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The Diana I knew: The story of my son's nanny who became the Princess of Wales
Shortly after learning of Princess Diana's death in a car crash on August 31, 1997, Mary Robertson was inspired to document her memories of the princess in order to balance the "mean-spirited and critical comments about her in the media coverage and certain books." The Diana Robertson first knew was an unassuming teenager who patiently and diligently cared for Robertson's young son two days a week in 1980. Robertson recalls Diana in detail, describing her first impression: "She was lovely, with perfect English skin, a slight blush on her cheeks, and clear blue eyes.... She looked just like the suburban teenagers I had known in America, only ever so much prettier." She then shares the milestones of her relationship with the future princess--accidentally discovering Diana's lineage, being told by Diana of her burgeoning relationship with Prince Charles, dodging reporters together outside the Robertson home, attending the "wedding of the century," visiting the princess and her sons at Kensington Palace, and, finally, attending the princess's funeral. Robertson's flattering depiction of Diana as a caring woman whose humility belied her background rings true even if the information the writer reveals about her own life is at times unnecessary and excessive.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 7, 1998
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January 23, 2019
The Diana I Knew by Mary Robertson was such an enjoyable and refreshing read about Princess Diana. Being rather young when Diana sadly passed away, I never really knew too much about her. When looking at People magazine or such magazines, she was always portrayed as a woman with issues, sad life or in trouble with the Royals. In this book, it’s nice to get a real account of an American family and their encounter with Lady Di before she was Princess Di.
Mary and her husband Patrick lived in England due to Pat’s work relocation for the year of 1980-1981. Their son Patrick was to be sat for and minded two days a week and other occasions by a woman named Diana Spencer. Of course, this was before her marriage to Charles and she made sure to keep her private life and her family tree a secret. Diana in the book was described as just another 17/18 year old teen. She liked to look smart, she talked about fashion and girl topics, was pleasant and had manners, loved and adored children, would look up to Mrs. Robertson (as Diana would always refer to her as) as a friend and would ask from time to time motherly advice.
The two even though they were significate in age difference would remain friends till Diana’s death. Diana would always send Christmas cards, letters about her life in the Royal family, news on her two boys and just always wondering how Mary and her family were doing. I think it is so touching to read that Diana wrote in one of her many letters for Mary to never stop writing to her. They really formed a bond and with everything going on around them, they made time for each other.
In the book, you can really get a feel for what a remarkable and down to earth Diana was as a person. The one part of the book, when Mary and she met up in Washington, she gave her a big hug in front of her staff. She was NOT a woman who liked and wanted the upper class formalities. Diana wanted to be like everyone else though of course that was impossible for her. Diana wanted a fairytale life and sadly that was not to be for her.
I recommend this book for Princess Diana fans or for anyone interested in getting to know the real Diana from the eyes of a close and loyal friend.
Mary and her husband Patrick lived in England due to Pat’s work relocation for the year of 1980-1981. Their son Patrick was to be sat for and minded two days a week and other occasions by a woman named Diana Spencer. Of course, this was before her marriage to Charles and she made sure to keep her private life and her family tree a secret. Diana in the book was described as just another 17/18 year old teen. She liked to look smart, she talked about fashion and girl topics, was pleasant and had manners, loved and adored children, would look up to Mrs. Robertson (as Diana would always refer to her as) as a friend and would ask from time to time motherly advice.
The two even though they were significate in age difference would remain friends till Diana’s death. Diana would always send Christmas cards, letters about her life in the Royal family, news on her two boys and just always wondering how Mary and her family were doing. I think it is so touching to read that Diana wrote in one of her many letters for Mary to never stop writing to her. They really formed a bond and with everything going on around them, they made time for each other.
In the book, you can really get a feel for what a remarkable and down to earth Diana was as a person. The one part of the book, when Mary and she met up in Washington, she gave her a big hug in front of her staff. She was NOT a woman who liked and wanted the upper class formalities. Diana wanted to be like everyone else though of course that was impossible for her. Diana wanted a fairytale life and sadly that was not to be for her.
I recommend this book for Princess Diana fans or for anyone interested in getting to know the real Diana from the eyes of a close and loyal friend.
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February 27, 2020This book was published in 1998, the year after diana's death by the American who hired diana as a nanny the year before diana became engaged. her motivation for writing the book was to contrast the descriptions of diana she was reading in the press with the diana she knew. I also think she finally felt free to go public about her friendship with diana after her death. While diana was alive, she did not want to jeopardize the friendship by publicizing it and adding to diana's troubles with media attention. She describes how she slowly realized diana was part of the british aristocracy while diana was working for her and then learning about the courtship with charles. She and diana did not discuss it when diana worked for her. The American family returned to the U.S. before the engagement, but they maintained a correspondence - primarily Christmas cards over the hears. They also attended the wedding as well as the funeral plus a few visits in between. The American was starstruck and found it unbelievable that diana had been her nanny. For diana's part, she enjoyed maintaining a friendship that wasn't based on her status and glamour. I am sure I purchased this book and am surprised that I didn't read it at the time. This book will be donated to a charity.
July 30, 2013
A quaint little book about a personal friendship with Princess Diana. Nice to see an alternative perspective other than press or official biographies. Very quick read.
August 3, 2016
finished 8/2/2016 12:41 pm
I had just watched the show Princess Diana: Behind Closed Doors July 14th and 15th this year with my mom and sister, and we were hooked on the story. A man that had a secret interview with her had written a book about her based on things she’d told him and we couldn’t wait to read it, so I got on my library’s catalog and looked up Princess Diana. I was delighted to discover this book by Mary Robertson, who was also on the show describing that the nanny for her son turned out to be Princess Diana.
I really liked the inside covers that had pictures and letters and stamps. It was so cool. I was surprised that she hadn’t dedicated the book to Diana, didn’t mention her at all or have a statement in memory of her. She dedicated the book to her husband, son and daughter, and then thanked several people but didn’t have anything to write about Diana which I didn’t understand. I did like the inclusion of Dian’s favorite hymn I Vow to Thee My Country: “And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase, and her ways are ways of gentleness and all her paths are peace.”
Many of the main points Mary had shared on this show, so I knew most of the story coming into it. I didn’t like how it started out with the moment Mary was told about Diana’s death, instead of starting out with the beginning of their relationship. It was starting at the end and I didn’t like that introduction to the story.
After Diana’s death the Sunday New York Times printed a story that said: The royal couple had few common interests. Charles loved horses, his garden and traditional architecture; she loved buying clothes, listening to pop music on her Walkman and gossiping on the telephone.
It was so nice that Mary was mad and thought “How dare they make her sound so shallow!” Her husband Pat told her she should write a letter to the editor of their own view of Diana. The next day they were asked to be a part of a program on Diana and they decided it was time to talk about her publicly. In light of her untimely death they felt Diana might want them to stick up for her. After the interview the host points out that Mary’s been using the present tense to refer to Diana and that it was wonderful to hear it. That was a touching moment because Mary hadn’t even realized she��d been talking about her that way.
They didn’t think they would get to go to the funeral because it was by invitation only, so it was nice when they received a call saying Mary, Pat and Patrick had been invited. She learned later in London that Diana’s family and aides had gone through Diana’s personal records and her Christmas card list and that’s how they were invited. Their daughter—who I didn’t know was even born, I think it should’ve been stated when the daughter was born, because last we knew she only had a son—was starting a new school the next day and Pat chose to stay with her, and Patrick’s visa expired and they couldn’t renew it, so Mary was the only one that went to the funeral. I wish Pat at least had gone to see it, but he said he cried at the wedding and he’d never make it through the funeral.
She reflects upon first meeting Diana, that her husband had to move to London for work and they needed a part-time babysitter just two days a week for their son. A friend from England had suggested the Occasional and Permanent Nannies agency and she called it and the woman selected Diana Spencer, who was free Mondays and Thursdays. The lady recognized the name and knew Diana had worked for her friends last year. They said she was sweet-tempered, good with children and willing to do whatever she’s asked. The only condition Diana had was that she would only work in SW1, 3 or 7, and those were the central and most elegant zip codes in London. Mary and her family were in SW 1. Diana worked at a kindergarten and also chose to babysit, because she said “I adore working with children.” I thought it was so interesting how she chose to babysit for regular people, especially when she already had a job, and that she set the precedent of having privacy and keeping her identity to herself. She told her that first day when asked if she could work evenings and weekends that no, she prefers to keep her evenings and weekends free. Mary knew from the start not to pry or ask questions, sensing that Diana wanted to keep her life private.
It was so nice to learn about this side of Diana, that she was so affectionate to Patrick, and the fact that she always referred to Mary as Mrs. Robertson. Diana told her one time that she was so much smarter than her, because Mary had graduated from college and worked in the financial district of London. Mary said Diana would good-naturedly bemoan her lack of higher education and career training, which made her so relatable. She didn’t earn passing grades on any of her exams and had just barely earned a high school degree by our standards, which was common for daughters of the aristocracy.
Diana was thoughtful and caring, went out of her way to be helpful to Mary. Without Mary asking her she would wash dishes and do the laundry. She would also buy diapers and baby food while Mary and Patrick were out, leaving a note saying she hoped this would save Mary some trouble. Mary would always reimburse her for it. It made her seem so down to earth that she would want to work in the flat that sounded depressing, and she’d have to mop up where the roof was leaking and climb up 3 flights of stairs to get to it. I was surprised that Mary said she was slightly plump at that age and that she had a big appetite. I’d never seen Diana looking plump.
She described her voice as being marvelous, soft, low and a little breathy with a beautiful upper-class accent. It was cultured and crisp and elegant and made everything she said sound special. She remarked on how polite she always was. She also had budding fashion sense at 18 and Mary thought she was pretty, her skin naturally pretty and polished. She had so many qualities that made her so likable. She always kept her privacy though. Mary didn’t even know her address until Mary was moving back to the U.S. She wouldn’t tell Mary where she got her hair done even though she asked. She never mentioned her mom and rarely talked about her family. She would ask to go see her brother when he was home from boarding school but didn’t mention he went to Eton, the best-known exclusive boarding school in England. I thought it was funny how she avoided mentioning anything about royalty, even when she took Patrick to Kensington to play with her sister’s daughter, not saying it was Kensington Palace and that her sister was married to the Queen’s assistant private secretary. Diana mentioned having roommates at her flat, and Mary knew that she didn’t drink, stay up late or have serious boyfriend, that she was a wholesome and innocent young lady, which I really liked about Diana.
Mary and her husband traveled a lot, but Diana never gave any travel suggestions. I liked how she enjoyed their enthusiasm for her country. I was surprised though that Diana would sometimes have her roommate call on short notice and say she couldn’t make it. It was sad when Mary pointed out that the year Diana worked for them she was 36, and that was how old Diana was when she died. It was something out of a movie, this story, especially when Pat’s family came from Texas and his mom, Betty, tried to set Diana up with her son, saying she had a tall, eligible son in Texas, and later after Diana married the heir to the British throne they didn’t know whether to laugh or blush about it. The tale about how Betty thought she had a bargain on sweaters, $48 each, only to have Diana “very sweetly” point out that it was a pound sign and not a dollar sign, so she’d spent more than $100 on them. When Betty mentioned getting a Robertson kilt Diana told her than an authentic kilt wrapped from the left to the right. I thought it was cool the knowledge she had. It was so cute that when Diana left for the day during the family’s visit Patrick would cry and his grandparents were dismayed that he preferred Diana’s company to theirs. When they got to know her they found it touching and amusing. I thought it was so sad that her brother Peter was there too but left so early every morning that he didn’t get to see Diana even once, and her husband only saw Diana in passing twice. They both regret not getting to know her better, and I found that tragic that they came so close to her and didn’t even get to know her.
I already knew how Mary discovered she was Lady Diana, from the bank deposit slip that Diana had dropped at her flat. The name was Coutts and Company which she knew were bankers to the Queen and aristocracy. And it said Lady Diana Spencer. I was surprised tho that she’d taken it to work and asked her coworkers about it, instead of giving it back to her immediately. Diana was from one of the oldest and most illustrious families in England and the daughter of an earl. It took her another few days to give it back, and after telling Diana it was a surprise to have her with her impressive background, a title and all, looking after Patrick and Diana just tossed her hand and said “Oh, that” like it meant nothing to her. It didn’t change their relationship and at all and she said Diana was always unpretentious.
A guy friend and Mary went out to an opera, with Diana doing a favor and working an evening for her, and when he came to get Mary, he spoke a little to Diana. In the car Mary told him he’ll never believe who her nanny is and told him her background and title. Lee thought she was down to earth and awfully pretty and Mary suggested Lee give her a call. He laughed at her naiveté and said the social gulf between an earl’s daughter and a commoner was so great he’d never presume to ask her out. He also said “In fact, with her background, she’d be a suitable match for Prince Andrew.” Mary said “Forget about Prince Andrew. If her background’s as impeccable as you say, she ought to be a match for Prince Charles. She’d be perfect as the next queen of England!”
Diana spent a holiday in Scotland with part of it with the royal family; she sent them 2 postcards, one of her father at Althorp as a little joke, because they had asked her if they shouldd include Althorp in their travels and Diana had said “I shouldn’t bother” which I found funny.
When she came back to work she told Mary that there were photographers and reporters outside, and Mary said she wondered if it was for the financial financier or an M.P. Diana blushed as she said they were there for her and that Prince Charles hadn’t invited her, but his mother. She was on such close terms with royalty that she could refer to them that way.
It was so sweet that Diana had written to Mary asking for a picture of Patrick so she could show Prince Charles. I liked the line from the letter that Mary shared: “You said some lovely things which I don’t feel I deserve.” She seemed so humble and kind-hearted.
As the pressures of the media got to her, she’d ask Mary for advice. I felt sorry for Diana that she was worried about making a mistake. Her own sister had spoken to the press and as a result she was done for and her relationship with Charles ended. I also hated that Diana’s sister had dated Charles, a fact from TV.
She told Mary her grandma, but dint mention she was the lady-in-waiting to the Queen Mother, told her to ask for help from Buckingham Palace with the press, and asks Mary if she should ask Charles for help. Mary said she was handling it beautifully on her own and she shouldn’t ask for help if she cud manage w/o it, that if the royal family thought she couldn't handle the pressure she might not could handle it as part of the family. It was sad how much she thought of him, that she wanted to spend more time w/him &he worked too hard &he was wonderful. I thought it was a little judgemental how she had a romance novel one day &Mary hoped it dint represent her only reading interests—what’s wrong w/a romance book? She suggested she upgrade her choice and read the newspaper ¤t events if she wants to keep up with Charles. In the press it was stated that a woman Charles had been seeing was better educated &more sophisticated &was a threat to Diana’s chance w/Charles. I liked that Diana loved animals &didn’t like hunting or shooting &dint want to hurt a living thing. Diana wanted to have a dozen children &it’s tragic she only had 2. It was cute how Mary offered to hide Diana in America until it blew over because Diana was worried about it not working out, &offered a skiing trip in the Rockies because she liked to ski.
Mary &her family had to move back to America &Diana was so helpful to pack up Patrick’s things &give them a photo album for their pics that year. She even cried the day they left. They promised to write &keep up their friendship.
It’s so special that they knew her so well. Dina asked for a pic of Patrick because she always talked about him. Mary told her about the other nanny that “shared” Patrick with the future princess of Wales, that she had terminal cancer, and Diana wrote to her&sent her a personalized pic.
It was sweet that Diana told Charles about them &was so happy they came to her engagement party. Mary said the guests that were held up waiting behind them probably wondered who they were. I felt so bad for Diana, who was absent the rest of her party. They looked for her but thought she must’ve been tired or nervous, didn’t find out til yrs later that it was because the week before she saw an engraved bracelet Charles got for Camilla &knew he gave it to her earlier that day. I thought that was so awful wen I heard that on TV, that he did it on the day of their engagement party &felt terrible for Diana, esp since she’d thought about calling off the engagement and had even asked her sisters if she should, but they said it was too late because her face was already on souvenirs-which seemed like really bad advice.
It was so sweet that after Mary asked if she could see her, Diana insisted on seeing Patrick during her Washington visit &Ambassador Wight later said it “wreaked havoc” on their schedule for the couple, but Prince Charles &Diana seemed so relaxed. It was weird that Charles said he thought her raspy voice was “very sexy.” Wrong of him to say that about another woman. &Mary is making these private jokes to him. I thought that was inappropriate. I was surprised that Mary envied Diana after that, her glamorous lifestyle &would think how easy Diana had it whenever she saw her pic on a magazine. She seemed slightly gloating wen she said she learned later Diana had problems too &wasn’t happy, &that Mary had “the better deal.” I guess she cud only be gracious ¬ jealous wen she found out Diana had a bad marriage…what a great friend. &wen they get to visit Charles in Houston she said that he was so charming she never noticed close up that his ears stick out…is that a jab at him, to say that his ears do stick out only u don’t notice it because his charm distracts? What a nice thought.
It was cute when they visited her at Kensington Palace &Prince Harry had asked their children if they ever fought w/each other, &was relieved wen they said yeah, because he and his brother fought all the time.
It seemed careless the way she said she wouldn’t have traded places w/Diana for anything in the world, after learning of her separation &bad marriage.
I hadn’t known that Diana looked up to Mother Teresa &that they died within a week of each other. Mary seemed judgmental wen at the funeral someone said they weren’t expecting so many people, because the seats were getting filled up and Mary thought did they really expect anyone would turn down the privilege of going to Diana’s funeral? She herself had been surprised at the amount of mourners outside.
It was cool that Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman had attended the funeral, and that Elton John sang. Also interesting that some people didn’t join in singing “God Save the Queen” and someone said “May she drop dead tomorrow!” It was so emotional, though I’d heard it on TV, that the crowds outside started clapping after Elton John’s “English rose” and those inside the church thought it was rain at first. Then after her brother said his speech those inside the church clapped &the lady said it’s unheard of to clap in church in England. It’s never been done before. That was so special.
It did get a little repetitive because some things were mentioned more than once and she used the same words to describe Diana throughout the book, like vulnerable, unpretentious, unassuming and unaffected, which did get a little old. I know those were her qualities but some synonyms or other ways of saying it would've been appreciated. I wish I would've read this in 2 days rather than dragging it out to 3. I had to stop reading to go back through and get quotes off and write about things, so it stopped my progress and by the third day I was ready to get done with the story. It did inspire a new appreciation for Diana, who I didn't know anything about until this year, and she was such a good and inspiring person. She would've been a great person to do a project on in school.
I had just watched the show Princess Diana: Behind Closed Doors July 14th and 15th this year with my mom and sister, and we were hooked on the story. A man that had a secret interview with her had written a book about her based on things she’d told him and we couldn’t wait to read it, so I got on my library’s catalog and looked up Princess Diana. I was delighted to discover this book by Mary Robertson, who was also on the show describing that the nanny for her son turned out to be Princess Diana.
I really liked the inside covers that had pictures and letters and stamps. It was so cool. I was surprised that she hadn’t dedicated the book to Diana, didn’t mention her at all or have a statement in memory of her. She dedicated the book to her husband, son and daughter, and then thanked several people but didn’t have anything to write about Diana which I didn’t understand. I did like the inclusion of Dian’s favorite hymn I Vow to Thee My Country: “And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase, and her ways are ways of gentleness and all her paths are peace.”
Many of the main points Mary had shared on this show, so I knew most of the story coming into it. I didn’t like how it started out with the moment Mary was told about Diana’s death, instead of starting out with the beginning of their relationship. It was starting at the end and I didn’t like that introduction to the story.
After Diana’s death the Sunday New York Times printed a story that said: The royal couple had few common interests. Charles loved horses, his garden and traditional architecture; she loved buying clothes, listening to pop music on her Walkman and gossiping on the telephone.
It was so nice that Mary was mad and thought “How dare they make her sound so shallow!” Her husband Pat told her she should write a letter to the editor of their own view of Diana. The next day they were asked to be a part of a program on Diana and they decided it was time to talk about her publicly. In light of her untimely death they felt Diana might want them to stick up for her. After the interview the host points out that Mary’s been using the present tense to refer to Diana and that it was wonderful to hear it. That was a touching moment because Mary hadn’t even realized she��d been talking about her that way.
They didn’t think they would get to go to the funeral because it was by invitation only, so it was nice when they received a call saying Mary, Pat and Patrick had been invited. She learned later in London that Diana’s family and aides had gone through Diana’s personal records and her Christmas card list and that’s how they were invited. Their daughter—who I didn’t know was even born, I think it should’ve been stated when the daughter was born, because last we knew she only had a son—was starting a new school the next day and Pat chose to stay with her, and Patrick’s visa expired and they couldn’t renew it, so Mary was the only one that went to the funeral. I wish Pat at least had gone to see it, but he said he cried at the wedding and he’d never make it through the funeral.
She reflects upon first meeting Diana, that her husband had to move to London for work and they needed a part-time babysitter just two days a week for their son. A friend from England had suggested the Occasional and Permanent Nannies agency and she called it and the woman selected Diana Spencer, who was free Mondays and Thursdays. The lady recognized the name and knew Diana had worked for her friends last year. They said she was sweet-tempered, good with children and willing to do whatever she’s asked. The only condition Diana had was that she would only work in SW1, 3 or 7, and those were the central and most elegant zip codes in London. Mary and her family were in SW 1. Diana worked at a kindergarten and also chose to babysit, because she said “I adore working with children.” I thought it was so interesting how she chose to babysit for regular people, especially when she already had a job, and that she set the precedent of having privacy and keeping her identity to herself. She told her that first day when asked if she could work evenings and weekends that no, she prefers to keep her evenings and weekends free. Mary knew from the start not to pry or ask questions, sensing that Diana wanted to keep her life private.
It was so nice to learn about this side of Diana, that she was so affectionate to Patrick, and the fact that she always referred to Mary as Mrs. Robertson. Diana told her one time that she was so much smarter than her, because Mary had graduated from college and worked in the financial district of London. Mary said Diana would good-naturedly bemoan her lack of higher education and career training, which made her so relatable. She didn’t earn passing grades on any of her exams and had just barely earned a high school degree by our standards, which was common for daughters of the aristocracy.
Diana was thoughtful and caring, went out of her way to be helpful to Mary. Without Mary asking her she would wash dishes and do the laundry. She would also buy diapers and baby food while Mary and Patrick were out, leaving a note saying she hoped this would save Mary some trouble. Mary would always reimburse her for it. It made her seem so down to earth that she would want to work in the flat that sounded depressing, and she’d have to mop up where the roof was leaking and climb up 3 flights of stairs to get to it. I was surprised that Mary said she was slightly plump at that age and that she had a big appetite. I’d never seen Diana looking plump.
She described her voice as being marvelous, soft, low and a little breathy with a beautiful upper-class accent. It was cultured and crisp and elegant and made everything she said sound special. She remarked on how polite she always was. She also had budding fashion sense at 18 and Mary thought she was pretty, her skin naturally pretty and polished. She had so many qualities that made her so likable. She always kept her privacy though. Mary didn’t even know her address until Mary was moving back to the U.S. She wouldn’t tell Mary where she got her hair done even though she asked. She never mentioned her mom and rarely talked about her family. She would ask to go see her brother when he was home from boarding school but didn’t mention he went to Eton, the best-known exclusive boarding school in England. I thought it was funny how she avoided mentioning anything about royalty, even when she took Patrick to Kensington to play with her sister’s daughter, not saying it was Kensington Palace and that her sister was married to the Queen’s assistant private secretary. Diana mentioned having roommates at her flat, and Mary knew that she didn’t drink, stay up late or have serious boyfriend, that she was a wholesome and innocent young lady, which I really liked about Diana.
Mary and her husband traveled a lot, but Diana never gave any travel suggestions. I liked how she enjoyed their enthusiasm for her country. I was surprised though that Diana would sometimes have her roommate call on short notice and say she couldn’t make it. It was sad when Mary pointed out that the year Diana worked for them she was 36, and that was how old Diana was when she died. It was something out of a movie, this story, especially when Pat’s family came from Texas and his mom, Betty, tried to set Diana up with her son, saying she had a tall, eligible son in Texas, and later after Diana married the heir to the British throne they didn’t know whether to laugh or blush about it. The tale about how Betty thought she had a bargain on sweaters, $48 each, only to have Diana “very sweetly” point out that it was a pound sign and not a dollar sign, so she’d spent more than $100 on them. When Betty mentioned getting a Robertson kilt Diana told her than an authentic kilt wrapped from the left to the right. I thought it was cool the knowledge she had. It was so cute that when Diana left for the day during the family’s visit Patrick would cry and his grandparents were dismayed that he preferred Diana’s company to theirs. When they got to know her they found it touching and amusing. I thought it was so sad that her brother Peter was there too but left so early every morning that he didn’t get to see Diana even once, and her husband only saw Diana in passing twice. They both regret not getting to know her better, and I found that tragic that they came so close to her and didn’t even get to know her.
I already knew how Mary discovered she was Lady Diana, from the bank deposit slip that Diana had dropped at her flat. The name was Coutts and Company which she knew were bankers to the Queen and aristocracy. And it said Lady Diana Spencer. I was surprised tho that she’d taken it to work and asked her coworkers about it, instead of giving it back to her immediately. Diana was from one of the oldest and most illustrious families in England and the daughter of an earl. It took her another few days to give it back, and after telling Diana it was a surprise to have her with her impressive background, a title and all, looking after Patrick and Diana just tossed her hand and said “Oh, that” like it meant nothing to her. It didn’t change their relationship and at all and she said Diana was always unpretentious.
A guy friend and Mary went out to an opera, with Diana doing a favor and working an evening for her, and when he came to get Mary, he spoke a little to Diana. In the car Mary told him he’ll never believe who her nanny is and told him her background and title. Lee thought she was down to earth and awfully pretty and Mary suggested Lee give her a call. He laughed at her naiveté and said the social gulf between an earl’s daughter and a commoner was so great he’d never presume to ask her out. He also said “In fact, with her background, she’d be a suitable match for Prince Andrew.” Mary said “Forget about Prince Andrew. If her background’s as impeccable as you say, she ought to be a match for Prince Charles. She’d be perfect as the next queen of England!”
Diana spent a holiday in Scotland with part of it with the royal family; she sent them 2 postcards, one of her father at Althorp as a little joke, because they had asked her if they shouldd include Althorp in their travels and Diana had said “I shouldn’t bother” which I found funny.
When she came back to work she told Mary that there were photographers and reporters outside, and Mary said she wondered if it was for the financial financier or an M.P. Diana blushed as she said they were there for her and that Prince Charles hadn’t invited her, but his mother. She was on such close terms with royalty that she could refer to them that way.
It was so sweet that Diana had written to Mary asking for a picture of Patrick so she could show Prince Charles. I liked the line from the letter that Mary shared: “You said some lovely things which I don’t feel I deserve.” She seemed so humble and kind-hearted.
As the pressures of the media got to her, she’d ask Mary for advice. I felt sorry for Diana that she was worried about making a mistake. Her own sister had spoken to the press and as a result she was done for and her relationship with Charles ended. I also hated that Diana’s sister had dated Charles, a fact from TV.
She told Mary her grandma, but dint mention she was the lady-in-waiting to the Queen Mother, told her to ask for help from Buckingham Palace with the press, and asks Mary if she should ask Charles for help. Mary said she was handling it beautifully on her own and she shouldn’t ask for help if she cud manage w/o it, that if the royal family thought she couldn't handle the pressure she might not could handle it as part of the family. It was sad how much she thought of him, that she wanted to spend more time w/him &he worked too hard &he was wonderful. I thought it was a little judgemental how she had a romance novel one day &Mary hoped it dint represent her only reading interests—what’s wrong w/a romance book? She suggested she upgrade her choice and read the newspaper ¤t events if she wants to keep up with Charles. In the press it was stated that a woman Charles had been seeing was better educated &more sophisticated &was a threat to Diana’s chance w/Charles. I liked that Diana loved animals &didn’t like hunting or shooting &dint want to hurt a living thing. Diana wanted to have a dozen children &it’s tragic she only had 2. It was cute how Mary offered to hide Diana in America until it blew over because Diana was worried about it not working out, &offered a skiing trip in the Rockies because she liked to ski.
Mary &her family had to move back to America &Diana was so helpful to pack up Patrick’s things &give them a photo album for their pics that year. She even cried the day they left. They promised to write &keep up their friendship.
It’s so special that they knew her so well. Dina asked for a pic of Patrick because she always talked about him. Mary told her about the other nanny that “shared” Patrick with the future princess of Wales, that she had terminal cancer, and Diana wrote to her&sent her a personalized pic.
It was sweet that Diana told Charles about them &was so happy they came to her engagement party. Mary said the guests that were held up waiting behind them probably wondered who they were. I felt so bad for Diana, who was absent the rest of her party. They looked for her but thought she must’ve been tired or nervous, didn’t find out til yrs later that it was because the week before she saw an engraved bracelet Charles got for Camilla &knew he gave it to her earlier that day. I thought that was so awful wen I heard that on TV, that he did it on the day of their engagement party &felt terrible for Diana, esp since she’d thought about calling off the engagement and had even asked her sisters if she should, but they said it was too late because her face was already on souvenirs-which seemed like really bad advice.
It was so sweet that after Mary asked if she could see her, Diana insisted on seeing Patrick during her Washington visit &Ambassador Wight later said it “wreaked havoc” on their schedule for the couple, but Prince Charles &Diana seemed so relaxed. It was weird that Charles said he thought her raspy voice was “very sexy.” Wrong of him to say that about another woman. &Mary is making these private jokes to him. I thought that was inappropriate. I was surprised that Mary envied Diana after that, her glamorous lifestyle &would think how easy Diana had it whenever she saw her pic on a magazine. She seemed slightly gloating wen she said she learned later Diana had problems too &wasn’t happy, &that Mary had “the better deal.” I guess she cud only be gracious ¬ jealous wen she found out Diana had a bad marriage…what a great friend. &wen they get to visit Charles in Houston she said that he was so charming she never noticed close up that his ears stick out…is that a jab at him, to say that his ears do stick out only u don’t notice it because his charm distracts? What a nice thought.
It was cute when they visited her at Kensington Palace &Prince Harry had asked their children if they ever fought w/each other, &was relieved wen they said yeah, because he and his brother fought all the time.
It seemed careless the way she said she wouldn’t have traded places w/Diana for anything in the world, after learning of her separation &bad marriage.
I hadn’t known that Diana looked up to Mother Teresa &that they died within a week of each other. Mary seemed judgmental wen at the funeral someone said they weren’t expecting so many people, because the seats were getting filled up and Mary thought did they really expect anyone would turn down the privilege of going to Diana’s funeral? She herself had been surprised at the amount of mourners outside.
It was cool that Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman had attended the funeral, and that Elton John sang. Also interesting that some people didn’t join in singing “God Save the Queen” and someone said “May she drop dead tomorrow!” It was so emotional, though I’d heard it on TV, that the crowds outside started clapping after Elton John’s “English rose” and those inside the church thought it was rain at first. Then after her brother said his speech those inside the church clapped &the lady said it’s unheard of to clap in church in England. It’s never been done before. That was so special.
It did get a little repetitive because some things were mentioned more than once and she used the same words to describe Diana throughout the book, like vulnerable, unpretentious, unassuming and unaffected, which did get a little old. I know those were her qualities but some synonyms or other ways of saying it would've been appreciated. I wish I would've read this in 2 days rather than dragging it out to 3. I had to stop reading to go back through and get quotes off and write about things, so it stopped my progress and by the third day I was ready to get done with the story. It did inspire a new appreciation for Diana, who I didn't know anything about until this year, and she was such a good and inspiring person. She would've been a great person to do a project on in school.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2019
A really lovely book, I loved especially, the insight into Lady Diana before she hit the headlines.
I am so glad Mary wrote this book, her affection for the Princess Is evident.
I am so glad Mary wrote this book, her affection for the Princess Is evident.
October 19, 2020
If you love Princess Diana biographies like I do, this one is a must read.
Mary Robertson had a unique perspective since she knew Diana before she became a princess.
This book is a testament to how loyal Diana was to her friends. She could easily have let her relationship with Mary slide into obscurity since her life was so busy, but she took every opportunity she could to see Mrs. Robertson & her son again & again.
Mary Robertson’s life was changed by simply hiring a nanny.
Mary Robertson had a unique perspective since she knew Diana before she became a princess.
This book is a testament to how loyal Diana was to her friends. She could easily have let her relationship with Mary slide into obscurity since her life was so busy, but she took every opportunity she could to see Mrs. Robertson & her son again & again.
Mary Robertson’s life was changed by simply hiring a nanny.
April 8, 2010
Robertson could have gone to tabloid TV but didn't. She remembers Diana as a shy yet kind teenage nanny, who blossomed into a confident young woman who, despite her royal title, chose not to set herself apart from others. Offers interesting details about the scheduling and protocol involved with royal occasions.
April 20, 2020
A simple revelation of a woman's relationship with Diana Spencer before she became royal superstar Princess Diana, this book is a touching look at the kind, gentle woman who worked as a nanny for the author's son Patrick. An easy read, it is reassuring to learn about Diana's personality before it was analyzed and skewed by media reports.
May 3, 2014
Deeply touching story, showing a side of Diana that not many people got to know. I had started reading this book years ago and for some reason I do not remember finishing it at that time, though I am glad I finally did. It is a tear jerker so it may be a good idea to have tissues nearby.
March 12, 2024
It seems like a million years ago that I tuned into the CBS Evening News (with Walter Cronkite!) one spring evening in 1981 and was charmed by a certain, blushing Lady Diana who had just become engaged to Prince Charles. I was a college freshman at the time and now I'm a member of AARP. The fascination continued for 16 years until Diana's death in 1997 and beyond. If you're a longstanding admirer, as I am, this is a book not to be missed. Written by the woman who hired Diana as a London nanny in 1980, it's a distinct departure from the gossipy stories that are all too familiar. It's a tender glimpse of a vulnerable young woman at a time before her life changed dramatically, and a friendship that survived 17 years through letters, Christmas cards and visits; written by a woman who really and truly was one of Diana's oldest and most trusted friends. Yet the differences between them were striking. The author was a good 15 years older than Lady Di, a very average American businesswoman who was in London temporarily before returning to the States, whose life was as stable and secure as Diana's was not. There's a Cinderella quality to her recollections of being invited into Diana's world. I almost had goosebumps reading her gorgeous, detailed descriptions about what it was actually like to be at Buckingham Palace for a formal ball celebrating the nuptials, St. Paul's Cathedral for the wedding, and Westminster Abbey for the funeral -- scrambling to find the correct clothes, learning protocol for an introduction to the Queen, hobnobbing with Margaret Thatcher and Prince Philip. But more memorably, being with Diana was like "being brushed by angels' wings," as her seatmate said at the funeral. Published as it was in 1998, I don't know why it took me so long to discover this treasure of a tale. If you love Diana, you will love this book.
February 10, 2023
Half of me had high hopes for this book, half was skeptical or just managing my expectations. After reading the book, I realized that this is a personal memoir of the writer and her close relationship with Diana, Princess of Wales. This book could have been a long article, or a page-long opinion piece or contributor's section, or a featurette in a broadsheet or a magazine. A lot of the pages chronicled Mrs Robertson's life starting from her meeting the young Lady Diana Spencer as her son's nanny/babysitter... to her continued correspondence and meetings with her as Princess of Wales, despite the writer and her family's numerous address changes. I honestly had to skim through the pages that did not contain anything related to Diana. (I estimate that 2/3 of the book was her and her family's story, not Diana's.)
As a Diana admirer myself, I have read Andrew Morton's book about Diana when I was twelve years old, followed her as much as I could on the news, talked about her to my mother numerous times through the years. We were deeply affected and even mourned on her untimely passing.
I liked this book (personal and light read) but due to the reasons mentioned above, I only gave it a 3, at best 3.5 but Goodreads wont let me.
As a Diana admirer myself, I have read Andrew Morton's book about Diana when I was twelve years old, followed her as much as I could on the news, talked about her to my mother numerous times through the years. We were deeply affected and even mourned on her untimely passing.
I liked this book (personal and light read) but due to the reasons mentioned above, I only gave it a 3, at best 3.5 but Goodreads wont let me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2017
The twenty year anniversary of the death of Princess Diana is what made me read this book. This was a very enjoyable and quick read. Princess Diana accomplished so much in her short life. I feel she was indeed a very strong woman who held back her own feelings for the sake of making other people happy. She was a loving nanny, a loving mother, and she is still missed by so many of us. I probably will read Andrew Morton's biography of Princess Diana as well after having read 'The Diana I Knew".
February 24, 2024
Mary Robertson wrote a tender, loving memoir on Diana, Princess of Wales.
Before she became engaged to Prince Charles Lady Diana worked as a nanny for an American family, it was reported. Her charge was Patrick, Mary’s son.
Mrs. Robertson recounts the media frenzy that evolved around Diana once she was linked to Prince Charles, the wedding fever that took hold of Britain in 1981 and the mourning that was so astoundingly intense 16 years later.
But she also tells of “The Diana I Knew” throughout their correspondence and the private (and less private) moments she spent with royalty.
Before she became engaged to Prince Charles Lady Diana worked as a nanny for an American family, it was reported. Her charge was Patrick, Mary’s son.
Mrs. Robertson recounts the media frenzy that evolved around Diana once she was linked to Prince Charles, the wedding fever that took hold of Britain in 1981 and the mourning that was so astoundingly intense 16 years later.
But she also tells of “The Diana I Knew” throughout their correspondence and the private (and less private) moments she spent with royalty.
February 19, 2023
This book was a great read by a lady from the United States that used Diana as a nanny in London. Mary Robertson loved Diana and Diana loved her son Patrick. This book does a great job explaining all that Diana did as a nanny.
August 19, 2019
Absolutely one of my favorite reads. This book details the friendship of two moms. Heartwarming &sincere. Moms can learn from this book.
September 8, 2020
Loved this inside look at Princess Diana!
November 13, 2023
I loved all the sweet stories the author had to share. I think Diana would be so happy to hear how loved she was by so many.
July 26, 2024
An enjoyable, quick read by a American woman with a unique perspective on Princess Diana, having hired her as an 18-year-old nanny for her young son.
December 29, 2010
It was the perfect car book. Light, fluffy, a bit of insight, cute photos.
July 26, 2012
A cute little tale of one woman's personal relationship with Diana.
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