Diana, Princess of Wales
[ 31 August 2007 ]
Today marks the 10 year anniversary of Diana Spencer’s death. Just as the generations before mine remember where they were when NASA landed on the moon, my generation will always remember where they were when they heard the news that she had been killed in a car crash in Paris. I hugged my mother when she cried watching the television.
She was a beautiful woman, with incredible style, grace, compassion & presence. It’s interesting to think about how her life might be these days if she were still alive. How would she dress? Would she still be a public figure, or would she have retreated into solitude? One thing’s for sure — she wouldn’t be one of those celebrities photographed in a velour Juicy Couture tracksuit!
There is a lot of talk about her at the moment. Anniversaries are like that. It seems, to some, that now it’s okay to criticise her again, since she’s been dead for ten years. My mother & I discussed this the other day. My mother said that she thinks the reason for the backlash is that now, looking back, some people feel silly for having been so devastated by her death, & this is their way of feeling better about it. I suspect she might be right.
I still think she is fabulous, & for this reason, I present…
Lessons we learned from Diana, Princess of Wales:
Dress up
& don’t be afraid to take risks! Diana broke the mould of the chronically style-deficient royal family. She always looked wonderful & inspired an entire generation of women to wear hats & make an effort with their appearance.
Do what you feel is right
Diana taught us to do what feels right to you. She made history when she was photographed holding the hands of an AIDS sufferer — at a time when everyone thought HIV could be contracted just by touch.
Be generous
Use whatever influence you have to do good things. Selfishness will only take you so far.
Ignore critics
For all of Diana’s work, there were still people who criticised her & found fault in her efforts. You know what they say — no statue has ever been erected for a critic. Stay focussed, mind your own business, & don’t let other people’s insecurity or bitterness affect you!
Be brave
Because it elevates others & allows them to embrace life more fully. Diana’s charity contribution was enormous. She walked through active minefields in an effort to raise awareness of land-mines, & spent days in Angola visiting people whose lives had been destroyed by the use of land-mines. She was committed to removing the stigma of AIDS & helping the homeless. She spoke openly about her struggles with eating disorders & depression, giving hope to people the world over.
Be personable
Being unafraid to be seen as compassionate, open & approachable was one of her greatest assets. You get what you give, & being charming & pleasant will change your life. It makes other people feel better, & they will love you for it.
Thank you, Diana. (& thank you Liberty Post for the inspiration!)
Extra For Experts:
9th Earl Spencer’s eulogy
Diana Remembered at people.com
In Death, Diana Got Through to Royals, Author Says from NPR
Thoughts on the passing of a princess
Super-love & cupcakes,
Gala
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I can’t believe that is has been 10 years…I was only 11!
She rocked the crown.
i was only 8! i remember it well though. great article
I’m a bit of a fan of Charles, too – his work for youth, for designing the built environment in a way that recognises and benefits the people who live and work there, for sustainability and for the preservation of skilled handicrafts – plus he came out and questioned the value of a competitive, bigger-more-faster society.
I was quite little when she exploded onto the scene as Lady Di; I was instantly smitten. I can still remember my sister’s phone call 10 years ago and both of us theorising that she’d faked her own death to escape the madness. I have moved house a couple of times since 1997, and I can’t throw all my Diana memorabilia out. I remember her phenomenal charm and charisma, star quality and style. Thanks for this reminder, Gala.
I was young too when she passed away.
I was so upset; I remember crying my little eyes out! I honestly thought that nothing bad could happen to princesses, especially one as wonderful as Diana.
i was eight when she died. i was brought up in a socialist-influenced household (my mum has a degree in sociology, it’s an occupational hazard) and so i never really took much interest in the royal family (and still don’t), but from the little i did know about diana it seemed a great shame that she died so young.
This was so nice & thoughtful. She was an amazing lady. I will never forget her death because she died the same week as my Grandmother. I was so sad for Diana & then became crushed when I heard of my own personal loss.
I was only 9. And I vividly remember crying when I found out.
She was just so amazing.
i was only 10. i remember i was at the football the mcg-i didnt go to many matches but i remember this one. and at halftime it was broadcast on the big tv. i have never heard such a quiet stadium. personally i remember being very confused, im not sure why
Love your post about Diana! I think she was especially brave when it came to living and dealing with the Royal Family. I’m sure she often felt like she was in a shark tank! Through it all she kept her grace and dignity!
I feel so old compared to the rest of you. I was 28 when Diana died. I thought she was lovely and I was lucky enough to go to the Concert for Diana in July.
Your post was great Gala. There’s so much about her on the Internet – especially recently and yours is one of the most positive posts I’ve read.
Thank you CatherineL! I was 21 when she died, was beginning to think I should go check into an old people’s home… I have a soft spot for Diana as everyone says I look like her. I used to get dressed up as her for costume parties when I was a kid, and apparently on my wedding day the supposed resemblance was the big buzz among all the older guests. Actually it’s just that we both have a big nose and bouffy hair… still, lots of people thought she was beautiful so the comparison doesn’t bother me too much these days! It must be quite a different feeling us oldies have about her death, we sort of grew up with her. I was about 8 when she got married and I remember it absolutely vividly. I still drink my tea out of a Charles and Di mug! Although it’s meant to be ironic and hip, it just sounds sad now I’ve written the above….
Just want to clarify that in no way did my wedding dress resemble Diana’s. Not that there’s anything wrong with that….
My daughter was 6 months old the day Diana died. I was at work when I heard, and I just started crying right there. I was never a “Royal Watcher”, so I surprised myself. I just couldn’t stop thinking of her boys, and that they would never have her arms around them again.
I’m still surprised at myself. For someone that wasn’t a “fan”, she really had an impact on my life as a mother.