Princess Diana

Pool/Getty Images

Like the rest of the world, we've followed Princess Diana's rise — and rare slips from grace — from the time since the press dubbed her Lady Di till the paparazzi chased her to death. One decade after the heartbreaking accident, Tina Brown takes a detailed spin through the life of the Princess past in the biography The Diana Chronicles. Here, 11 tidbits that even ardent Di fans like us didn't know before sinking into the book.

 

Diana was addicted to romance novels; her craving for fantasy may have influenced her into seeing bad boys like James Hewitt in a better light than they deserved.

A young Diana enjoyed tormenting her nannies, going so far as to toss one woman's engagement rings down the drain.

The most painful thing in Diana's life, she said, was when her mother left after Christmas (after her parents split) and she wasn't told that this was a permanent thing.

Getting teased by her sisters for not measuring up intellectually contributed to Diana's inferiority complex.

The "shy Di" persona was just a myth. When the cameras weren't shooting, she would chat, laugh and joke with the press.

Diana saw Charles a total of only 13 times from when their courtship began to their wedding day.

MORE PRINCESS DIANA

Charles was there during all 16 hours of Diana's labor. He was the first Prince of Wales to be in the room when his wife gave birth.

After Harry was born, Diana was desperate to get Charles' attention, often trying in private to do stripteases for him while wearing sexy lingerie.

In February of 1989, Di and Camilla had a showdown at the birthday bash for Camilla's sister. At the event, Di had words with Camilla after Diana busted up an intimate chat between Charles and his Camilla. (The royal pair didn't separate till almost three years later.)

The royal divorce settlement had Charles paying out a lump sum of 17 million pounds and 400,000 pounds annually for Di's office.

A young Prince William told his mother he would make sure she'd get back her HRH (Her Royal Highness) title when he became king. After the split with Charles, Di could be referred to as Princess of Wales but not as HRH.