Princess Diana's tragic demise in 1997 deeply affected Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, the wife of John F. Kennedy Jr., who grappled with relentless paparazzi scrutiny. Author Elizabeth Beller reveals in her new biography how Diana's death amplified Bessette-Kennedy's fear and led to her self-isolation. Witnessing the relentless pursuit of Diana by photographers triggered her own concerns about her safety and the well-being of her husband, who had also lost his father to assassination.
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, the enigmatic wife of John F. Kennedy Jr., was haunted by the tragic death of Princess Diana, whose untimely demise cast a long shadow over her own life. The unrelenting pursuit of paparazzi, the public scrutiny, and the overwhelming grief surrounding Diana's passing deeply affected Bessette-Kennedy, exacerbating her existing anxieties and leading to a sense of self-isolation.
According to Elizabeth Beller, author of the revealing biography "Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy," Diana's death in a car crash in 1997 profoundly impacted Bessette-Kennedy, who saw eerie parallels between her own life and that of the beloved princess.
"She realized right away that Diana was being chased by paparazzi, and that was something Carolyn was struggling with herself every single day," Beller told Fox News Digital. "Diana's death left a profound mark on her. She was already terrified, but Diana's death terrified her even more. I believe it led her to seclude herself at home."
Like Diana, Bessette-Kennedy faced the relentless scrutiny of photographers eager to capture her every move. The constant presence of paparazzi outside their Tribeca home in New York City became a source of anxiety and stress. The couple's every argument or moment of affection was documented, adding fuel to the relentless media coverage.
Bessette-Kennedy's fears were compounded by the fact that she had witnessed firsthand the devastating consequences of a high-profile tragedy. Her father-in-law, President John F. Kennedy, had been assassinated in 1963 when John Jr. was just three years old. The memory of this event undoubtedly haunted Bessette-Kennedy, reminding her of the fragility of life and the potential for tragedy to strike even in the most glamorous of circumstances.
Diana's death brought these fears to the forefront, leading Bessette-Kennedy to urge her husband to reach out to Diana's sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, to offer his condolences. Kennedy Jr., who was all too familiar with the sudden loss of a parent, initially hesitated. However, Bessette-Kennedy's insistence prompted him to consider the impact of Diana's death on her own life.
"It sounded like something John would have been quick to do, but I think he, too, was so rattled by Diana's death and realizing it was because of the paparazzi," Beller explained. "He also realized how much it frightened Carolyn. It was too much for him in his life. And seeing someone deal with their parent being mourned in a public way was, I think, overwhelming for him and everything he had been through."
Despite his wife's urging, Kennedy Jr. ultimately decided not to contact William and Harry. It is possible that he regretted this decision later, as both he and Bessette-Kennedy were deeply affected by the news of Diana's passing.
Beller suggests that Bessette-Kennedy may have wondered if she would suffer a similar fate as Diana. The constant hounding by photographers outside their home fueled her anxiety and led to a sense of foreboding. She reportedly whispered "those poor boys" to her husband on several occasions, referring to William and Harry, but Kennedy Jr. dismissed her concerns, insisting that their situations were vastly different.
"I was able to lead a normal life from about the age of 5," he said, as quoted in Beller's book.
Beller speculates that Kennedy Jr. may have regretted not reaching out to William and Harry: "They struggled with the news," she said of the couple. "It was a difficult summer."
Tragically, the couple's fears became a reality on July 16, 1999, when the plane piloted by Kennedy Jr. crashed into the waters off Martha's Vineyard, killing the couple and Bessette-Kennedy's sister, Lauren.
Before the tragedy, Kennedy Jr. had tried desperately to protect his wife from the relentless media scrutiny. He implored photographers to give her space, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. The paparazzi continued to camp outside their home, adding to the couple's stress and anxiety.
"He asked them to back off. It interfered with everything," said Beller. "They did not leave her alone. They camped out every single day. It became another thing they had to contend with between the press and all the outside forces in their lives. … God knows people are struggling with many larger things in this world, but I think when you're doing it in a fishbowl and everyone's watching you, it just adds this extra pressure. And she brought her vulnerabilities to it. The media scrutiny just exacerbated any tension."
Celebrity culture often takes a heavy toll on individuals, and the relentless pursuit of the media can be particularly damaging. The case of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy serves as a sobering reminder of the devastating consequences that can result from the relentless pursuit of fame and the lack of privacy that it brings.
