Decades after her death, the People's Princess, Diana, Princess of Wales remains one of the most recognisable and enduring figures of the modern era.
Her life, marriage, humanitarian work, struggles and tragic death have been revisited countless times in books, documentaries, films and television dramas.
Now, as the 30th anniversary of her death approaches, her brother, Charles Spencer, is preparing to offer his own account of the woman behind the global icon.
Earl Spencer is to publish "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister", a memoir recounting Diana’s life and the events surrounding the final week of her life.
The book is being presented as an intimate account from the person who knew Diana as a sister rather than as a princess.
In a statement released by publisher Penguin Random House, Spencer said the approaching anniversary had once again brought a flood of requests for interviews about Diana.
He said the renewed attention convinced him that it was time to put his own memories and reflections on paper rather than continue reading accounts that, in his view, contain inaccuracies that have become accepted as fact.
‘The aim of this book is to tell the truth about Diana from her brother’s perspective, just as I attempted to do when speaking at her funeral. As with my eulogy, I want to speak on Diana’s behalf and do so in an openly positive way.
"I hope this book will be of interest to the many who still cherish the memory of Diana when she was alive, and I would be delighted if those too young to remember her in her heyday feel, after reading this, that they ‘get’ who she really was: a one-off, dynamic character, full of love, charisma and self-doubt, who gave life a hell of a go, and left the world a far better place, despite exiting the stage while still so young. This is a book I’ve been invited to write repeatedly, since the actual day of Diana’s funeral. Now is the time for me to finally put it down on the page," said Spencer.
Publisher Daniel Bunyard said: "This is a book of historic importance, telling as it does the story of one of the twentieth century’s most iconic and culturally significant figures, but it is also utterly unique in being written by Earl Spencer, from a vantage point of such intimacy.
"It is extraordinarily moving, beautifully written and remarkably candid, in no small part due to Charles’s rare ability to access great emotional depth without sentimentality, honest observation without rancour, and warmth without gloss. For the first time, but also for all time, readers will find here a fitting tribute to the beloved woman who was Princess Diana."
Spencer became one of the defining voices of Diana’s funeral, delivering a powerful eulogy that mourned his sister while also condemning the relentless media attention surrounding her.
In his eulogy, Spencer described Princess Diana the "very essence of compassion, of duty, of style, of beauty", adding: "All over the world she was a symbol of selfless humanity... a standard bearer for the rights of the truly downtrodden."
He said she was the "most hunted person of the modern age" and pledged to protect Prince William and Prince Harry and prevent them suffering a similar fate.
Former BBC royal correspondent, Jennie Bond, believes the book will serve as an important historical commentary.
Bond told the Mirror: “It will be a fascinating book, and one which, as the Earl says, will put to bed some of the many misunderstandings surrounding Diana’s life and death. And that makes it an important book.
“There will be multiple documentaries and acres of newsprint about Diana as the 30th anniversary of her death approaches. Some of us can claim to have known her a little, many a film has been made about her, and 'The Crown' distorted the reality of her life for millions of viewers. Her brother, Charles, knows the truth.
“He’s a journalist himself and an author. He is brilliantly placed to tell us exactly what his sister was really like, and what happened during her troubled marriage and untimely death," said Bond.
The memoir will also revisit the circumstances surrounding Diana’s death in Paris on August 31, 1997.
Diana died after the Mercedes carrying her, her partner Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul crashed in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel while being pursued by paparazzi. Dodi and Paul also died, while bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones survived.
Diana was taken to La Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, where doctors attempted emergency surgery before she was pronounced dead.
Her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, were just 15 and 12 respectively.
Diana's transformation from a 19-year-old aristocrat into one of the world's most famous women remains central to her enduring legacy.
The daughter of Earl Spencer, Lady Diana Spencer became engaged to Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, when she was 19. Charles was 12 years older.
Their wedding on July 29, 1981, was televised internationally and watched by millions. In South Africa, too, schoolchildren were among those who watched the young bride marry the future king live on television while at school.
From that moment, Diana became a global phenomenon.
Her photographs were collected in family albums and displayed on walls, while photographers followed her movements relentlessly.
From her engagement and royal wedding to her charity visits and life after her separation from Charles, she became one of the most photographed women in the world.
Her fashion also became part of her legacy. Diana’s wardrobe evolved from the formal gowns and tailored outfits expected of a young royal into a style that incorporated relaxed sportswear and casual clothing, influencing generations of admirers.
But her appeal extended beyond her appearance.
Diana spoke publicly about personal struggles and the pressures of royal life at a time when such discussions were considered deeply uncomfortable within the monarchy.
Her openness about emotional difficulties, combined with her charity work and highly visible humanitarian campaigns, helped create a new model of royal celebrity.
Diana's story has continued to attract filmmakers and audiences.
Documentaries including Princess Diana have examined her public life, while the film "Spencer", starring Kristen Stewart, offered a fictionalised portrayal of a period in her marriage and earned Stewart an Academy Award nomination.
Netflix’s "The Crown" also introduced Diana’s story to a new generation, although its dramatic interpretation has been criticised for blurring the boundaries between historical fact and fiction.
The renewed attention on Diana comes at a time when the wider royal family is also undergoing change.
According to British media reports, Prince Harry and Meghan intend to relocate from the US later this month to a private, non-royal residence outside London.
Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and subsequently established their lives in California.
The couple's children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, are enrolled to start at a British school in September.
King Charles was told of the move on Sunday.
Prince William was blindsided and only learnt of the move through US media reports, according to media reports. William and his wife Kate are said to be deeply unhappy about the move.
Reports have suggested that the couple and their children may spend more time in Britain, adding another chapter to the complex story of Diana's family and her enduring influence on her sons.
For Spencer, "Swan Song" represents something different: a story told by someone who shared Diana’s childhood and family life long before the world knew her as a princess.
Her life has become part of modern cultural history, a story of royalty, celebrity, compassion, controversy and tragedy.
Now her brother hopes to reclaim part of that story in his own words, offering readers an account of Diana not simply as the People's Princess, but as his sister.
taschica.pillay@nationalmg.co.za