Princess Diana would have made a glorious gran to Prince George and Princess Charlotte
If it wasn't for that fateful night in Paris, the People's Princess would be here enjoying life and relishing precious moments with her family
IT’S a real shame Prince George and Princess Charlotte will never know the woman who would easily have been the most glamorous granny on the planet.
The two little royals will, however, be paying tribute to their late grandmother Princess Diana at a private ceremony today as part of the commemorations of the 20th anniversary of her death.
William and Harry will be at her graveside at Althorp House, Northants, with Kate, George and Charlotte as well as members of Diana’s family on what would have been her 56th birthday.
It will be a sad day for all of them but also a chance for William to talk to his children about the granny they never met.
He will make sure they grow up knowing all about how much Diana would have loved them and how she was so loved by the country that almost the entire nation stood still and grieved when she died.
I remember reporting on her funeral and it was almost medieval the way people were crying, wailing and throwing flowers on to her coffin as her poor, solemn-faced young sons walked behind, white with grief and blinded by unshed tears.
Diana’s finest legacy is her two fine sons. She would be proud of the way they have carried a torch for her memory and endeavoured to support charities she cared about so passionately.
She would have applauded their honesty about feeling lost, bewildered and depressed after her death and their efforts to break down barriers about mental health problems.
Diana suffered from low self-esteem and anxiety while trying to deal with her failing marriage and her husband’s continued love for another woman.
She was also racked with the eating disorder bulimia, which causes all sorts of problems including mood swings and depression.
She was the first royal to openly admit she had mental health issues, at a time when attitudes were decidedly less enlightened. It was very brave of her to speak out and her sons, especially Prince Harry, are even more open and honest.
Although I think that, as an astute PR operator, Diana would now be gently advising her youngest son to keep his head down for a while after his recent blizzard of revelations to the press.
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Prince George and Princess Charlotte to attend re-dedication of Diana’s grave
Poor Diana. It was such a stupid way to die, in the back of a speeding car with a drunk at the wheel while not wearing her seatbelt.
The reason there have been so very many conspiracy theories about her death over the past two decades is because none of us can really accept that such an exceptional woman could die in such a mundane way.
It’s so desperately sad. She should be here enjoying life and relishing precious moments with her grandkids.
She always wanted a daughter and I bet Charlotte would have been the apple of her eye. I can imagine Diana going on wild shopping sprees to dress her granddaughter in cute, trendy clothes, and being the first to volunteer for babysitting duties.
Diana loved being a mum and there are countless photos and videos of her face alight with joy, taking her boys on trips to fun parks and concerts. But she also made them realise how lucky and privileged they were, showing them what life was like for homeless kids during her work with the charity Centrepoint.
Over the years there’s been a lot of rewriting of history to portray Diana as stupid but scheming, flaky and unstable. Diana was no saint but, as she observed, she always reckoned Charles and her would have made a wonderful team. She had the popularity, emotional intelligence and could charm the birds from the trees, while he had royal dignity and gravitas.
Sadly it was not to be. I think she would have been a good ally for Kate Middleton too.
Diana could have given Kate hard-earned advice about dealing with the royal household, keeping the media happy, speaking in public and having the common touch that won her so many loyal fans.
I reckon Diana would have taken some of the starch out of Kate’s knickers and told her it was OK to let her hair down and have some fun.
Kate is a beautiful girl but she sometimes wears clothes that are far too frumpy for her age, and she and William appear old before their time.
Diana would have told her not to play so safe and allowed her to feel young, free and to have fun.
It would have been hugely entertaining to see the battle of the two grandmothers when it came to “style wars” and tussles over who took the grandchildren to Legoland.
But in any competition between them, you could never believe Carole Middleton would come out on top.
When they are older, George and Charlotte will read and see all sorts of stories about their fascinating grandmother.
I’m sure their dad and their uncle will make sure they know the real Diana, who would have loved them so dearly and been such a positive force in their young lives.
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Hugh is king of the ring
BIG stars with big egos are notoriously difficult to deal with. They are puffed up with their own self-importance yet crippled by anxiety and self-doubt.
But amid all the spoilt brat behaviour, there are some refreshingly down-to-earth celebs who realise how lucky they are and appreciate all the perks that come with the job.
Top of the list is the delightful Hugh Jackman.
He’s not just ludicrously handsome, but also funny, intelligent and the kind of man who treats the work experience girl with the same gentlemanly politeness as he treats the movie producers.
He’s starring in what is likely to be the biggest hit this Christmas. Hugh was born to play circus legend P.T. Barnum and The Greatest Showman is an extravaganza that plays to his strengths.
He told me his daughter thinks it’s the best thing he has ever done, and she even liked his singing.
If all A-listers were as generous and open- hearted as Hugh, the world would be a better place – and none of their assistants would have stress-related ulcers.
IF Sean Bean doesn’t pick up a Bafta for his portrait of a tortured, haunted but well-meaning priest, right, in the BBC drama series Broken, then there’s no justice.
He’s been utterly brilliant in this difficult role, but the most surprising thing is that the poor man didn’t get killed off in episode one while loudly yelling, “Yah b*****ds”, which is what usually happens in all of his film and TV appearances.
I actually thought he had it written into his contract.
TOMORROW night on Poldark we meet one of the creepiest characters seen in any historical drama – the ghastly vicar Osborne Whitworth.
He will make your flesh creep and cause untold misery for characters we have grown to love.
Whitworth was played so memorably by our very own Christopher Biggins in the original 1970s TV series.
Contrary to his cuddly, sunny image, Biggins chewed up the scenery and was an all-round black-hearted baddie as Whitworth – showing just how under-appreciated his acting skills have been over the years. He was also a spine-chilling, petulant Emperor Nero in the classic TV series I, Claudius.
I’d love to see Biggins being given a cameo in the new Poldark – just like Robin Ellis, who first portrayed the dashing Captain Ross and returned for the hit remake.
Why I really treasure Celine, after a fashion
CELINE DION has always paddled her own canoe when it comes to fashion – you have to admire a woman who wore a tuxedo back-to-front at the Oscars.
This week, however, she has gone the full Cher when it comes to truly deranged and outlandish outfits.
First was the horror of “sewage worker chic” with those plastic-looking leather dungarees teamed with weapon-like clown shoes.
That ensemble cost £85,000, including a daft silver bag that set her back an eye-popping £79k. Then we had Celine in a scary, too-long snakeskin coat, a mad biker T-shirt and tight suede trousers topped off with what was a “protest singer” hat in the Sixties. The stuff of nightmares.
But here’s the thing. Celine is worth millions and if she wants to spend her cash on overpriced clothes, shoes and bags then that’s her prerogative. And it makes a change from all the dull celebrity lookalikes who never take any risks on the red carpet.
Celine should be treasured. I hope she’s at the Oscars next year.