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Diana was 'devious, slow and disturbingly neurotic,' mocks Germaine Greer
Last updated at 22:52pm on 27.07.07Feminist Germaine Greer has caused outrage in Australia for calling the late Princess of Wales, "slow", "devious" and "disturbingly neurotic".
The controversial academic claims Diana is partly responsible for the car accident that killed her almost a decade ago - by initiating a love triangle between herself, Dodi Fayed and heart surgeon Hasnat Khan.
"The saddest thought of all is that Diana's death may have resulted indirectly from another of her kack-handed manipulations; it is said that she only went to Paris with (her late lover) Dodi Fayed in order to make heart surgeon Hasnat Khan jealous," writes Greer in an essay published in Weekend Australian Magazine.
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Greer claims Diana 'only went to Paris with Dodi Fayed (right) in order to make heart surgeon Hasnat Khan (left) jealous'
Diana was 36 when she was killed along with Fayed and chauffeur Henri Paul when their Mercedes crashed in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris in August 31, 1997.
Former Celebrity Big Brother contestant Greer further ridicules Diana's intelligence, referring to her childhood nickname of 'Brian' which her siblings called her - "after the dopey snail on The Magic Roundabout on children's TV.
Feminist Germaine Greer is scathing about the late Princess of Wales
"Of the four Spencer children, Diana was the slowest. Because of her slowness, she was easily found out in her preposterous fibs."
The former Celebrity Big Brother contestant takes another episode from Diana's childhood to illustrate her "devious" nature, when she allegedly persuaded a younger school friend to write a poison pen letter to her father's second wife (Lady Raine Spencer).
"Apparently she didn't have the courage to write her own letter...in adulthood Diana became more, rather than less devious.
"The same foolhardiness was at work not only in Diana's sexual adventures but also in her orchestration of her public persona," says Greer.
As for Diana's fashion icon status, Greer dismisses her 'nondescript' sartorial choices as comparable to that of female TV newsreaders.
"Diana was never a fashion icon; she dressed to the same demotic standard of elegance as TV anchorwomen do, plus the inevitable hat.
"It is precisely because she was basically anonymous that Diana's public could so easily identify her."
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Greer believes Diana's outfits lacked imagination, comparing her fashion style to the 'demotic standard of elegance' of TV anchorwomen
Lastly, Greer dismisses Diana's 'Queen of Hearts' reputation and accuses her of "rushing into too many situations in which genuine angels would have feared to tread".
"Her habit of popping up in the midst of other people's life crises must have startled some of her victims.
"Diana's legacy is no more than endless column inches of adulation and speculation," adds Greer.
Reader views (10)
I find Greer's comments offensive on the fantastic work and legacy that Diana worked for and is fondly remembered. Who will be fondly remembering Greer in 10 years? Diana was a wonderful humanitarian, with a beautiful heart and soul. Yes she had faults, like all of us, but with all the pressures and all the rubbish all the other waste of space Royals put her through it is easy to understand her trials. I treasured her when she was alive and still treasure and miss her spirit and beauty today.
- Derek Axtell, London
well duh..
too bad women only figure this all out after its too late.
when they get done competing and cutting each other to death it gives their brains a minute to finally work and then its coytains. I could tell from the very first interview with Di that she was picked from the joy division as a lebensborn factory and that's why no one said anything about her shallow pond.
Its pretty obvious that that is why she was so pissed and only dated non anglos with lotsa cheese. What did she get? Beautiful sons and millions, but not her integrity or any respect. Sounds alot like the modern woman. Typical soulless climber shouldve married a real man but wouldnt and will blame us all for it for eternity. Royalty...
- Lucken, motown
Greer has been getting away with monstrous radical feminist lies on British TV for far to long.Diana is another one of her victims attacked from her grave by a devious women like Greer who has little of her own qualities to pontificate about anyone else let alone Diana.
- Anon, London
I think it is just plain wrong to speak badly of any person that has passed even if they were and are in the public eye. Shame on you Greer!
- Irine, California, USA
Easy to blast someone who can't defend herself. To me , that is the worse than anything that Diane has or has not done. Enough already- people should quit getting their 15 minutes by attacking people- is Germaine Greer upset she hasn't been in the news much lately?
- Claudia, Spring Grove, IL , USA
When Greer does something substantial; such as seeking to remove landmines in affected countries and helping those injured by them plus seeking to help starving or AIDS-infected children all over the world; then she can critisize someone who was an Angel like Diana.
- Hastings, Hastings ,UK.
I don't often agree with Germaine Greer, but I do on this. Diana was a very manipulative and calculating woman. Charles has been much maligned, but I imagine she was impossible to live with.
- Beatriz, London
Another Diana hater. The woman has been dead for a decade, let her rest in peace. We don't need any more opinions from those who are looking to cash in on the late Princess. Give it a rest already.
The rest of the Royal Family offer enough entertainment without having to drag up a dead woman to take pot shots at.
- Karenmarie, Guisborough, TS14
Diana had her failings like all humans including Greer, but she had many positive aspects of her personality and it's the good things people like to remember.
It's easy to atack someone who cannot answer back and Greer seems to be particulary good at it. Diana is dead now so it is time to let her rest in peace not use her as a way of pushing Greer's has-been self into the public eye.
- Brian, Wiltshire
I like Germaine Greer she has a point regarding the 'saintly' Diana, but she's going to get some stick for this. Seeing as the women is dead perhaps it was best she said nothing. The problem is people and newspapers do have a habit of presenting the women in an all too glowing light, probably because she is dead and we naturally tend to think of the dead in a favourable light when at all possible.
- Chris, Newton-le-Willows
