Sally Bedell Smith, an American author of books about Pamela Harriman, Princess Diana, Bill Paley and others, offers her readers the illusion of knowing the queen as a friend.

ECONOMIST: Why the queen has to be seen to be believed

Saudi billionaire investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal sent out a press release with a photo of himself, his wife Princess Ameerah, and Bill Gates at the summit (see photo).

FORBES: Bill Gates Hosts Some Of The World's Wealthiest At Microsoft CEO Summit

They want fuzzy figureheads: Princess Diana, Tony Blair, perhaps even Bill Clinton.

ECONOMIST: Leadership, and the lack of it

President Bill Clinton spoke of his sadness over the death of Princess Diana, the woman whose shy smile and dedication to good works captivated people around the world.

CNN: Navigation

His visitors may be well-known, but are not always of global significance: the past fortnight brought Bill Cosby, an American actor, Gloria Estefan, a Cuban-American singer, Britain's Princess Diana, and Hillary and Chelsea Clinton.

ECONOMIST: South Africa