Royal fans are taking time to remember Princess Diana, 29 years after her tragic death. The late Princess of Wales died after she was involved in a horrific car crash in France while trying to escape pursuing paparazzi.
Her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, reportedly chose to mark the occasion privately.
Monday, August 31, marked exactly 29 years since the People’s Princess died from internal bleeding sustained in a high-speed car crash.
The incident happened while she and her close friend, Dodi Fayed, were traveling through Paris in a Mercedes-Benz. According to the BBC, she’d hoped to spend a romantic evening with Dodi, the son of Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed.
They’d both had supper at a Michelin two-star restaurant in the Ritz Hotel, which was owned by Dodi’s father, and were supposed to end the evening at a private villa also owned by him.
However, they never made it to their destination. The car went out of control as the driver tried to evade photographers pursuing them on motorcycles. Dodi and the driver died at the scene, while Diana was rushed to the hospital, where she later died.
Fans Pay Emotional Tribute To Princess Diana
Fans have taken to social media to pay tribute to the late Princess. Many pointed out how much they miss her warmth and cheerfulness, while others imagined what life might look like if she were still around.
“The way she ate down in every way, from personality, to parenthood, to humanitarian efforts, to every single look,” a Reddit user gushed.
“I’ll always remember her for her courage in hugging and just being kind to people dying from AIDS. At the time, this was huge. Nobody was doing this,” someone else wrote. “Imagine as a teenager discovering you were locked in a loveless marriage. And then making your pain into warmth and love.”
“RIP Diana, you would have LOVED watching ‘The Traitors’ with some M&S picky bits and Chicken wine,” a third user said.
Prince William Reportedly Marked Diana’s Anniversary In Private
4According to Page Six, royal commentator Kinsey Schofield said that the future king has “traditionally treated the anniversary of his mother’s death as something deeply solemn rather than an occasion for a public tribute.”
“William has spoken about keeping Diana’s memory alive at home, particularly by talking to his children about ‘Granny Diana’ and making sure they understand who she was,” the expert said.
According to the outlet, the brothers prefer to celebrate their mother’s life and impact rather than “drawing attention to the circumstances of her death,” with August 31 having “largely remained private.”
Prince Harry Honors Diana With Her Favorite Dessert
4Harry has been the more outspoken of the two brothers about the grief he experienced after losing their mother at the young age of 12.
The Duke of Sussex has previously said that he and his family mark both Diana’s birth and death anniversaries by indulging in her favorite dessert: lemon drizzle cake.
The brothers are currently not on speaking terms amid Harry’s move back to the UK. Hence, a reunion was unlikely, with Schofield pointing out that William is reportedly aware of what such a sighting could do for the Sussex brand.
“[William] knows that the moment the two brothers were seen together, the story would immediately become a highly marketable narrative about Diana finally bringing her sons back together,” Schofield said.
How William And Harry Continue Princess Diana’s Legacy
4Diana made a lasting impact through her charity work. She helped change how the world viewed causes that were once overlooked or stigmatized, including AIDS awareness, mental health support, and the removal of landmines.
Her sons have continued to carry forward her legacy by supporting many of the causes she championed. William has continued to support Centrepoint, which focuses on tackling youth homelessness, while Harry champions the Invictus Games Foundation and remains an advocate for seriously ill children through WellChild.
Both brothers have spoken at the Diana Award, which recognizes young people making a positive impact in their communities.
“I see her legacy in all of you. I see her legacy in a Diana Award community that spans multiple generations. I see her legacy every time I meet with families, young people, and children from all corners of the world. And I see my mum’s legacy when I look at my own children every day,” Harry said at the ceremony in 2022.
