In Memory Of Diana, 60 Years: Remembering The Late Princess Of Wales

Jul 01, 2021 by apost team

Princess Diana was adored for her kindness and humanitarian work, and she was universally loved by not only the British public but by people the world over. She used her influence to enact good, spending much of her time campaigning for humanitarian causes that improved the lives of others. She sat with people who were ill, helping to break the stigma of the then-new diseases HIV and AIDS. These are the reasons she became known as the "People's Princess" — she was a shining beacon of light in the royal family.

She was always a trailblazer, from her stunning sense of style to her activism and the kind way she interacted with everyone she met. She was considered a fashion icon and was incredibly personable with the general public, making her easily beloved by many. Diana has made a great impact not only on British culture but on people all over the world. When she died in August 1997, the world grieved the loss of the Princess of Wales, and the royal family has since gone on to find ways to memorialize her, including a benefit concert in 2007.

Today, on what would have been her 60th birthday, her legacy still lives on. Her sons Prince William and Prince Harry have done an incredible job, especially in the last couple of years, of honoring their mother's legacy. Today marks the day that William and Harry unveiled the first official statue in honor of Diana, Princess of Wales, which is located at the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace. The tribute to the late princess was announced back in 2017 on the 20th anniversary of her death but was pushed back due to the ongoing pandemic. Unveiling the statue together, Harry traveled to the U.K. especially for the event. 

Diana's early death in 1997 devastated not only the British royal family but also fans across the globe. In the wake of her passing, memorabilia to her quickly rose to prominence.

While there have been lulls of interest, Princess Diana remains a popular person and topic even to this day. Certain events and occasions such as documentaries or Netflix's recent series "The Crown" keep people interested in everything there is to know about Diana and the tragic tale behind her rise as a British princess.

Diana's name continues to inspire others to do good things with their lives, and the late princess has left a legacy that will be remembered for decades to come.

Tatler reported that a new documentary that will explore her life and the major mark she made on her country, as well as the world, will be released on July 1, 2021, at the same time as the new statue honoring her is unveiled. 

The documentary is directed by Robin Bextor, who has previously worked on docu-series such as Crown and Country as well as the TV movie documentary Glyndebourne: The Untold History. The documentary will feature insights from the princess’s "friends, allies, people who worked with her, royal correspondents, media experts and those touched by her charity work," coming together to remember "the real Diana and her achievements" according to a press release as reported by Tatler. 

One of the people who will be featured in the documentary is former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Diana met with the then First Lady in June 1997, just two months before her death, when the princess visited the White House for a charity engagement. Hillary and Bill Clinton attended her funeral just three months later.

apost.com

For the 20th anniversary of Diana's death, many of her favorite flowers were featured in the Sunken Garden — a project that was started two seasons before the display was unveiled when over 12,000 bulbs were initially planted. The flowers on display included white lilies, white roses, forget-me-nots, tulips, Cosmo daisies and narcissi. Royal Central reports that the palace's website said of the tribute, “inspired by memories of the Princess’s life, image and style.” 

The Sunken Garden took on even more meaning later on in Nov. 2017 when Prince Harry announced his engagement to Meghan Markle there. 

The late princess is also honored in other ways this summer, to coincide with her milestone birthday. Her iconic wedding dress, designed by David and Elizabeth Emmanuel, is put on display at Kensington Palace. The silk taffeta gown features a 25-ft train and is decorated with Carrickmacross lace, 10,000 pearls and sequins. Additionally, it features a good luck charm by way of a small, secret 18k gold horseshoe that was stitched into the petticoats. The dress is only one part of a larger exhibition featuring royal heirlooms and artifacts but has been given prominence as the exhibition's central piece.

Furthermore, Diana's London apartment where she lived before marrying Charles will be marked with a special "blue plaque." Awarded by the English Heritage Trust, blue plaques are placed at the homes and workplaces of historically significant people in commemoration of their lives. Other memorials have been created in London in Diana's honor including Kensington Palace's Diana Memorial Playground, Hyde Park's Diana Memorial Foundation and St James Palace's Diana Memorial Walk.

Have you had any personal experiences with Princess Diana? Tell us about them, and be sure to pass this onto others as well.