"The People's Princess" by Flora Harding is a fictionalized version of the life of Princess Diana. The book takes readers on a journey through Diana's childhood, her marriage to Prince Charles, and her eventual rise to become one of the most beloved and influential figures in the world. Harding paints a vivid picture of Diana's life, highlighting both the triumphs and struggles she faced along the way. The book alternates between Diana's experiences and the 1800s diary of Princess Charlotte of Wales.

If you enjoy historical fiction and also enjoy reading about the British monarchy, you'll likely enjoy "The People's Princess." The writing is good, but unfortunately the topic just didn't capture my attention as much as I had hoped it would.

While I had expected a story about Princess Diana, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself immersed in a story about Princess Charlotte of Wales as well, whom I knew little about.

Much of the story is drawn on comparisons of the original people’s princess to her modern day counterpart, and I found the parallel between Charlotte and Diana’s stories to be eerily similar and fascinating. Two favored princesses, yet neither would become Queen, it was interesting to ponder how very different the monarchy would be today, Charlotte become Queen.

A fascinating and enjoyable read about two remarkable young women

A hearty thank you the the publisher, Harper 360, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of The People’s Princess in exchange for my honest review. The opinion I have expressed are my own.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

Lady Diana Spencer was only eighteen years old when she started dating Charles, the Prince of Wales. At the time she was rather lost, having dropped out of formal schooling, occupied by a few menial jobs as a nanny and helping her sister. She longed to make a meaningful contribution to the world. When things with Prince Charles became more serious Diana had but one goal - to become Princess of Wales. She was young, convinced she was in love and sure that over time Charles would reciprocate these feelings. As their engagement and wedding plans in 1981 speed ahead, Diana’s sense of loneliness intensifies. Hidden away for propriety’s sake in Buckingham Castle Diana swallowed her sadness creating a frightening eating disorder. With no-one to talk to she becomes obsessed with a diary from the 1800’s written by Princess Charlotte of Wales, the only heir of George IV. Charlotte was a young woman in an equally lonely castle, awaiting an arranged marriage by her egocentric father, the King. Dreaming of marrying for true love Charlotte creates unending chaos and will do anything to interfere with the King’s plans to create her own destiny. As Diana plans the wedding of the century to be viewed by millions of adoring admirers she learns the fate of Charlotte, the Queen that never was. Narrated between the royal worlds of two very different times in history these women have one thing in common - a desire for love and acceptance.

Lady Diana Spencer has just become engaged to Prince Charles and is quickly realizing that she and her prince do not have a lot in common and that they really do not know one another well. She is disappointed that the engagement period is not what she expected. A chance encounter with the portrait of Princess Charlotte of Wales leads her to Charlotte’s diary. While reading it, Diana becomes fascinated by her and the parallels to her life.

I was interested in this book because of Charlotte, who would have become queen had she not died shortly after giving birth to a stillborn child. Her death created a race amongst her uncles to get married and have legitimate children. Ultimately, Victoria was born and the rest is history. I have not read much about Charlotte and was intrigued.

The parallel story with Diana was somewhat flat. Maybe it is still too soon to have Diana be a fictional character.

I am not sure that the two stories should have been combined into one. They could have both stood on their own with a few more details added.

I initially wanted to read this novel because of my affection, admiration, and sympathy for Princess Diana. But I ended up becoming just as fascinated by the story of Charlotte, a Regency Princess of Wales I knew nothing about.

Diana and Charlotte were both beloved princesses who shared high hopes for their lives and a strong feeling of being destined to help their people. Each faced tragedy. And, although she never knew it, Diana has a granddaughter named Charlotte.

Told in the alternating perspectives of Princess Charlotte of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer on the eve of her nuptials to Prince Charles, this story outlines the similarities of history’s two princesses of the people. While both women believed their dreams to be coming true, both secretly battled the antiquated institutions holding them back. Trapped in Buckingham Palace, Diana finds solace in the diaries of Princess Charlotte, offering a behind the scenes glimpse at life amongst the royal family.

I will always be a huge fan of Princess Diana. Though I wasn’t alive yet for her marriage to Prince Charles, I do remember the day she died and how tragic the loss was to not only her country, but for the entire world. All of that to say, I had high hopes for this book, and I felt that it fell a bit short of really highlighting her legacy. I wanted to learn more about her as the princess, her philanthropy, and her global impact, but I felt the book focused more on what she couldn’t do. I read this one very quickly and I loved getting to know the story of Princess Charlotte, an heir I never knew existed and whose life was tragically cut short. It was eye-opening to see the parallels between the two royals and the fast pace of the book kept my attention. Despite it not being exactly as advertised, I did enjoy and feel that I learned quite a bit of Princess Diana’s story.

Thank you to Harper 360 and Netgalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What an interesting read! I can not tell you how many times I stopped just to Google more on a name or event. The intimate storytelling was a refreshing POV that came as if I was talking to a good friend and not reading about past events. Flora Harding really made Diana and Charlotte come back to life in a brief moment and I appreciate that.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review.

Diana Spencer has recently become engaged to Charles, the Prince of Wales. She dreams that her happily ever after is about to begin. However, her days as Charles’s future wife is not like she imagined it would be. Diana finds herself lonely and rarely spends time with Charles. One day, she sees a portrait of Charlotte, the Princess of Wales. She becomes curious about this princess and discovers her diary. This story tells the tale of both princesses who were trying to find their own happiness.

Charlotte was the daughter of George IV and Caroline of Brunswick. She was the Princess of Wales and in line to inherit the crown of England. Sadly, she died in childbirth before she could become queen. In this historical novel, Charlotte is a very fascinating woman. Her parents are trapped in a loveless marriage and often neglect her. Charlotte is a passionate woman and yearns to find love. She is also rebellious at times to pursue her own happiness. When she enters into a loveless betrothal, she fights against her father to break it. Charlotte also has to deal with the pressure. Charlotte is also in love with a man that does not return her affections. She gives him up and marries another. While she does not love her husband initially, she grows to love him. Charlotte is a tragic figure, and I could not help but wonder what England might have been like had Charlotte survived childbirth and became the Queen of England.

Everyone knows the story of Diana, whose life was a fairytale that had gone wrong. While her story is not surprising and not as fascinating as Charlotte, Diana’s storyline is still very compelling. Diana is portrayed as a sympathetic character. She thought she would have a fairytale romance and live happily. However, she often finds herself alone while Charles is often in the company of Camilla. She often wonders if Charles is truly in love with her. Diana also struggles with the press and bulimia. She wonders if she can be the princess that Charles is proud of. She is intrigued by Charlotte because she finds many parallels with her life. Even though she doesn’t believe Charles loves her, she is willing to marry because Charlotte didn’t love her husband initially, but their affection for each other grew after marriage. Diana believes that while she and Charles are not passionately in love then they can grow to love each other in time. With this reason, Diana is hopeful that her marriage can bring her happiness. Because readers know how her marriage ultimately failed, we sympathize with her and know she is making the biggest mistake of her life. Therefore, Diana is just as tragic as Charlotte.

Overall, this novel is about happiness, decisions, and duty. The novel tells about two tragic princesses who were beloved by the public. All of the characters were very complex. There were some parts of the novel, especially Diana’s story that were repetitive. Nevertheless, the novel is very well-written and meticulously researched. The People’s Princess is a very tragic, heartbreaking, and moving novel. This novel will linger with the reader long after they have read the last page. The reader cannot help but wonder what would have happened to Charlotte and Diana had certain events and decisions happened differently. The People’s Princess is definitely a must read for fans of the British royals! I recommend this for fans of The Other Windsor Girl, The Duchess, and The Queen’s Secret!

I, like most, am fascinated with the story of Princess Diana, so I grabbed this book. The picture alone led me to believe this would be more about Diana and her becoming Royal, the write up seemed to favor this also. Unfortunately, most of this this book fell flat to me…the saving grace was the story of Princess Charlotte.

For me, I found the character of Diana very one dimensional; shallow, immature, self centered and most of all troubled. What was written here was the same as we’ve all seen, but did not put Diana in a favorable or likable light. Yet, I felt so sorry for this young woman portrayed - left alone with no one to talk to, brought into a world that she was not equipped to handle, taken away from her friends, the loss of her privacy. Conflicting emotions most definitely.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story of little known (at least to me) Princess Charlotte. A princess whose life has so many parallels to Diana. She comes across as more likable, more real, dealing with her problems head on and finally taking control of her life. Their endings are similar, tragic. Both had one dream fulfilled and one out of reach.

The writing was well done…drawing me in immediately. I just felt like it could have been marketed differently…especially the cover.

Thanks to Harper 360 and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

I've been obsessed with Princess Diana since I watched her get married as a child so I knew I had to read this book! I just wish I liked it more. The Princess Charlotte chapters were great and I loved learning more about her but I didn't enjoy the Diana chapters. She came off very negatively and she was hard to like. We know she was a woman with issues but it was hard to find any of the charm she's so well-known for in the book. I also found the diary format off-putting - it lead to more telling than showing and kept me disconnected from the characters.

Thanks to Harper 360 and NetGalley for the copy to review.

I went into this book thinking it would be a historical fiction book centered around Princess Diana. While it did have parts loosely based on the time leading up to Diana's wedding to Prince Charles, most of this book focuses on a diary that Diana discovers that tells the story of Charlotte, Princess of Wales, from the 1800's. Diana realized the parallels between Charlotte's life and her own as she is trying to handle her betrothal to Charles. I found the Charlotte's storyline more interesting than Diana's (as most of the her storyline is pretty basic knowledge to anyone who's a fan of the British Royal family), and Charlotte's story was a new one to me. Even after finishing this book a few days ago, I'm still pulled to want to know more about Princess Charlotte.

Just a quick look at the cover and it is quite clear who is this book’s subject. As Ms. Harding did in her earlier novel, she has taken a member of the British Royal Family and told a part of their story. Here, of course, readers spend time with Diana in the time frame from her engagement and her wedding. It would be easy to just recount a story that many already know but the author has a twist. She has Diana discover a diary that offers some parallels with her own experience.

Those who enjoy stories about the Royals, those who like historical fiction and fans of women’s fiction may well enjoy this story . It may feel especially poignant during this Jubilee Week.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360-One More Chapter for this title. All opinions are my own.

I was initially drawn to this book because after watching The Crown I have been more interested in the life of Princess Diana. This book alternates between two different timelines: the present (Diana) and the past (Charlotte). At first I was a little disappointed that it was not solely focused on Diana’s life but as the story progressed
I was equally invested in Charlotte’s. This story portrays the life of royals and the expectations placed on them by their family, subjects, and themselves. I really enjoyed this book and felt like the author did a fantastic job capturing the lives of both these women.

See Instagram post below for staged photo and full review

I am a fan of all things royal and have always been fascinated by Princess Diana. When I read the blurb, I knew this was one that I needed to read. In the weeks leading up to her wedding to Prince Charles, Lady Diana is given the journal of Charlotte, Princess of Wales. I am a huge historical fiction reader and had never read anything about Princess Charlotte short life. After devouring this book, I had to Google Princess Charlotte to find out more about her life. I highly recommend this book to all historical fiction fans!

This really tugs at your heart with the loneliness Princess Diana felt all throughout her life with Charles. I liked how we got to learn about Princess Charlotte who is new to me and how Diana relates so much to her.

Though she initially thought her fairytale had come true, Lady Diana now finds herself alone and scared waiting for the day she will walk down the aisle to become the next Princess of Wales. She had no idea that becoming a Royal would be like this, nor did she anticipate all the unwanted attention. Isolated and vulnerable, Diana finds solace in the pages of a journal once owned by another Princess of Wales. Will Princess Charlotte find love? Better yet, are there answers in Charlotte's journal that can help Diana hold on to hers? ⁠

Well, this was delightful! I thoroughly enjoyed this little escape into the British monarchy and definitely recommend it to any and all lovers of Princess Diana and British history. I could see it being triggering for anyone dealing with or recovering from an eating disorder, so please be aware before diving in. The author's portrayal of Diana felt authentic and well-researched. The fantasy/fiction element didn't feel forced, adding to the drama of Diana and Charles' story. The highlight of the book is most definitely the story of Princess Charlotte and her journey to find love. Every time the book flashed forward to Diana's timeline I felt eager for the next flash back to Charlotte, which is a good sign IMO. Overall, this was a great read for those interested in Diana and the history of the British monarchy.

This book is all over the place and somewhat boring. Diana's part seem to completely revolve around her eating disorder. I think every chapter that was from her view involved throwing up at some point. Charolette's diary entries are the most interesting part of the book, but don't always seem to fit in. It's about Diana getting the diary of Charolette and the book starts by her constantly reading the diary and the chapters usually say something about her reading it. But as the book progresses it leaves out mentioning Diana reading it and just starts flipping chapter by chapter from Diana's story to Charolette's. The perspectives are also different. Diana's was written in third person while Charolette's is in first.

I almost wish the entire book was about Charolette and left out Diana completely.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC of this book.

Many readers enjoy books centering around the royal family especially Princess Diana. The People's Princess by Flora Harding, is historical fiction with a striking cover that drew me in to the book. It is currently on the top ten best-selling list in Canada. The novel is available in the U.S. on May 17th.

Lady Diana Spencer, is engaged to Prince Charles. She is preparing for her wedding when she comes across a personal journal written in the 1800s by beautiful "Princess Charlotte of Wales". Diana finds this journal intriguing and begins to unravel similarities between Princess Charlotte's life and her own.

Flora Harding presents a very well researched story about Princess Charlotte and the parallel between the two women. Readers are given a heartfelt look back at Diana's painful relationship with Charles before becoming a member of the royal family. The People's Princess is a worthy read for historical fiction lovers. (3.5 bumped up to 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Thank you NetGalley and Harper 360, for this look back into Diana's life. I appreciate the opportunity to learn about Princess Charlotte. She is a genuinely interesting character and added a whole new dimension to the plot.