What would the coronation be like if Diana had lived?

[Bouledeneige]

I know this is a very strange question - but I woke up this morning wondering about it. I have absolutely no idea why. I am not in the least bit interested in the coronation.

So I went back to what might have happened if she lived. Maybe she would have married Dodi and had a baby but it then would have broken up as she realised the expectations of a Fayed wife. Behind closed doors - seen but not heard. Then maybe a series of relationships with property barons, celebs and euro riche. Summers spent lounging on mediterranean yachts, winters in Verbier and Turks and Caicos, maybe some Hollywood and Miami hols.

Increasingly the boys would've been channelled into university, the armed forces, marriage and children - increasingly fenced in by royal convention and duty. That awkward Ex thing at graduations and passings outs, marriages and christenings..... And then the Coronation....

I think she'd have exited the country for the weekend's ceremonies and spectacle - and instead been papped partying on a sail boat in the WhitSundays with a bunch of friends and a handsome younger man.

And maybe not. Maybe a life like Princess Margaret... or maybe a happy ever after. What do you think?

I can't believe I even started thinking this way. Not even sure I will take any notice at all of the Coronation.

Touche!! 🤣

Spot on. So glad she gave the interview as well. She so obviously wanted to speak and say her bit. We have it all on record.

No thought about who would be at the Coronation, but am convinced life would have been a lot happier for the Duke of Sussex were Diana still alive.

She would not have lived the life of an idle rich Lady. She liked making a difference and would have continued to be involved in controversial charities. I can imagine her supporting the RNLI rescues of migrants in boats crossing the channel and talking to children asylum seekers to raise concern about their plight. I can also imagine her drawing attention to the disappearance of many probably trafficked children from UK immigration hostels - left there without proper oversight.

In terms of the Coronation, I doubt Camilla would be called Queen with Diana still around. Diana would not be invited and instead the Palace would have spent months briefing journalists against her to turn public opinion against Diana. And it might have worked.

I don’t think she would have aged well, She always looked about 10 years older and her eating disorders would take their toll. She might have calmed down eventually approaching 40 or maybe not. I reckon Harry would still have been grumpy about being the spare and Wills life would be exactly the same. She would not be the icon she is now. Camilla would still be Queen and people would be more sympathetic towards her.

Posting on here is fine, I certainly have more of a life than Mumsnet. However, posting a thread about something that happened 25 years ago, about someone you don’t know shows a very boring life.

You’re deluded if you think the mother of the king after next would ever be allowed to sponsor a charity that was implicitly critical of government decisions or the state apparatus.

Yes indeed Sudeko and Inkanta so glad she didn’t stay silent. Mind you, she paid for it in terms of palace PR.

I find it fascinating how people have swallowed whole all the stories that the establishment have spinned about Diana over the years and then they go and post them all again on Mumsnet!

She wasn’t a saint but she certainly wasn’t the pop loving flaky hysteric they have made her out to be.

Her private secretary, who worked with her for 8 years, said she was energetic, professional and the most down to earth person he knew, who had a wicked sense of humour. It’s truly grim what they have done to her memory.

Well those who feel the need to deride others for having an interest in an historical figure who they met and admired must lead an even more boring life!

I think if Diana had not died, the gloss would have come off in time. Though I never understand the Queen of Hearts rampant hysteria about her.

@nocoolnamesleft What those who do not like Diana have never understood is that those who liked her did not need the gloss. They saw her flaws, and admired her anyway.

@Outgrabe she already had and was criticised for it.

Diana had to die for Charles to marry Camilla. Diana said it was being planned to happen in a car but hey ho! Her first born son had said she was paranoid but history proved she wasn't.

Diana had to die for Charles to marry Camilla

They were already divorced though - so Charles was already free to marry again. And Diana’s untimely death led to such ill-feeling against Charles and Camilla that their marriage was impossible for a number of years afterwards. It would have been much easier for Charles and Camilla if Diana had still been around and having relationships of her own.

(And Diana’s famous note about the planned car crash said that it was to clear the way so Charles could marry Tiggy Legge-Bourke, her childrens’ nanny. Not Camilla. She’d already publicly accused Tiggy of aborting Charles’ baby. None of this was true, by the way).

I was thinking this whilst watching today, if there had been no affairs, no divorce, Diana probably wouldn't have been in France that fateful night and would still be alive. Very sad.

Nah. Archie wouldn't have existed.

I think she'd have married again and been at the back somewhere as (e.g) Lady Diana Khan, similar to Andrew P-B.

How do you know that?

If she hadn't remarried, a new style would have had to be created for her when William was created POW, to distinguish her from Catherine. She couldn't be 'The Dowager Princess of Wales' because Charles is still alive. 'Diana, Princess Mother of Wales' maybe?

https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/celebrity/princess-dianas-guide-to-the-coronation-20230505234774

She would have been Diana, Princess of Wales and Kate would be HRH The Princess of Wales. So their styles would have been different. Although in practice newspapers and the general public would have just called them Princess Diana and Kate Middleton, I expect 😀

Ha ha, very true. No chance of mixing her up with Camilla Parker-Bowles either!

Wouldn't Charles marrying Camila have been more difficult if Diana had still been alive because of Charles becoming the Head of the Church of England?

I doubt it. There are divorced bishops in the Church of England these days.

I can't see that it would, seeing as Camilla's ex-husband is still alive. The register office wedding followed by the blessing ceremony in which they both 'repented' was considered sufficient to overcome that.

The divorced Princess Anne had a church wedding in Scotland - something to do with the Scottish church not considering marriage a sacrament so it was OK.