The whole establishment had a problem with the relationship. A Muslim and an English Princess, whoever would have thought?

Yes, whilst New labour were partly idiotic, Diana was completely idiotic

What the fuck did it have to do with him who she was sleeping with?

"This was not for the obvious reasons, which would have made some frown on him; his nationality, religion or background don't matter a hoot to me. I had never met him ... so if you ask me, well, spit it out, what was wrong, I couldn't frankly say, but I felt uneasy," he writes.

You felt all of the above. If he was some white collared white boy, it would not have been a problem. How did she really die? Do you feel 'uneasy' about that?

@SpottedChul

How did she really die? Do you feel 'uneasy' about that?

She died because she was driven too fast by an over-the-limit-chauffeur and she wasn't wearing a seat belt.

Get over it. Move on. Take your conspiracy theory twaddle somewhere else where idiots reside.

The whole book as far as I can garner from these quotes is full of half thoughts and inconclusive mutterings. The art of saying nothing with a gravitas that feels laden with meaning.
Apart from war-collaborator and innocent iraqi mass murderer that may very well be his epitaph.

OMG!!! a) another reason to get rid of the royals. b) was blair prime minister from 1997 or 997?

@davidabsalom

Diana was the mother of the future king of England - William. As the King of England he will also be Supreme Governor of the Church of England. If Dodi and Diana had a child, it would have potential constitutional issues.

I'm not saying that it's right, I'm simply giving the stock answer to your question.

"This was not for the obvious reasons, which would have made some frown on him; his nationality, religion or background don't matter a hoot to me. I had never met him ... so if you ask me, well, spit it out, what was wrong, I couldn't frankly say, but I felt uneasy," he writes.

So he goes around advising people on who they should and shouldn't be sleeping with, despite not even knowing what his own reasons are? That's just....bizarre. Absolutely bizarre.

Diana was paranoid and a little crazy, and certainly an attention seeker.

I'm not saying her experience with the Royal family was particularly nice, but I think she had a lot of personal failings which exacerbated the situation.

So years before he started putting his nose into other peoples business in Iraq, he was trying to tell Diana who she could go out with ?????

WTF !!! This guy really think's he is God. What a prat !

I cant wait to read what other wise words of wisdom he will have to say....

Anyone noticed that he writes like he speaks?

"This was not for the obvious reasons, which would have made some frown on him; his nationality, religion or background don't matter a hoot to me. I had never met him ... so if you ask me, well, spit it out, what was wrong, I couldn't frankly say, but I felt uneasy," he writes.

So if you couldn't 'frankly say', why say anything at all to her then... and why repeat it to the world now?

Tobemon: "Yes, whilst New labour were partly idiotic, Diana was completely idiotic". Love it !!!!

How pathetic is this man? I'm amazed he was ever our PM!

A man with far too much blood on his hands, thinks he's God's man on earth, failed the electorate, covers his failings by diverting all eyes on what a 'bully' and nasty man his ex BFF Gordon Brown was/is... oh and he had such the hots for Diana... I reckon he muttered how he disapproved of Di and Dodi because he couldn't convince Diana to kiss his feet...

Tobemon - I second Msad - love your line there!

''Yes, whilst New labour were partly idiotic, Diana was completely idiotic''

Diana was young willful and immature.........in her desire to get back at the royals she went too far.....in life we are not as free as we think we are...and especially for a British princess
Do you actually think that a Muslim Saudi royal princess will fraternize with a christian American playboy?

How utterly patronising and sexist: 'I could feel her wilful side bridling' - it's like a line out of Mills and Boon. What possible business was it of Blair's who she had a relationship with?

The man actually makes me feel physically nauseous.

Diana was young willful and immature.........in her desire to get back at the royals she went too far.....in life we are not as free as we think we are...and especially for a British princess
Do you actually think that a Muslim Saudi royal princess will fraternize with a christian American playboy?

... and share hotel rooms before marriage... she would have been beheaded after being stoned to death. Guardian readers beware: conflict of ideals (Islam = (true) Christianity)..

Should have Blair said what he said to Diana who was in friendly terms with? Yes, of course, and he would have been right to voice concerns on the constitutial front and the image of UK plc.
Should have Blair recounted such conversation? No, keep it to yourself...

Shallow.

What is a christian american playboy?

Er, so why was Diana's relationship with Fayad a problem Mr Blair? You haven't said why apart from it made you uneasy....but why? So nothing to do with the fact that Dodi was the son of a wealthy Muslim who contensciously owned Harrods? Come on, spit it out man.

@Gazzag

Diana was the mother of the future king of England - William. As the King of England he will also be Supreme Governor of the Church of England. If Dodi and Diana had a child, it would have potential constitutional issues.

I don't see why there should be any constitutional implications. So the king has a younger half brother who is not in line to the throne. So what? It has happened before.

This bit's spot on, though:

"We were both in our ways manipulative people," Blair writes, "perceiving quickly the emotions of others and able instinctively to play with them."

I imagine the objections to Dodi al Fayed were very little to do with him being a Muslim and a lot to do with the particular family he came from. Blair obviously didn't have the courage to say so, though.

Here is a fact, Diana was fronting a campaign against land mines. She was going up against arms dealers, Dodi and his Daddy had been involved in intelligence organizations and Blair helped the arms dealers profit from the false war he led the world into in Iraq. She had her fingers in the most dangerous pie of all and that is What Dictator Blair was uneasy about.

Well this is going to keep the Express in business for the next few years...

Do you actually think that a Muslim Saudi royal princess will fraternize with a christian American playboy?

No, but it reflects badly on them that she couldnt and it reflects well on us that Diana lived a life in which she could have a relationship with a muslim man. Blair doesnt know what he should think, but its quite a common position amoungst liberals - 'smoke all the pot you like so long as your not my daughter' - and so on.

I'll spell it out for those who are confused. This part

not for the obvious reasons, which would have made some frown on him; his nationality, religion or background don't matter a hoot to me

is a lie.

I'm not usually one to entertain conspiracy theories but I do find the fact that the PM actually went as far as to mention his 'discomfort' with the relationship to Diana somewhat menacing. Two months later they're both dead? Hmmn....

@Fungolo33

I'm not usually one to entertain conspiracy theories but .... Two months later they're both dead? Hmmn....

Hmm. If I were you, I'd stick to your usual attitude, then, or people may think you're a twit.

PM actually went as far as to mention his 'discomfort' with the relationship to Diana somewhat menacing. Two months later they're both dead? Hmmn....

..
Ahhhhhhh: she died because SHE WAS NOT WEARING A SIT BELT! Her fault, really and a warning to all those motorists who insist not to wear one, because they are 'real' men or woman who find them too 'tight' on their chest.
Not a word about this. And she was quite unbalanced, buy the admission from everyone who met her. And sweet, in her own way. But so is my mother and she is not likely to be sanctified as Diana... Guys, get real!

i started reading this but after the 1st paragraph i just kept thinking of cliff richard as tony blair, pass the shotgun i need to end this

@diego90210

What is a christian american playboy?

I don't know - Bruce Wayne perhaps?

@cloudgroover

This is the first time I have heard anybody suggest the land mines industry as the source of her 'assassination' or 'accident'. I've heard about MI5 and the white car, the mysterious flash and the fake blood for the test, as well as the stories of Prince Philips involvement, and the fact that a tactical team arrived at the British embassy in Paris before the 'accident'.

I think it is clear that the Establishment had the means, the motive and the opportunity, but still don't believe they did it. I know Blair and Mandelson and New Labour were bootlickers for big business, but are you suggesting the Princess was killed by the arms industry?

@Kerrygold.

No dear boy, by the Establishment.

prophetjackson
1 Sep 2010, 3:01PM
@Kerrygold.

No dear boy, by the Establishment.

You are barking mad.

@Hoppolocos

Perhaps you're merely naive? What is the basis of your conclusion?

I had never met him ... so if you ask me, well, spit it out, what was wrong, I couldn't frankly say, but I felt uneasy,"

Being a drug dealer, perhaps.

So on his own admission, Blair (1) tried to meddle in the private life of a woman who by then had nothing to do with the running of the country; (2) piously denies he had the obvious bigoted motives for doing so, but can't offer any alternative reasons, (3) used her death as an opportunity for spin and manipulation, (4) is still getting mawkish and sentimental about this sad but ultimately insignificant person 13 years on.

A minor matter, but revealing of the man.

Appearances, apperances ...
What would the neighbours think?