Contents of controversial new book about Diana revealed

Princess Diana had a "chronic feeling of rejection," new book claims.

In this story: 'Temperamental instability' Unprecendented Royal statement RELATED STORIES, SITES

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Diana, Princess of Wales, was forced to rebel against members of the Royal Family who she believed were cold-hearted, according to a controversial new book.

Author Patrick Jephson, who was the princess's private secretary and worked as her trusted adviser for nearly eight years until 1996, makes the claims.

The princess particularly scorned members of the Royal family, he claims, regarding her royal jewelery as a reward for "years of purgatory" with the family.

He alleges the princess, who died in a car crash in Paris in August 1997, would have welcomed a reconciliation with the Prince of Wales, even in the terminal stages of their marriage.

"The Princess of Wales did not set out to be a rebel," he writes. "What in the end was seen as her disaffection was what she did to compensate for a chronic feeling of rejection."

As well as attacks on the Royal family, Jephson's book also paints a revealing portrait of the princess.

He says she sacked members of her staff compulsively, lied, schemed, had a desperate need to draw attention to herself and enjoyed risque humour.

But Jepson adds: "For all the squandered chances, the self-indulgence, the stupidity and the occasional downright wickedness, there was something heroic about her, just as there was something essentially brutal and intolerant about those gathered against her"

"Being content was not a natural state for her," he says. "Given the chance, she always preferred to plot and manoeuvre."

Jephson claims members of the Royal Family were particular objects of her scorn. She regarded her Royal jewelery, some of it from the Queen, as a reward for her "years of purgatory with this (expletive) family".

The princess is alleged to have referred to the Duke of Edinburgh as "Stavros," because of his Greek background, and the Royal Family as "the Germans".

He claims Diana would go to great lengths to avoid needlessly provoking the Prince of Wales because, alongside other feelings he stirred in her, she felt fear.

He writes: "When she felt herself to be on the receiving end of his anger, before her characteristic defiance set in, I often saw a look of trepidation cross her face as if she were once again a small girl in trouble with the grown-ups.

"Though not his fault, I believed it joined with other fears deep within her to produce much of the temperamental instability that increasingly became his experience of her and from which, eventually, he would do anything to escape."

The book, 'Shadows Of A Princess' -- excerpts of which appear in the UK's Sunday Times newspaper -- has been condemned by the Queen and the Prince of Wales, who issued an unprecedented statement on Saturday criticising its serialisation.

They expressed fears that the book was likely to distress the princess's sons, Prince William, 18, and Prince Harry, 16, adding that it was a "matter of immense regret that he has now decided…to exploit for personal profit his period of employment with the Royal Family."

The Royal statement said: "Her Majesty and His Royal Highness do not want a book of this kind to be published, a view which was conveyed firmly to Mr Jephson in February, 1998.

"There is an important relationship of trust and privacy between members of the Royal Family and those who work for them, at whatever level, which is enshrined in the permanent confidentiality undertaking which all employees sign on joining the Royal Household.

"The Queen and the Prince of Wales deeply deplore Mr Jephson's decision to proceed with the publication of his book.

"Whatever its possible content, the book is likely to arouse fresh speculation about the life of the Princess which can only be upsetting to the feelings of Prince William and Prince Harry, and to the Princess's family. "

Jephson has said his book is intended to protect Diana's memory.

He said: "During her lifetime, I was discreet and utterly loyal. Since her death I have been dismayed by the indiscriminate comment she has received, much of it inaccurate, some of it apparently intended to diminish her memory."

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The Sunday Times
The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund
The Royal Family
The Prince of Wales

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