New book tells story if Diana had not died in car crash

LONDON - British author of Bangladeshi origin Monica Ali has written a new novel that reportedly imagines the life of Princess Diana if she had not died in a car accident in 1997.

The book, titled “Untold Story”, a fictional tale inspired by Diana’s life, will be published in March, just a month before the wedding of Diana’s son Prince William and Kate Middleton, The Daily Express reported Thursday.

Ali, 43, said the novel, about a princess adored by the public but betrayed and trapped in private, would not hurt princes William or Harry, even though its theme is what would have happened if Diana had not died in the car accident.

The novelist, who described the book as her homage to Diana, said she often thought about the princess’ vow that she would not go quietly.

Diana and her companion Dodi Fayed died in a car crash in Paris Aug 31, 1997.

“Over the years I’ve sometimes found myself wondering how she would have matured into her forties and beyond,” Ali said.

“The question I am asking in the novel is, had she lived, would she have eventually found peace and happiness in her personal life or would the curse of fame have always been too great,” Ali said.

The book reportedly features a paparazzo photographer as one of the central characters and portrays the princess sympathetically.

“Although my novel is certainly inspired by Diana’s situation, of course my princess is fictional and I hope she’s a sympathetic figure as well. I don’t think it will cause hurt,” she said.

Officials inside the royal family have, however, said it was not their role to interfere with artistic freedom.

Monica Ali’s first book, “Brick Lane”, upset leaders in London’s East End Bangladeshi community seven years ago.