The Queen and Di Audiobook By Ingrid Seward cover art

The Queen and Di

The Untold Story

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The Queen and Di

By: Ingrid Seward
Narrated by: Emily Gray
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The Manchester Evening News declared, it took "a biographer like Ingrid Seward to unleash a sober, challenging glimpse into the one relationship of such scrutiny." That relationship is the complex, troubled, and often turbulent association between Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth. According to conventional wisdom, the Queen and Di were at odds almost from the start, but as the author of this "explosive book" ( London Daily Mail) reveals, the Queen was for a long time one of Diana's staunchest defenders, from the moment the future princess set foot on the royal turf of Balmoral Castle as a weekend guest in the 1980s.

In this work, best-selling author Ingrid Seward, the longtime editor of Majesty magazine and perhaps the most authoritative writer on the royal family, takes the listener behind the palace gates of Buckingham, Balmoral, and Sandrigham, and shows us how the royals really live and operate among themselves.

Elizabeth herself as a young bride had to learn how to deal with all sorts of personal problems, including a sometimes difficult and wayward husband, so she was especially sympathetic to Diana's many idiosyncrasies and difficulties. From an insider's perspective, the author charts Di's ups and downs: her difficult childhood, bulimia, depression, and sometimes even paranoia, offset by her innate charm, compassion, and common touch. Diana just wanted to be loved . . . but love isn't part of the royal vocabulary. A few weeks before her death, Princess Diana called and invited Ingrid Seward to come to her house.

Drawing on her long association with Diana and what turned out to be Diana's last conversation with a member of the press, Seward provides astonishing insight into the Camilla Parker Bowles affair, as well as the views and opinions of one of the most adored and vilified women of the 20th century.

©2000, 2011 Ingrid Seward (P)2012 Audible, Inc. Biographies & Memoirs England Royalty Politics & Activism

Editorial reviews

The Queen and Di: The Untold Story begins with an intimate interview between Ingrid Seward and Princess Diana, herself. Using firsthand sources such as this, Seward has managed to provide new perspective on a relationship that has been the obsession of paparazzi and gossip columnists for decades: the conflicted bond between Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth. Emily Gray's prim performance perfectly conveys the style and elegance so often associated with stories of the Princess. The Queen and Di is a delightful listen for anyone interested in the stories and gossip of Royal Society.
Engaging Narration • Comparative Perspective • Interesting Moments • Royal Insights • Accurate Voice Portrayal

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Learned some new things about the royal family and that’s always a great read for me.

Good Audiobook

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Interesting information but very clear the authors opinion of Diana wasn’t terribly high. Interesting non the less

Interesting but bias

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Both of these women dealt with husbands who were cheaters. Phillip was a womanizer and had an ongoing affair with an actress for over 20 years. The difference was clear in how each of these women dealt with the problem. Diana became pretty disgusting with many men. I think the Queen was helped by Porchy, the Earl over at the Downton Abbey establishment and the man she should have married. They really cared for each other. The Queen would sneak out in a head scarf and meet him in the back of a close by restaurant.

The Queen an Di are so different

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There are interesting moments in this book, and the speculated comparison between two royal marriages keeps it interesting. The narrator gives some real life to the story with a rather good reading and accurate (though nasal) voice of Queen Elizabeth. Aficionados will appreciate the opportunity to compare the pro-Charles view against similar pro-Diana writings from other sources. Seward attempts to demonstrate a neutral attitude through occasional expressions of sympathy toward Diana, but ends up with the recognizably patronizing tone adapted by many of Prince Charles' biographical apologists. Her empathy for the Queen is more heartfelt and easier to understand, except for the tired assumptions about Prince Philip's supposed infidelities. She is far harder on the Duke of Edinburgh than on the Prince of Wales, offering justifications for confessed infidelity on the part of the Prince versus cold contempt for unproven behavior of the Duke. Still a pleasant listen, though if you indulge in only reading one book on the late Princess, this one is not sufficiently neutral to recommend.

Not the best or the worst of the Princess Di genre

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There have been so many sides of Diana’s and Charles’ story of what killed their marriage. Welcome to another one. I’m not sure anyone except Charles and the Queen know the reality of it. This version just muddies the waters more. They say you should never speak ill of the dead, but my opinion of Diana dropped considerably after hearing this. She’s gone. Let’s just let all the speculation go with her and let’s wish those well who remain to carry on the monarchy.

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