Tale of the tapes: Di had banal taste

IF YOU’VE ever wondered if now is a good time to edit your record collection, the answer is yes. The danger is that you become world famous, and after your death your albums are put on display for everyone to mock.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the death of princess diana, Buckingham palace is hosting an exhibition of some of her things, including a collection of tapes that demonstrate a taste so banal as to be almost exceptional.

There’s rod Stewart, elton John, lionel richie, dire Straits and celine dion, as well as the Three Tenors. it’s a study in mediocrity, and should make all of us think better of our own preference for roger whittaker and elvis’s Vegas period.

amid all the hackneyed pop, though, is a telling clue to the princess’s character. For some reason she had written her name on some of the tapes. what did she think – that someone was going to sneak in and steal her phil collins cassette? and if so, who?