It was fun having you on my boat. And as always hugely inspiring. Love your new book - a clear eyed analysis of our strangely distorted images of royal women and ‚patrimonarchy‘. #divideandrule

Female support networks develop and flourish to counteract some of the damage, but that can never be enough. Real change depends on recognising and rejecting the false narratives fostered by patriarchy and patrimonarchy. No more divide and rule. #divideandrule #misogyny #patriarchy #patrimonarchy

Diana suffered under patriarchal systems: tthe patrimonarchy, male primogeniture which handed her brother the family estate, the press with its intrusive male gaze and female columnists who not only internalised misogyny but personified it.

You’re going to hear a lot of stories over the next week about Princess Diana’s terrible mistreatment by the patrimonarchy. The press covering the allegations in her brother Earl Spencer’s memoir may not be quite so forthcoming about the media’s own role in tormenting her 🧵

And yes, the book really is called “Dicing with Di”. It was published less than a year before her death.

Picture on this post is of the TIME cover story I wrote about her ten years after she died.

#DivideandRule #patrimonarchy #Diana

The media certainly shares culpability, so too the patrimonarchy and a toxic culture around royal women that stretches back centuries and continues to play out, dangerously, to this day. Those who fail to learn (or accept) the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it.

Our event is at 11 this morning so if you haven’t made arrangements to join us at St Michael & All Angels in Turnham Green, hurry up or you’ll need your own time machine to hear what we have to say or gently grill us during the Q&A or book signing afterwards. #divideandrule #monarchy #patrimonarchy