I stumbled upon 'Royal Duty' a few years back while browsing a secondhand bookstore, and its cover caught my eye immediately. The author, Paul Burrell, was Diana, Princess of Wales' former butler, and the book offers this incredibly personal glimpse into her life. It's one of those reads that feels like you're peeking behind the royal curtain—sometimes heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking. Burrell's perspective is unique because he wasn't just staff; he was someone Diana trusted deeply. The book stirred up quite a controversy when it came out, with critics saying it betrayed her privacy, but others argued it humanized her in a way official biographies never could.
What stuck with me was how Burrell wrote with such affection and detail—little things like her love for cheap thrillers or how she'd sneak out to meet friends. It made Diana feel less like a distant icon and more like someone you could've shared a laugh with. I remember finishing it and immediately googling interviews with Burrell, curious about his other projects. If you're into royal history with a behind-the-scenes vibe, this one's worth picking up—just maybe not around die-hard monarchists who still side-eye Burrell for 'breaking the code.'