Tony Blair confided in Bill Clinton over Princess Diana grief, new documents reveal

Friends: Documents reveal Tony Blair and Bill Clinton had a good friendship as well as working relationship
PA
Laura Proto7 January 2016
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Tony Blair confided in former US president Bill Clinton over his grief of Princess Diana's death, it has been revealed.

Transcripts of conversations between the two former country leaders have been released, giving a detailed insight into the pairs working relationship and friendship.

The Northern Ireland peace process, crisis in Kosovo and unrest in the Middle East formed the basis of many talks, but the documents also detail personal exchanges.

The information, published by the Clinton Presidential Library, includes a conversation on September 1, 1997 – the day after Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris.

The documents state Mr Blair told the then US president that the last time he had spoken to the Princess of Wales she said that “were it not for the boys, she’d be off the board”.

Grief: Tony Blair confided in Bill Clinton after the death of the Princess of Wales
John Stillwell/PA Wire

He added: "She was not the royal family but she was liked by ordinary people, it gave her problems with the royal establishment.

"I will personally miss her, it's like a star falling. She was a star for them.”

Mr Clinton told the former Prime Minister that he “worried a lot” for Princes William and Harry following their mothers death.

In another conversation in April 2000, as Mr Blair and wife Cherie prepared for the birth of their fourth child, Mr Clinton described the prime minister as "dad" and joked that after the presidential elections he would be "available for babysitting duties".

As they discussed balancing work and family life, Mr Blair said: "I could do with a bit of help, I tell you. Cherie is in great form but just keeps getting bigger and bigger. I tell you, just the thought and I feel as if my life's about to begin again."

Many of the exchanges contained in the records, which run to more than 500 pages, are heavily redacted.

Additional reporting by Press Association.

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