Princess Diana's bulimia battle named and explained in new children's book
A new children’s book about Princess Diana has detailed her struggle with the eating disorder, bulimia.
Authored by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and published by Quarto Kids, ‘Princess Diana’ is part of the publisher’s hugely popular Little People, BIG DREAMS series.
Set to be released on 7 September, the book - which is aimed at a four to seven-year-old target audience - details Diana’s early years, along with her time as a primary school teacher, and eventually her marriage into the Royal Family.
It also dedicates several pages to her eating disorder, writing: "Diana soon realised that the prince’s heart belonged to someone else. She fell into a deep sadness. Over time, that sadness grew into an eating disorder called bulimia."
"Whenever she felt alone, she felt better by eating all the cakes she could find in the royal kitchens. But that sweet feeling of comfort didn’t last long. Once it was gone, she would try to get rid of all the food she had eaten by making herself throw up," it continued.
"It took her time to seek help, learn to love herself, and stop hurting her body. But once she did, she felt better than ever. She was one of the first famous people to speak up about her struggles with bulimia, helping others to confront it, too."
Before her death in 1997, aged 36, Diana said she had suffered from bulimia for "a number of years" and described it as a "secret disease" and a "a symptom of what was going on in my marriage" during the infamous 1995 Panorama interview.
"You inflict it upon yourself because your self-esteem is at a low ebb, and you don't think you're worthy or valuable. You fill your stomach up four or five times a day - some do it more - and it gives you a feeling of comfort," she said.
"It's like having a pair of arms around you, but it's temporary. Then you're disgusted at the bloatedness of your stomach, and then you bring it all up again. And it's a repetitive pattern, which is very destructive to yourself."
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According to Beat, eating disorders affect 1.25 million people across the UK. Tom Quinn, Beat's Director of External Affairs, said that reading about eating disorders "can help young people to spot the signs more quickly, however it's crucial that books raise awareness in a sensitive and appropriate way".
"Writers must also signpost to eating disorder support, to ensure that family members and school staff can help children to access the care that they need," he added. "Eating disorders often affect the whole family, and those caring for a child must also be able to read information and advice."
Quinn also praised Princess Diana’s "honesty" about her experiences with bulimia.
"It helped many people to recognise their own symptoms and reach out for help," he added. "It's great to see that her legacy is still having an impact, and at the same time it's important that children are signposted to quality support as hearing about eating disorders can be upsetting."
If you’re worried about your own or someone else’s health, you can contact Beat 365 days a year on 0808 801 0677 or beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Shop now: Princess Diana by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara | £9.19 from Amazon
Diana isn't the first member of the Royal Family to feature in the Little People, BIG DREAMS series. Books on both the late Queen Elizabeth, and King Charles have also been released.
