
Discussion Questions:
1. Has The Princess altered your perception of the early years of Princess Diana’s life? In what way?
2. The Princess is divided into specific time periods. For instance, Diana’s childhood, as seen through the eyes of her friend Sandy, and her time as a Sloane Ranger in Coleherne Court. Which part did you like best, and why?
3. The central theme of The Princess is how the royal marriage of 1981 was schemed into being by people with a vested interest. Did this surprise you?
4. The Princess takes Diana’s love for romantic novels seriously and suggests that such novels formed her entire worldview (with consequences that are still playing out). What do you think about that theory?
5. Would you say that Diana Spencer was a modern girl or an old-fashioned one?
6. Diana came from top-rank British aristocracy, and Prince Charles was the heir to the throne. Theirs were important families, but how were
Diana’s and Prince Charles’s choices impacted by their families?
7. How central is the idea of family to this novel?
8. Did any elements of the portrayal of life among the British royal family surprise you?
Wendy Holden has written numerous books and is a celebrated journalist. She lives in England.
