DIANA, WILLIAM, & HARRY

The Patterson juggernaut continues to expand into the nonfiction world with this account of the royal family.

Given that bookshelves are full of stories about the House of Windsor, is there anything more to be said about the shattered family of Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-1997)? Patterson thinks yes—and proves it—in this narrative about the lives of Diana, William, and Harry. Numerous authors have written about Diana the victim, Diana the fashion icon, and Diana the “people’s princess,” but Patterson explores an aspect of the late Lady Di that offers more fertile ground for investigation: Diana the mother. Starting from a young age, Diana Frances Spencer displayed an uncanny ability to put people at ease, and her clear love of children set the stage for her most important role, that of “Mummy.” Amid all the recent Diana content, from Netflix shows to films, Patterson does something different. He treats the princess as a person and tells the story of a mother from her perspective. In fascinating morsels, we learn of the empathetic heart underneath the diamond brooches and couture gowns. Diana struggled with issues many face—including mental health, frosty in-laws, and a doomed marriage—and Patterson treats his subject with compassion and an admiring acknowledgement of Diana’s rebellious side. However, the book loses momentum after Diana’s death. We see how sons William and Harry assumed their roles in the royal family without their mother’s guidance. By this point, Diana’s impressive humanitarian efforts give way to her sons’ social lives and military careers. In spite of efforts to keep Diana top of mind, the narrative becomes less vibrant once Diana is no longer in it. As the sons drift apart, the book leaves us with the heartbreaking question of what might have been.

A good choice for readers who can’t get enough of Diana.