Controversial new book on Princess Diana

A new high profile novel will examine what Princess Diana's life would have been like if she had lived.

The book written by 'Brick Lane'author Monica Ali concerns a fictional princess but Monica has admitted it has been strongly influenced by the late Princess of Wales, who died in a Paris car crash in 1997.

She told the Guardian: "Over the years I've sometimes found myself wondering, if the accident had never happened, how would she have emerged from that period in which she seemed to be at some kind of crossroads? How would she have matured into her 40s and beyond?

"What I always admired about her was the way she refused to be told what to do. She stuck two fingers up at the establishment, she took risks, she was a gorgeous bundle of trouble.

"I did my research but it's a work of fiction. It's primarily about identity, which is what I always write about.

"And it's about family and friendship, and the peculiar calamity of fame."

The book has a planned release date for the end of March - just one month before Diana's eldest son Prince William marries his fiancee Kate Middleton - but the author insists this is a coincidence and she does not wish to hurt William or his brother Prince Harry.

She said: "At first, I thought it was unfortunate timing - I'd delivered the first draft last summer, before the engagement had been announced. But then I thought about all the negative things that have been written about Diana in the press and in non-fiction books over the years. That's all the stuff that might be hard for her sons,"