Princess Diana Remembered On 24th Anniversary Of Her Passing

Aug 31, 2021 by apost team

Princess Diana 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. 

It's been nearly 24 years since she tragically passed away, but whenever we see photos of her it's still incredibly moving. This is a testament to how much the public adored her, and she's still often talked about and even featured in the media, whether for her charitable deeds or impeccable fashion sense.

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.

On the 24th anniversary of her death on August 31, 2021, we are taking a look back on Diana's last day, and how her life continues to be honored by the people who love her today. 

The last day in the life of Diana, Princess of Wales, was one filled with excitement and frustration, frustration that would play a significant role in the ending of her life and the life of her relationship partner, Dodi Al Fayed, in the early hours of Aug. 31, 1997.

The happy couple, who had just started dating a few weeks earlier, got their day off with a relaxed breakfast on Italy's Emerald Coast, which is located on the island of Sardinia. At this time, they were seen enjoying each other's company, holding hands and laughing.

Later that day, Diana told Richard Kay, a friend, that she was going to completely withdraw from public life within the next 12 months, presumably to focus on her private life with Fayed, who had planned to propose to her that coming evening, a proposal that would never happen. In fact, the only thing on Fayed's calendar that day was picking up the ring that he was planning to give to her a few hours later, reports The Washington Post.

Unfortunately, the couple would be hounded and followed by the paparazzi the entire evening, and in an effort to escape the relentless attention, both Diana and Dodi passed away in the early hours of August 31, 1997. The news was met with extreme shock and grief across the world, as Diana had a monumental impact on millions of people with her courageous and selfless ways. 

In 2021, Prince William and Prince Harry, Diana's sons, paid tribute to their mother in a beautiful way. The brothers came together at Kensington Palace on July 1 to commemorate and unveil a statue of their mother, Princess Diana, on what would have been her 60th birthday.

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The new statue, sculpted by Ian Rank-Broadley, shows Diana with short hair accompanied by three children. In front, a paving stone is engraved with words inspired by the poem “The Measure of Man.”

"The figure of Diana, Princess of Wales, is surrounded by three children who represent the universality and generational impact of the Princess’s work," Kensington Palace said regarding the statue’s special meaning.

The statement also continued, "The portrait and style of dress was based on the final period of her life, as she gained confidence in her role as an ambassador for humanitarian causes and aims to convey her character and compassion." 

Rank-Broadley, the prominent English artist who sculpted the commemorative piece, also commented on the artwork and the special occasion.

“Diana, Princess of Wales was an icon who touched the lives of people right around the world so it has been a privilege to work alongside Prince William and Prince Harry on this statue which commemorates her life,” Rank-Broadley said of his work.

“We wanted to capture her warmth and humanity while showcasing the impact she had across generations. I hope that people will enjoy visiting the statue and the Sunken Garden, and taking a moment to remember the princess,” he continued.

Fans from around the world took to social media to pay tribute to Diana on her 60th birthday and the new statue. Of course, the most important tribute came from the late princess’ children — William and Harry.

"Today, on what would have been our mother's 60th birthday, we remember her love, strength and character — qualities that made her a force for good around the world, changing countless lives for the better,” William and Harry said in their joint statement that accompanied the unveiling of their late mother’s statue. 

It is going to be an emotional day for Princess Diana's family today. How did the death of Princess Daina affect you? Tell us about your thoughts, and be sure to pass this onto others as well.