Author Wendy Holden was drawn to Diana Spencer's backstory - "it got stranger the more I found out about it". "The tale is tragic, comic and weird all at the same time, full of bizarre twists and completely amazing characters. What better novel material," she said. The result is The Princess, which looks at Diana growing up amid the fallout of her parents' bitter divorce, and finding her refuge in romantic novels. She dreams of being rescued by a handsome prince. Prince Charles loves his freedom. He's in no rush to wed; his family has other ideas. Charles must marry for the future of the Crown. The right girl has to be found - young, aristocratic and free of past liaisons. The teenage Diana Spencer was just about the only candidate, her desperation to be loved dovetailing with royal desperation for a bride. But the route to the altar was full of hidden obstacles and people with their own agendas. The Princess: a Love Story, by Wendy Holden (Welbeck) RRP $32.99