The Spanish Princess

               This is a great historical drama from the cable channel Starz. It focuses on the Spanish teenager Catherine of Aragon, whom when she went to England was already married on paper(by proxy) to Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales. Its only in its first season. But it already promises great things from, as anyone might know who knows anything about British Tudor history.

       As a foreign princess from a country more powerful than England, in many ways Catherine is met with suspicion. By marrying the Prince of Wales, she will be Queen of England one day, as Arthur will be King. The young couple marries and Arthur becomes gravely ill and dies.  Before the couple marries, Catherine learns that it was in fact Henry, Arthur's younger brother who wrote her so many romantic letters before she came to England. Since the Prince of Wales is dead, why not stick around and marry the romantic sportsman Henry instead?  If it were only that simple . . .

        The series is only eight episodes in, and comes from the Philippa Gregory novels The King's Curse & The Constant Princess who has written The Other Boleyn Girl, The White Queen, and The White Princess that have been turned into miniseries or movies.

Panorama : HRH The Princess of Wales

     At the time, I wasn't terribly interested in Diana. I think I felt much the same as she did; tired of hearing about it. But at the same time, my best friend who was also named Diane and I had graduated high school with her, was absolutely incredulous about her. So much that she had to say then in 1995 was really mind-blowing. I thought she was rather quiet and somewhat plain-looking, at least before she had William and Harry. 
       But then, when I'd see her on television at formal engagements, she looked for a while rather bored. 

    And then she changed her hair. At first she wore it up, and then she cut it short. I think then the smiles she wore looked more genuine. 

  
     And this was after the time that she had her tete a tete with Camilla. And was conducting interviews inside Kensington Palace with an actor working on her speeches. These meetings were taped so that Diana could review them and learn from watching herself. The tapes were eventually used for Andrew Morton's book and biography about Diana's life as Princess of Wales.  
     But Martin Bashir's interview with the Princess of Wales was at another time when Diana felt that her back was against a wall.  Charles, the Prince of Wales had written a book too. And had a television interview himself. As did James Hewitt. Diana admitted during the interview with Bashir that she had an adulterous affair with Mr. Hewitt, her riding instructor. But she also said that many of the other things that James had said in his book were untrue. 
     She was also asked about smear campaigns by her husband 's department. And she was aware of them, and that was when she decided to withdraw a bit from the public. But she came back. 
     Diana has said that she regretted parts of this interview and remarks she had made particularly with regard to Charles's ability to reign as King of England one day. I myself thought that she shouldn't. It was unashamedly honest, and she shouldn't feel regret. No one, apparently, in the royal family ever pulled her aside to say what she should or shouldn't do, or how she felt. She was left very much on her own. To figure it all out and deal with it. She made some controversial choices, like the bulemia. But when you see the position that was thrown at her, can you really blame her?