The Impact of Princess Diana’s Death on Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy: Insights from JFK Jr.’s Assistant
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s Vulnerability Highlighted After Princess Diana’s Tragic Death
In the wake of Princess Diana’s death in 1997, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy experienced a profound realization about the dangers of life in the public eye. This revelation came to light in a resurfaced 2017 cover story from People, which revisited the impact of Diana’s death on those close to her, including Bessette-Kennedy and her husband, John F. Kennedy Jr.
RoseMarie Terenzio, a former assistant to JFK Jr., noted that Diana’s tragic passing, resulting from a paparazzi chase, left Bessette-Kennedy feeling "rattled" and acutely aware of her and her husband’s own vulnerabilities as public figures. “Carolyn was rattled by the fact that she and John were just as vulnerable,” Terenzio stated. The couple faced relentless media attention, a reality JFK Jr. was familiar with from his childhood.
Kathy McKeon, a former nanny for Jackie Kennedy Onassis, provided additional context, recalling Bessette-Kennedy’s struggles with intrusive photographers. “I hate those bastards,” Bessette-Kennedy reportedly told McKeon, expressing frustration at the relentless pursuit for candid shots that mirrored her mother-in-law’s experiences.
In a conversation the day Diana died, JFK Jr. urged Bessette-Kennedy to emulate his mother’s approach to the media. “He said, ‘Carolyn, did you get that? You’re treating them all wrong,’” McKeon recounted, highlighting the contrasting strategies they employed in dealing with the press.
Reflecting on shared traits, Carole Radziwill, a close friend of Bessette-Kennedy, also noted the deep resonance Diana’s situation had with her. “It was very profound,” Radziwill remarked, recalling the parallels between their lives. “The underlying way in which she died, which was being literally hounded to death by paparazzi. That lesson was definitely not lost on Carolyn.”
As public fascination with both Diana and Bessette-Kennedy endures, their stories underscore the perils faced by those in the spotlight.
