In the second edition of her series, Deb Stratas focuses on the late Diana, Princess of Wales’s last year in her marriage to the Prince of Wales. Focused in 1991 and 1992, Diana, A Spencer in Turmoil tells of the difficult time in Diana’s life…the year where it was announced that the Prince and Princess of Wales were separating.
It begins with Diana having lunch with a friend and getting the news that Prince William had been in an accident at school and had been rushed to the hospital. She imagines the conversations Charles and Diana had about their son and then with him to keep him calm before his operation. This included imagining the discussion the Prince and Princess of Wales had when Charles revealed he was going to honour his commitment to attend his evening engagement (only after having been assured the surgery was not dangerous). An obvious crack was showing brightly in the royal marriage.
The story, mixed with both non-fiction events and fictionalised discussions, continues throughout 1991 including imagined discussions between Diana and Harry at Christmas time where young Harry wants to open his gifts. William tells him that he must wait until after tea, and Diana interjects, “But you can help Granny with the Christmas tree now, darling.”
The book covers the devastation Diana felt when her father died on 29 March 1992, the separation of the Duke and Duchess of York, the famous Morton book, the battle of not wanting to travel on the (last joint trip of the pair) to Korea with Charles, and ends with the separation of the Prince and Princess of Wales in December 1992.
So take yourself back to 1991 and 1992, in Diana’s shoes. Although not always happy, you are sure to enjoy the story!
And like the book before, Stratas, a Canadian, provides a glossary of British terms at the end of the book for those of us who are not from the United Kingdom and are unfamiliar with them. As an American myself, I love that she includes this to reference while reading the story.
You can read our review of Diana, A Spencer in Love, Deb Stratas’s first book in the trilogy, here. Diana, A Spencer Forever will conclude the series, but the release date has not yet been announced.
Deb Stratas is a Canadian author residing in Toronto with a lifelong passion for the British Royal Family and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. According to Stratas, she felt an instant connection with Diana after watching her wedding to the Prince of Wales. The proud royalist attended a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in 2015.
