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New York Post
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Sylvester Stallone, Richard Gere almost brawled over Princess Diana at Elton John party: new book
There was a clash of the titans over the People's Princess. Princess Diana not only captivated the public, but she apparently made Hollywood heavyweights weak in the knees. In his new book, 'Dianaworld: An Obsession,' author Edward White explores how the late Princess of Wales not only rocked the monarchy but also impacted pop culture decades after her death in 1997 at age 36. Advertisement One story White shared in his book about the 'Diana Effect' claims Sylvester Stallone and Richard Gere nearly went toe-to-toe over the British royal at Elton John's house in the '90s. The account in the book came from John's husband, David Furnish. Fox News Digital reached out to Stallone, 78, and Gere, 75, for comment. When a fan previously asked Stallone about the alleged incident in an old Instagram post, the actor responded, 'Complete fabrication,' reported. 'It's a story that [also] comes from Elton's autobiography,' White told Fox News Digital. 'He invited Sylvester Stallone and Richard Gere to a house party that Diana was also at. I mean, it's Elton John, so probably everyone in the room was like an A-list celebrity or a member of some grand European royal family.' 'So they turned up,' White shared. 'According to Elton John, Sylvester Stallone turned up with the intention of picking up Diana, which is wishful thinking in several ways… But he did that.' Advertisement 'Sylvester Stallone walked in and saw Diana in deep conversation with Richard Gere,' White claimed. 'He felt that Stallone got angrier and angrier as the evening wore on, because Richard Gere was just dominating. That's how he felt – that he was dominating the conversation with Diana.' 'At some point, from what Elton John says, Sylvester Stallone's emotions got the better of him,' White continued. 'He then squared up to Richard Gere, and they had to be separated… It was these two alpha males squabbling over a woman who neither probably had a chance with, to be honest.' 4 Sylvester Stallone arrived at the party with the intention of picking up Diana Getty Images 4 Richard Gere would nearly brawl with Stallone at Elton John's party. í©Buena Vista Pictures/courtesy E John originally shared his account in his 2019 book, 'Me.' According to the singer, Gere and Diana were deep in conversation in front of the fireplace at his pad, which caused the mood of the party to change. Advertisement 'As the rest of us chatted, I couldn't help but notice a strange atmosphere in the room,' John recalled, as quoted by 'Judging by the kind of looks he kept shooting them, Diana and Richard Gere's newly blossoming friendship was not going down well with Sylvester Stallone at all. I think he may have turned up to the party with the express intention of picking Diana up, only to find his plans for the evening ruined.' John wrote, 'Straight away, Richard Gere and Diana seemed very taken with each other.' Advertisement According to John, the guests headed over to the dining room to eat. However, Gere and Stallone were noticeably missing. John said he then sent Furnish to find the men. 'He came back with both of them, but he was wearing a fairly ashen expression,' John wrote, noting that Furnish said there was 'a situation.' 'It transpired that he'd discovered Sylvester Stallone and Richard Gere in the corridor, squaring up to each other, apparently about to settle their differences over Diana by having a fistfight,' wrote John, as quoted by the outlet. The outlet shared that Furnish managed to break up the situation in time for dinner. John, 78, wrote that Diana 'seemed completely unruffled' by it all. Tessa Baring of the Barnardo's children's charity claimed that on another occasion, it was clear that Stallone was, like many others, eager to be in Diana's presence. 4 Princess Diana, who was attending Elton's party, would be the catalyst for the brawl. SWNS According to Edward's book, Baring described that, during a lunch in London, Stallone 'really, really wanted to come and sit next to the Princess of Wales.' Advertisement 'We didn't let him do that, but we did let him sit next to a child who was sitting next to the Princess of Wales,' said Baring, as quoted by White's book. 'Baring remembered the occasion because she thought Diana hit upon an effective way of placating the film star, making the child feel included, and indulging her own desire to find out the latest gossip, by leaning over and asking Stallone questions about his love life as though she were asking them on Tracy's behalf: 'Tracy and I want to know if you're married,'' wrote White. Stallone and Gere weren't the only stars who were reportedly eager to spend a night with the princess. Advertisement White's book also described how Freddie Mercury, frontman of Queen, managed to get Diana to sneak out of the palace in disguise and head to 'one of London's most famous gay bars.' 'There are these stories of royals slipping out among the commoners in disguise, and they have this magical experience because they're living just like one of us,' White told Fox News Digital. 'By dressing up in male drag and going out, she felt embraced by a marginalized community. She felt an affinity with them because, rightly or wrongly, she felt like an outsider, and they were very accepting of her.' 'I also think she took huge pleasure in taking risks,' White continued. 'It was a huge part of her identity that came back time and time again as I was researching the book. She just took the most incredibly audacious risks. She didn't stop to think twice about things very often… But I think she also felt that she was a rolling stone without a real home. And I also think she felt like she wasn't living life properly unless she was taking risks.' 4 Princess Diana and Sylvester Stallone at the Barnado's Champion Children of the Year ceremony in 1993. Getty Images Advertisement 'You could argue that getting engaged to Prince Charles at age 19, having only met him a few times and not really knowing very much about what was expected of her, was a pretty gigantic gamble,' said White. 'Maybe one that didn't pay off.' In his book, White cited the memoirs of Cleo Rocos, who claimed she spent an evening with Mercury, Diana and Kenny Everett after the princess persuaded her to take her to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. Everett warned the princess that the venue was 'not for you… full of hairy gay men.' 'Diana was insistent, however, so Everett helped her disguise herself in male drag: a camouflage army jacket, hair tucked up into a leather cap and dark aviator sunglasses,' Rocos recalled, as quoted by White's book. 'Scrutinizing her in the half-light, we decided that the most famous icon of the modern world might just…. JUST pass for a rather eccentrically dressed gay male model.' Advertisement White wrote that the disguise worked. 'It was fabulously outrageous and so bizarrely exciting… no one, absolutely no one, recognized Diana.' White wrote that the group reportedly stayed for one drink and left. Diana quietly returned to Kensington Palace and sent back Everett's clothes the next day.
Fox News
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Sylvester Stallone and Richard Gere almost brawled over Princess Diana at Elton John's party: author
There was a clash of the titans over the People's Princess. Princess Diana not only captivated the public, but she apparently made Hollywood heavyweights weak in the knees. In his new book, "Dianaworld: An Obsession," author Edward White explores how the late Princess of Wales not only rocked the monarchy but also impacted pop culture decades after her death in 1997 at age 36. One story White shared in his book about the "Diana Effect" claims Sylvester Stallone and Richard Gere nearly went toe-to-toe over the British royal at Elton John's house in the '90s. The account in the book came from John's husband, David Furnish. Fox News Digital reached out to Stallone, 78, and Gere, 75, for comment. When a fan previously asked Stallone about the alleged incident in an old Instagram post, the actor responded, "Complete fabrication," reported. "It's a story that [also] comes from Elton's autobiography," White told Fox News Digital. "He invited Sylvester Stallone and Richard Gere to a house party that Diana was also at. I mean, it's Elton John, so probably everyone in the room was like an A-list celebrity or a member of some grand European royal family." "So they turned up," White shared. "According to Elton John, Sylvester Stallone turned up with the intention of picking up Diana, which is wishful thinking in several ways… But he did that." "Sylvester Stallone walked in and saw Diana in deep conversation with Richard Gere," White claimed. "He felt that Stallone got angrier and angrier as the evening wore on, because Richard Gere was just dominating. That's how he felt – that he was dominating the conversation with Diana." "At some point, from what Elton John says, Sylvester Stallone's emotions got the better of him," White continued. "He then squared up to Richard Gere, and they had to be separated… It was these two alpha males squabbling over a woman who neither probably had a chance with, to be honest." John originally shared his account in his 2019 book, "Me." According to the singer, Gere and Diana were deep in conversation in front of the fireplace at his pad, which caused the mood of the party to change. "As the rest of us chatted, I couldn't help but notice a strange atmosphere in the room," John recalled, as quoted by "Judging by the kind of looks he kept shooting them, Diana and Richard Gere's newly blossoming friendship was not going down well with Sylvester Stallone at all. I think he may have turned up to the party with the express intention of picking Diana up, only to find his plans for the evening ruined." WATCH: PRINCESS DIANA'S BALLET TEACHER RECALLS SURPRISE 'UPTOWN GIRL' DANCE John wrote, "Straight away, Richard Gere and Diana seemed very taken with each other." According to John, the guests headed over to the dining room to eat. However, Gere and Stallone were noticeably missing. John said he then sent Furnish to find the men. "He came back with both of them, but he was wearing a fairly ashen expression," John wrote, noting that Furnish said there was "a situation." "It transpired that he'd discovered Sylvester Stallone and Richard Gere in the corridor, squaring up to each other, apparently about to settle their differences over Diana by having a fistfight," wrote John, as quoted by the outlet. The outlet shared that Furnish managed to break up the situation in time for dinner. John, 78, wrote that Diana "seemed completely unruffled" by it all. Tessa Baring of the Barnardo's children's charity claimed that on another occasion, it was clear that Stallone was, like many others, eager to be in Diana's presence. According to Edward's book, Baring described that, during a lunch in London, Stallone "really, really wanted to come and sit next to the Princess of Wales." "We didn't let him do that, but we did let him sit next to a child who was sitting next to the Princess of Wales," said Baring, as quoted by White's book. "Baring remembered the occasion because she thought Diana hit upon an effective way of placating the film star, making the child feel included, and indulging her own desire to find out the latest gossip, by leaning over and asking Stallone questions about his love life as though she were asking them on Tracy's behalf: 'Tracy and I want to know if you're married,'" wrote White. Stallone and Gere weren't the only stars who were reportedly eager to spend a night with the princess. White's book also described how Freddie Mercury, frontman of Queen, managed to get Diana to sneak out of the palace in disguise and head to "one of London's most famous gay bars." "There are these stories of royals slipping out among the commoners in disguise, and they have this magical experience because they're living just like one of us," White told Fox News Digital. "By dressing up in male drag and going out, she felt embraced by a marginalized community. She felt an affinity with them because, rightly or wrongly, she felt like an outsider, and they were very accepting of her." "I also think she took huge pleasure in taking risks," White continued. "It was a huge part of her identity that came back time and time again as I was researching the book. She just took the most incredibly audacious risks. She didn't stop to think twice about things very often… But I think she also felt that she was a rolling stone without a real home. And I also think she felt like she wasn't living life properly unless she was taking risks." "You could argue that getting engaged to Prince Charles at age 19, having only met him a few times and not really knowing very much about what was expected of her, was a pretty gigantic gamble," said White. "Maybe one that didn't pay off." In his book, White cited the memoirs of Cleo Rocos, who claimed she spent an evening with Mercury, Diana and Kenny Everett after the princess persuaded her to take her to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. Everett warned the princess that the venue was "not for you… full of hairy gay men." "Diana was insistent, however, so Everett helped her disguise herself in male drag: a camouflage army jacket, hair tucked up into a leather cap and dark aviator sunglasses," Rocos recalled, as quoted by White's book. "Scrutinizing her in the half-light, we decided that the most famous icon of the modern world might just…. JUST pass for a rather eccentrically dressed gay male model." White wrote that the disguise worked. "It was fabulously outrageous and so bizarrely exciting… no one, absolutely no one, recognized Diana." White wrote that the group reportedly stayed for one drink and left. Diana quietly returned to Kensington Palace and sent back Everett's clothes the next day.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kate Middleton's royal success came from dodging Princess Diana's missteps: author
Kate Middleton has been crowned the reliable, glamorous face of a modern monarchy. Several royal experts believe that her secret to success has been playing by the rules and not breaking out as a royal rebel. Edward White has written a new book about Kate's late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, titled "Dianaworld: An Obsession." It examines the "Diana Effect" and how it continues to influence both the monarchy and pop culture, decades after her death at age 36. White told Fox News Digital that, unlike Diana, who became engaged to the much older former Prince Charles when she was just 19 years old, Kate was more mature when she said "I do" to Prince William. Kate married the royal in 2011 when she was 29, and he was 28. King Charles' Infidelity Led Princess Diana To Rely On 'Revolving Door' Of 'Spiritual Advisors': Author "Kate Middleton is much more reminiscent of the older generation of royal figures in the way that she comports herself," White explained. "She was almost 30 when she married William, and that was deliberate from both sides. The big lesson that she probably learned from Diana's life is don't rush into becoming a royal." "Diana's life is more reminiscent to me of a pop star's life," White shared. "She didn't know what she was getting herself into. She was so young and very, very sheltered when she entered the royal family. Someone once said, 'If you don't know who you are before you're famous, then fame is the thing that you become. It is the thing that will define who you are.' I think that's what happened to Diana, at least for many years." Read On The Fox News App Kate was not born into royal life. She's the daughter of a flight attendant and a flight dispatcher and comes from a well-to-do area of London. It was at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland where Kate first met William, the elder son of Charles and Diana and heir to the British throne. They were first friends and then housemates before they were romantically linked in 2004. Kate graduated in 2005 with a degree in art history and a budding relationship with William. William complained about press intrusion, and Kate's lawyers asked newspaper editors to leave her alone. Even so, the British media followed every twist in their relationship, including a brief split in 2007. The tabloids dubbed her "Waity Katie" for her patience during their courtship. William later acknowledged that the couple's romance wobbled for several months, saying they were both young and trying to find their way. In comparison, Diana was known as "Shy Di" when she found herself suddenly thrust into the glaring media spotlight. She later became an unlikely revolutionary during her years in the House of Windsor. Click Here To Sign Up For The Entertainment Newsletter Diana helped modernize the monarchy by making it more personal, changing the way the royal family related to people. By interacting more intimately with the public – kneeling to the level of children, sitting on the edge of a patient's hospital bed, writing personal notes to her fans – she set an example that has been followed by other royals as the monarchy worked to become more human and remain relevant in the 21st century. But Diana's brief life was plagued with problems. She became paranoid of the palace trying to control her and cited a lack of support from senior members and the "men in gray," or palace aides who prioritized tradition. Meanwhile, Charles continued seeing his mistress, Camilla Parker Bowles. Their marital woes played out on the world stage and Diana famously declared in an explosive 1995 interview with the BBC, "There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded." "Diana dealt with the press scrutiny in the way that she felt that she could, and in the way that she felt she had to," said White. "I don't think anybody was advising her to behave the way that she did with them. It's an invidious position to be in. Kate Middleton handles the press scrutiny really well, but she… had to switch herself off and only focus on duty." "The best way of dealing with the scrutiny is by giving [the press] nothing," White continued. "By stepping through the hoops of shaking hands, cutting ribbons and smiling, being dutiful and not being too big for your boots. Those are all the things that the monarchy is built on." WATCH: PRINCE WILLIAM, KATE MIDDLETON CAN LEARN FROM PRINCESS DIANA'S MARRIAGE British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital that Kate receives constant support from both the palace and her family – something that Diana lacked as she struggled with royal life. "The truth is, there was an enormous amount of tension and animosity between Princess Diana and Prince Charles," said Chard. "They were not a happy couple and didn't work as a team… Princess Diana was like a rabbit thrown into the headlights. Life was hard as she didn't have the support she craved and needed. She learned to fend for herself, grew in strength and was perceived as a rebel. She wasn't going to allow anybody to dim her light." "Princess Catherine came from a supportive family, "Chard shared. "She also had a longer time edging her way into royal life. The most important factor is that she and Prince William are a dream team. They work together perfectly. They are each other's rocks, plus they have an amazing extended support network. Princess Catherine has always had a strong sense of self, a quiet strength, confidence and resilience… She also knows what is expected of her as the future of the modern monarchy." "She navigates her role like a breeze and is the perfect future queen," Chard added. Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner also agreed that William, a supportive spouse, has been essential to helping Kate navigate royal life with ease. "Diana was strangled by royal bureaucracy, having to live with royal rules and regulations," he said. "After trying everything to make Charles love her, she eventually decided to fight back." Like What You're Reading? Click Here For More Entertainment News "I used to work with Diana during those days," he shared. "I watched on many occasions when both competed with each other for the best photo opportunity. Diana always won because she was 'The People's Princess' and everybody wanted to see her on public walkabouts, not Charles, which he grew to hate." Diana also confided in the wrong people when she wanted her voice heard, Chard argued. In 2021, William and Harry criticized the BBC after it was revealed that one of the broadcaster's journalists used "deceitful behavior" to secure Diana's TV interview. William said the BBC's failures contributed to the deterioration of his parents' marriage and worsened Diana's feelings of paranoia. Diana was killed in 1997 from injuries she sustained in a car accident. She was 36. At the time, her car was being chased by paparazzi. "Princess Catherine had far greater preparation and resilience than Princess Diana due in part to entering into the monarchy as an adult, well aware of the institution's demands, and with years of support from Prince William, her family as well as the palace," British royals expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital. "She's been able to turn to her family to help her navigate both public and private challenges," Fordwich shared. "She has handled the intense media scrutiny with a blend of transparency, regal dignity and composure. Even her recent public acknowledgment regarding the unfortunate photo editing controversy demonstrated accountability and leadership, shielding the royal family from any further backlash." "Despite intense international speculation during her illness, Princess Catherine even managed to share information on her terms, balancing public interest with personal privacy," Fordwich continued. "She hasn't played the press in the same way Princess Diana did, as Princess Catherine is far more secure in general." There's one thing all the royal experts agreed on – the monarchy's future looks bright, something Diana would be proud of. "Princess Diana sparkled, had an affinity with children, and loved her children more than anything in the world," said Chard. "The same can be said of Princess Catherine."Original article source: Kate Middleton's royal success came from dodging Princess Diana's missteps: author
Fox News
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Kate Middleton's royal success came from dodging Princess Diana's missteps: author
Kate Middleton has been crowned the reliable, glamorous face of a modern monarchy. Several royal experts believe that her secret to success has been playing by the rules and not breaking out as a royal rebel. Edward White has written a new book about Kate's late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, titled "Dianaworld: An Obsession." It examines the "Diana Effect" and how it continues to influence both the monarchy and pop culture, decades after her death at age 36. White told Fox News Digital that, unlike Diana, who became engaged to the much older former Prince Charles when she was just 19 years old, Kate was more mature when she said "I do" to Prince William. Kate married the royal in 2011 when she was 29, and he was 28. "Kate Middleton is much more reminiscent of the older generation of royal figures in the way that she comports herself," White explained. "She was almost 30 when she married William, and that was deliberate from both sides. The big lesson that she probably learned from Diana's life is don't rush into becoming a royal." "Diana's life is more reminiscent to me of a pop star's life," White shared. "She didn't know what she was getting herself into. She was so young and very, very sheltered when she entered the royal family. Someone once said, 'If you don't know who you are before you're famous, then fame is the thing that you become. It is the thing that will define who you are.' I think that's what happened to Diana, at least for many years." Kate was not born into royal life. She's the daughter of a flight attendant and a flight dispatcher and comes from a well-to-do area of London. It was at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland where Kate first met William, the elder son of Charles and Diana and heir to the British throne. They were first friends and then housemates before they were romantically linked in 2004. Kate graduated in 2005 with a degree in art history and a budding relationship with William. William complained about press intrusion, and Kate's lawyers asked newspaper editors to leave her alone. Even so, the British media followed every twist in their relationship, including a brief split in 2007. The tabloids dubbed her "Waity Katie" for her patience during their courtship. William later acknowledged that the couple's romance wobbled for several months, saying they were both young and trying to find their way. In comparison, Diana was known as "Shy Di" when she found herself suddenly thrust into the glaring media spotlight. She later became an unlikely revolutionary during her years in the House of Windsor. Diana helped modernize the monarchy by making it more personal, changing the way the royal family related to people. By interacting more intimately with the public – kneeling to the level of children, sitting on the edge of a patient's hospital bed, writing personal notes to her fans – she set an example that has been followed by other royals as the monarchy worked to become more human and remain relevant in the 21st century. But Diana's brief life was plagued with problems. She became paranoid of the palace trying to control her and cited a lack of support from senior members and the "men in gray," or palace aides who prioritized tradition. Meanwhile, Charles continued seeing his mistress, Camilla Parker Bowles. Their marital woes played out on the world stage and Diana famously declared in an explosive 1995 interview with the BBC, "There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded." "Diana dealt with the press scrutiny in the way that she felt that she could, and in the way that she felt she had to," said White. "I don't think anybody was advising her to behave the way that she did with them. It's an invidious position to be in. Kate Middleton handles the press scrutiny really well, but she… had to switch herself off and only focus on duty." "The best way of dealing with the scrutiny is by giving [the press] nothing," White continued. "By stepping through the hoops of shaking hands, cutting ribbons and smiling, being dutiful and not being too big for your boots. Those are all the things that the monarchy is built on." WATCH: PRINCE WILLIAM, KATE MIDDLETON CAN LEARN FROM PRINCESS DIANA'S MARRIAGE British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital that Kate receives constant support from both the palace and her family – something that Diana lacked as she struggled with royal life. "The truth is, there was an enormous amount of tension and animosity between Princess Diana and Prince Charles," said Chard. "They were not a happy couple and didn't work as a team… Princess Diana was like a rabbit thrown into the headlights. Life was hard as she didn't have the support she craved and needed. She learned to fend for herself, grew in strength and was perceived as a rebel. She wasn't going to allow anybody to dim her light." "Princess Catherine came from a supportive family, "Chard shared. "She also had a longer time edging her way into royal life. The most important factor is that she and Prince William are a dream team. They work together perfectly. They are each other's rocks, plus they have an amazing extended support network. Princess Catherine has always had a strong sense of self, a quiet strength, confidence and resilience… She also knows what is expected of her as the future of the modern monarchy." "She navigates her role like a breeze and is the perfect future queen," Chard added. Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner also agreed that William, a supportive spouse, has been essential to helping Kate navigate royal life with ease. "Diana was strangled by royal bureaucracy, having to live with royal rules and regulations," he said. "After trying everything to make Charles love her, she eventually decided to fight back." "I used to work with Diana during those days," he shared. "I watched on many occasions when both competed with each other for the best photo opportunity. Diana always won because she was 'The People's Princess' and everybody wanted to see her on public walkabouts, not Charles, which he grew to hate." Diana also confided in the wrong people when she wanted her voice heard, Chard argued. In 2021, William and Harry criticized the BBC after it was revealed that one of the broadcaster's journalists used "deceitful behavior" to secure Diana's TV interview. William said the BBC's failures contributed to the deterioration of his parents' marriage and worsened Diana's feelings of paranoia. Diana was killed in 1997 from injuries she sustained in a car accident. She was 36. At the time, her car was being chased by paparazzi. "Princess Catherine had far greater preparation and resilience than Princess Diana due in part to entering into the monarchy as an adult, well aware of the institution's demands, and with years of support from Prince William, her family as well as the palace," British royals expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital. "She's been able to turn to her family to help her navigate both public and private challenges," Fordwich shared. "She has handled the intense media scrutiny with a blend of transparency, regal dignity and composure. Even her recent public acknowledgment regarding the unfortunate photo editing controversy demonstrated accountability and leadership, shielding the royal family from any further backlash." "Despite intense international speculation during her illness, Princess Catherine even managed to share information on her terms, balancing public interest with personal privacy," Fordwich continued. "She hasn't played the press in the same way Princess Diana did, as Princess Catherine is far more secure in general." There's one thing all the royal experts agreed on – the monarchy's future looks bright, something Diana would be proud of. "Princess Diana sparkled, had an affinity with children, and loved her children more than anything in the world," said Chard. "The same can be said of Princess Catherine."
