As the 25th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death looms on the horizon, let’s look back at the news that stunned the world. Read on and we’ll give you the low down.
A Pain Like No Other Pain
Prince Harry once called it “a wound that festers” according to TODAY. His older brother Prince William, on the other hand, referred to the tragedy as “a pain like no other pain.”
Both princes, as we all well know, were referencing the event that forever changed both lives at very young ages – the tragic loss of their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
Princess Diana Was on Top of the World
It was 1997 and, though Princess Diana was no longer married to the heir-apparent, Prince Charles, having divorced the Duke of Wales five years earlier, it had not blemished her global image in the slightest bit. She remained a well-liked humanitarian, a rebel to the establishment, and an international style icon.
The world’s fascination with the rebellious 36-year-old, formerly Lady Diana Spencer, made her a talking point on the front pages of newspapers, tabloids, and book covers. According to TODAY, she was the most photographed woman of her time. Then suddenly, violently, and tragically – she was taken.
Royal Family Not Likely to Mark Occasion
According to Express UK, the Royal Family has made it clear that they have no plans to mark the anniversary of Lady Di’s death, with one expert referring to it as “very personal.” Royal Family correspondent Richard Palmer said the Royal Family is not likely to “do anything” in tribute to the late princess.
Discussing Diana’s death on the latest episode of the Daily Express’ Royal Round-Up with host Pandora Forsyth, Palmer said, “It’s interesting that I can remember after the tenth anniversary, a senior royal aide said to me [that] ‘hopefully we can draw a line under it all now’
That really wasn’t the case because people were still wanting to talk about her,” adding, “Unless there is some big surprise, which I am not aware of, I think we’re not going to see the Royal Family do much at all to recognize what, in most cases, would be an important anniversary, 25 years on.”
How it Went Down
Diana’s last day was spent with her boyfriend, film producer, and the son of Harrod’s owner Mohamed Al Fayed, Dodi Fayed. It was August 30, 1997, and the couple had just arrived in Paris from Sardinia after a week yachting around the Mediterranean.
The pair left their hotel, accompanied by bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones, in the Mercedes-Benz driven by the deputy head of security at the Ritz, Henri Paul. Fewer than two miles later, as they entered Pont de L’Alma tunnel, the driver lost control of the vehicle. According to BBC, witnesses recalled that they had seen the vehicle speeding.
Trying to avoid colliding with a white Fiat Uno in the right lane, Paul crashed into the 13th pillar in the tunnel, the ensuing calamity took the lives of both Paul and Fayed on impact, according to NBC. Rees-Jones and Diana both survived the initial impact, but only briefly. It took just three minutes from the moment they left the Ritz to the time of the accident, according to Christopher Anderson in The Day Diana Died.
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