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Princess Diana thought Oprah only cared about ratings, says friend Simone Simmons

Simone Simmons, a close confidant of the late royal opens up about Diana's thoughts on Oprah, says she thought 'Oprah was only after sensationalism'
UPDATED JUN 24, 2021
Orpah Winfrey (Steve Jennings/Getty Images) and Princess Diana (Newsmakers/Getty Images)
Orpah Winfrey (Steve Jennings/Getty Images) and Princess Diana (Newsmakers/Getty Images)

When Harry and Meghan sat down with Oprah Winfrey, they had a no holds barred conversation that shook the royal family to its core. While the two appeared to be very comfortable speaking up with Oprah, we've just learnt that another member of the family didn't feel the same way - the late Princess Diana. According to a new book, Diana was "very uncomfortable" with Oprah, a view her son did not seem to have.

Harry has since worked with Oprah on an Apple TV Plus show, 'The Me You Can't See' chronicling his battle with depression. During the show, which was released after the couple's interview, Harry once again slammed the royal family, which many social media users didn't take too kindly to. The show and the interview showed just how comfortable both Harry and Meghan were with Oprah, which now seems a bit ironic in light of the new revelations. 

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Simone Simmons, who was a close confidante and friend of Diana opened up about how the late Princess viewed Oprah in an update to 'Battle of Brothers'. The book, written by Robert Lacey, chronicles how Harry and Prince William fell out and was originally published in 2020. It is now receiving an update, in light of recent events, which is when the shocking revelations came to light.

Oprah Winfrey interviews Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on A CBS Primetime Special premiering on CBS on March 7, 2021 (CBS)

Diana believed Oprah had 'lack of respect' for subjects

Speaking to Lacey, Simmons said, "Diana felt very uncomfortable with Oprah. She thought that Oprah was only after sensationalism – like when she interviewed Fergie about her book, and all she wanted to talk about was Diana." The Fergie Simmons is referring to is Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York and former wife of Prince Andrew. In 1996, she sat down with Oprah and revealed that royal life "was not a fairytale." 

Simmons added that the interview "laid bare for Diana the basic lack of respect that she felt Oprah had towards her subjects and how she was just manipulating her to garner higher ratings." That interview resurfaced ahead of Harry and Meghan's tell-all with Oprah because at the time it was considered a bombshell. Back in March, The Independent revealed how Oprah tried numerous times to secure an interview with Diana, but failed. The paper revealed that in the mid-1990s, Oprah met Diana at Kensington Palace to discuss a possible interview. However, Diana refused and opted to go with the BBC's Martin Bashir instead.

Until now, there were no details on why Diana refused Oprah, but now it appears as if we have an answer. In the end, Oprah lost a bombshell interview, that is blamed for Diana and Prince Charles' divorce, as well as her eventual death. It appears she got a second chance though, with Harry and Meghan. 

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