My American-born publisher, Michael O’Mara, was deeply sceptical when I told him about my discussion with James Colthurst. With a TV drama about the forged Hitler Diaries then in the news, he unsurprisingly suspected that I was being set up by a con man, but he agreed that he, James and I should meet in his office in south London. The meeting was tense; James did not really trust me completely, and he did not know Mike and felt that he was getting in over his head. Instinctively he wanted to protect his royal friend, while O’Mara wanted to test his integrity. ‘If she is so unhappy why is she always smiling in the photographs?’ he wanted to know, indicating the small library of royal picture books he had published over the years.As the meeting proceeded O’Mara warmed to Colthurst. ‘He was clearly no con man because he didn’t ask for money,’ he reasoned. But a test was set – a tape recording of Diana’s ‘memoirs’ was to be made before the amateur conspirators met for a second time.While I was keen to interview the Princess myself, it was out of the question.
What do You think about Diana: In Pursuit Of Love?
