The latest installment of “Little People, Big Dreams,” a children’s biography book series from author Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, details the life of the late Princess Diana.
But the kids’ book leaves no topic untouched, including the former Princess of Wales’ eating disorder, according to the Independent.
The series will “introduce young readers to the world’s most-loved princess” when it hits bookshelves on Sept. 5, 2023.
The book is targeted at children 4 years and up and shares the story of Diana’s transformation from primary school teacher to member of the UK royal family.
“Even though her life seemed to be taken from the pages of a fairy tale, she soon realized that the prince’s heart belonged to someone else,” the book reads.
“Over time that sadness grew into an eating disorder called bulimia.” Mayo Clinic describes bulimia as a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder.
The Post reached out to author Sánchez Vegara’s reps for comment.
The book labels the former Princess of Wales as the “first famous person to speak up about her struggle with bulimia, helping others to confront it, too.”
The late princess’ eating-disorder struggles are illustrated with a picture of Diana sitting on a kitchen floor next to an empty plate.
“Whenever she felt alone, she sought relief by eating all the cakes she could find in the royal kitchens,” the text reads.
It continues, “But that sweet feeling of comfort didn’t last long. Once it was gone, she would try to get rid of all the food she had eaten by making herself throw up.”
Diana, who died on Aug. 31, 1997, openly spoke about her bulimia for the first time in a 1995 “Panorama” interview with Martin Bashir.
“I had bulimia for a number of years. And that’s like a secret disease. You inflict it upon yourself because your self-esteem is at a low ebb, and you don’t think you’re worthy or valuable,” she told Bashir. “You fill your stomach up four or five times a day – some do it more – and it gives you a feeling of comfort.”
The book explains that “it took her time to seek help, learn to love herself and stop hurting her body. But once she did, she felt better than ever.”
Diana used her status to bring awareness to charitable issues around the world “while raising her two sons to be more in touch with the world outside of the palace,” Sánchez Vegara writes.
A famous moment when she hugged an AIDS patient in a New York hospital during the 1980s epidemic is also mentioned, showcasing Diana’s social awareness.
She “kept charming people with her own kind of magic and shining light on important causes, from mental health issues to animal rights,” the text informs young readers.
Part of a series that highlights influential public figures, the book sums up its message by saying Princess Diana will always be remembered as “the princess of the people, who encouraged us all to stand for what we believe in.”
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