Princess Diana's Tragic Story Is Still a PR Problem for the Royal Family, Omid Scobie Says
They avoid painful reminders.

Princess Diana's story was difficult from the moment she became engaged to Prince Charles.
He reportedly told her he didn't love her, and carried on his relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles throughout the marriage. She struggled with bulimia, was likely quite lonely, and had affairs herself.
They publicly separated, then later divorced, and Diana gave her now-infamous Panorama interview, in which she opened up candidly about it all.
There was also the publication of Andrew Morton's Diana: Her True Story--in Her Own Words earlier, in 1992, the first tell-all royal biography of its kind.
And, post-divorce, there were Diana's relationships with Dr. Hasnat Khan and Dodi Fayed, who died in the same car crash as the princess.
For royal reporter Omid Scobie, the story of Diana is still "a stain on the royals" 25 years after her death, he writes in his Yahoo! column—and they avoid reminding the public of the most controversial aspects of the late princess' life whenever they can.
They sell Diana memorabilia in palace shops and hold exhibitions about her life in palace galleries, but they keep it at that.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
"Sanitized history, if you will," a former aide told Scobie. "To the institution, Diana will always be remembered in a way that is safe for them—a safe distance kept from everything else. It’s why you never see Charles acknowledge the anniversary of her death. Quite simply, they can't afford to remind people of his role in her pain."
A little show called The Crown didn't help, either: When the Diana/Camilla storyline was introduced, the Clarence House Instagram had to shut down its comment section for a while (I did not know this, but it makes a lot of sense).
While the Royal Family has changed in the past quarter of a century, Scobie writes, it hasn't changed that much.
And for him, there are evident parallels to be drawn between Princess Diana's and Meghan Markle's treatments within the royal institution.
The expert reminds us of an excerpt from a letter Diana wrote shortly before she died. "I have been battered, bruised and abused mentally by a system for 15 years now, but I feel no resentment . . . I am strong inside and maybe that is a problem for my enemies," she wrote.
"Thank you Charles for putting me through such hell and for giving me the opportunity to learn from the cruel things you have done to me."
Scobie also recalls that Diana said, speaking about herself, "She won't go quietly, that's the problem. I'll fight to the end, because I believe that I have a role to fulfil."
And fight to the end she did.
Iris Goldsztajn is a London-based journalist, editor and author. She is the morning editor at Marie Claire, and her work has appeared in the likes of British Vogue, InStyle, Cosmopolitan, Refinery29 and SELF. Iris writes about everything from celebrity news and relationship advice to the pitfalls of diet culture and the joys of exercise. She has many opinions on Harry Styles, and can typically be found eating her body weight in cheap chocolate.
-
Your Colorist Knows That the Secret to Expensive-Looking, Ultra-Shiny Hair Is This 10-Minute DIY Treatment
Crank the shine all the way up.
By Taylore Glynn Published
-
The Daughter of Princess Kate's "Rock" Could Be Getting a Royal Role
With a shrinking number of senior royals, Lady Louise might be given a role.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Hailey Bieber Honors Baby Jack With Her Blingiest New-Parent Jewelry Yet
Nothing says "I love you" like $1,980-worth of diamonds.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
Princess Kate Raised Eyebrows By Wearing Princess Diana's Priceless Ring During This Risky Vacation Activity
It was a choice.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince Charles Sent Princess Diana an Unexpectedly Touching Message Before Their Royal Wedding
The late royal shared the details of his intimate card and personalized gift.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince Harry and Prince William Share This Parenting Conundrum as They Honor Princess Diana
The Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex have found themselves in similar situations recently.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Exclusive: Princess Diana Would “Send Romantic Cards to Prince Charles” But “He Never Returned the Compliment,” Per Former Royal Butler
Diana’s butler, Paul Burrell, tells ‘Marie Claire’ how the royals “never acknowledged” Valentine’s Day.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Princess Diana Enjoyed a Rather Bizarre Snack Her Royal Chef Kept On Hand
It's not what you'd normally pick for a midnight snack.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince William Had a Heartbreaking Reason for Choosing His Childhood Dream Job
The surprising occupation had to do with his mom, Princess Diana.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Princess Diana Once Wore an Unbelievable "Disguise" for a Secret Night Out With an A-List Singer
"We were nudging each other like naughty schoolchildren."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Why The King and Queen Invited Stanley Tucci, David Beckham and Helen Mirren to a Glitzy Royal Dinner
Donatella Versace, Victoria Beckham and more famous faces joined the event at Highgrove House.
By Kristin Contino Published