Diana (26 page)

Blowing up a mine by remote control, she said, “One down, ten million to go.”

When she learned that her efforts in Angola had been turned into a political football back in England, she said, “I think I’m going to burst into tears now.”

A government minister referred to Diana as a “loose cannon,” forcing her to respond that she was “just trying to help” land-mine victims. “I am only trying to highlight a problem that’s going on around the world. That’s all.”

“I can’t tell you how much the land-mines movement means to me. But when I did that, you criticized me. I’m accused of being political, but I’m
not; I just want to help people. I saw the [reaction among London politicos] as merely a distraction, which meant things went off the rails for five minutes and went back on again. It’s not helpful—things like that—but it does happen when a campaign is entwined with a political issue. I understand that.”

To Richard Kay, on politicians accusing her of meddling in things she didn’t understand—namely, the issue of land mines: “What
is
there to understand when people are having their legs blown off?”

“[The British Labour party’s] position on the subject [of land mines] was always clear. It’s going to do tremendous work. Its predecessor was so hopeless. I hope we manage to persuade the United States to sign the treaty ban in Ottawa this December.”

“The [Tory] polemics [over Diana’s Angola minefield journey] ruined a day’s work, but it multiplied the press coverage.”

On the plight of women

Mothers “retreat into their own private hell behind closed doors, terrified to go out of their homes into what, to them, has become a frightening world.”

“Isn’t it normal not to be able to cope all the time? Isn’t it normal for women as well as men to feel frustrated with life? Isn’t it normal to feel angry and want to change a situation that is hurting?”

“If we, as a society, continue to disable women by encouraging them to believe they should only do things that are thought to benefit their family, even if these women are ‘damaged’ in the process; if they feel they never have the right to do anything
that is just for themselves; if they feel they must sacrifice everything for their loved ones, even at the cost of their own health, their inner strength, and their own self-worth, they will live only in the shadow of others, and their mental health will surely suffer.”

“Diana touched the child in each and every one of us.” (Ingrid Seward, editor in chief,
Majesty
magazine)

“It’s amazing how much happiness a small child brings to people.”

In October 1987, Diana told an inquiring play group in Hillington, West London: “Two children is quite enough at the moment. I don’t think I’d like to have three boys, although deep down I would love a girl.”