My 8 year old daughter could tell you all about being a princess. She loves anything to do with the princess life. Doesn’t matter if it is a Disney movie about princesses…princess clothes….toys…or fame. She loves the princess life.
Today, on the 10 year anniversary (i can’t believe it has been so long, wow) of Princess Diana’s death it seems a shame that a woman who could command so much attention and loyalty, could also command so much controversary.
If ever there was a woman who little girls would want to emulate as a princess, it would be her. Her wedding was nothing less than a fairy tale that every little girl dreams of.
That is, unless you are a grown woman who knows that, hours before the wedding, Princess Diana’s heart was shattered when she became heartbreakingly aware of Charles deep and abiding commitment to Camilla, his true love. Diana knew that they were close…but only suspected at his true feeling up until this point.
When you look at the video/pictures of Diana’s wedding, you see a woman in awe of all of the attention; and yet, you see so much more in her eyes.
It is all 20/20 hindsight, this information that we have gleaned from the news over the years of ,behind the scenes of, a woman who lived a life of sadness and turmoil; and yes, even joy in the lives of her sons. Those boys became her reason to survive her relationship with Charles. That and her commitment to her charities.
Over the years, Camilla has somehow redeemed herself in the eyes of many. Even Diana’s sons have grown to care deeply for her. Mainly because they see the happiness of their father in his relationship with her.
This has had many observers note that Diana again, in some ways, was betrayed by the royal family , (her sons affections for Camilla included) and the public. We all have mixed feelings. We feel Diana’s hurt and pain and we feel somewhat like betrayers ourselves if we support Charles and Camilla’s happiness.
Yet, as adults, we all know that life is short. To live it in a loveless marriage is not a good thing. Better that he had had the backbone from the beginning, and left a beautiful shy girl go on with her life without promising a life of love and commitment when in his heart he didn’t have those very things to give to her. Truly it is sad.
Then again, the world would not have the legacy of her sons. Life really can be a complex thing with choices, regrets, and second guesses about the decisions we have or have not made.
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