What do you think?
Rate this book
Charles and Diana
Illustrated with thirty-two pages of photographs, this in-depth, intimate portrait of the future royalty of England draws on interviews with family, friends, confidants, and associates of the royal couple
473 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
About the author
Ralph G. Martin
58 books8 followersRalph G. Martin was an American journalist who authored or co-authored about thirty books, including popular biographies of recent historical figures, among which, Jennie, a two-volume (1969 and 1971) study of Winston Churchill's American mother, Lady Randolph Churchill, became the most prominent bestseller. Other successful tomes focused on British royal romance (Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson in 1974, as well as Prince Charles and Lady Diana in 1985) and on the Kennedy family (John F. Kennedy in 1983 and Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. in 1995).
Born in Chicago, Martin was eight years old when his family moved to Brooklyn, New York. He studied at City College of New York and, subsequently, the University of Missouri, where he graduated in 1941 with a bachelor's degree in journalism.
Twenty-one years old upon receiving his diploma, Martin decided to hitchhike and found a newspaper job at the Box Elder News Journal which served Brigham City, the county seat of Utah's Box Elder County. In December, following the U.S. declaration of war in the aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Martin enlisted in the Army and spent the war as a combat correspondent for the Armed Forces newspaper Stars and Stripes and the Army weekly magazine, Yank. In 1944, after having interviewed New York City's mayor, Fiorello La Guardia, for Yank, Martin asked La Guardia to perform his marriage ceremony to Marjorie Pastel.
Returning to civilian life in 1945, Martin began working as editor for news and analysis publications Newsweek and The New Republic and became executive editor at decorating and domestic arts magazine House Beautiful. During the months preceding the 1952 and 1956 presidential elections, he served as a member of the campaign staff for the Democratic nominee, Adlai Stevenson.
Having lived for years in the Connecticut town of Westport, near New York City, Martin moved to the Kendal on Hudson retirement community in another of the city's suburbs, Sleepy Hollow, where he died seven-and-a-half weeks before his 93rd birthday. He and his wife Marjorie were the parents of two daughters and a son.
Born in Chicago, Martin was eight years old when his family moved to Brooklyn, New York. He studied at City College of New York and, subsequently, the University of Missouri, where he graduated in 1941 with a bachelor's degree in journalism.
Twenty-one years old upon receiving his diploma, Martin decided to hitchhike and found a newspaper job at the Box Elder News Journal which served Brigham City, the county seat of Utah's Box Elder County. In December, following the U.S. declaration of war in the aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Martin enlisted in the Army and spent the war as a combat correspondent for the Armed Forces newspaper Stars and Stripes and the Army weekly magazine, Yank. In 1944, after having interviewed New York City's mayor, Fiorello La Guardia, for Yank, Martin asked La Guardia to perform his marriage ceremony to Marjorie Pastel.
Returning to civilian life in 1945, Martin began working as editor for news and analysis publications Newsweek and The New Republic and became executive editor at decorating and domestic arts magazine House Beautiful. During the months preceding the 1952 and 1956 presidential elections, he served as a member of the campaign staff for the Democratic nominee, Adlai Stevenson.
Having lived for years in the Connecticut town of Westport, near New York City, Martin moved to the Kendal on Hudson retirement community in another of the city's suburbs, Sleepy Hollow, where he died seven-and-a-half weeks before his 93rd birthday. He and his wife Marjorie were the parents of two daughters and a son.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 30, 2018
I've read quite a lot about Diana,Princess of Wales but not too much on HRH Prince Charles so this was interesting to me because I had never actually seen a book on them both.Generally this filled in some gaps for me but seemed to gloss over the fact that the marriage was mostly an unhappy one.This takes you through how they met,the courtship,the marriage and the birth of Prince William and Harry.Loved the little details such as what the Princess sung on the way to the alter,Prince Charles quotes,the wedding presents,gifts from the public and general info on their everyday life together.I was also occasionally laughing out loud at the more funnier antidotes and I would recommend this to a Princess of Wales fan or to anyone that is fascinated by royalty.
November 4, 2018
Written in 1985 before the news of the breakdown of the royal marriage and affairs hit the worldwide media, this bio of Prince Charles and Diana is an interesting point-in-time summary of the lives and early marriage of the Prince and Princess of Wales. It covers both of their childhoods, the courtship, wedding and early years of the marriage & parenting. Back when the world was hopeful that the fairytale was real, it's now a poignant look-back.
July 18, 2026
“Still, if you ask almost anyone in Britain whether they had a party to celebrate the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana, the answer is “Why, of course we had a party!” Here, too!
“Diana loved stories with happy endings, especially about kings and queens.”
Prince Charles’ first date was to see “The Sound of Music.”
“But Camilla, like Lady Tyron, would be cut off quickly soon after the engagement.”
I loved all the wedding planning details, and I cried reading about the wedding. Also enjoyed the details about their tour of Australia (ch 23).
“Diana loved stories with happy endings, especially about kings and queens.”
Prince Charles’ first date was to see “The Sound of Music.”
“But Camilla, like Lady Tyron, would be cut off quickly soon after the engagement.”
I loved all the wedding planning details, and I cried reading about the wedding. Also enjoyed the details about their tour of Australia (ch 23).
April 28, 2022
I first read this book in June, 1985, shortly after its publication. I enjoyed it then, and have reread it a few times since.
Though, of course, it is somewhat outdated, be cause of events and Princess Diana's passing, it is still an excellent read.
Though, of course, it is somewhat outdated, be cause of events and Princess Diana's passing, it is still an excellent read.
August 4, 2011
The first book I've read on them. Not the best..
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews