On the eve of the royal wedding, I can’t help but reflect on the last one that caught my fancy and found millions of people around the world tuned in to watch Lady Diana Spencer marry the Prince of Wales, Charles. While I find myself enjoying bits and pieces of news about Prince William and Kate’s on again off again courtship and their wedding, it doesn’t seem to have the same draw the last one did. At least for me.
What was it about Diana that caused the world to open their hearts to shy Di?
With the media coverage of the day, we watched her morph from a shy 19 year old into a beautiful woman.
She was the first royal to present a human face. Hugely popular with the public, we loved her for all her flaws (which made her like us), her glamour, but most of all for her warm and open heart.
Her love of her own children was well documented around the world and I think served them well…making them appear warmer and more down to earth then past royalty. I think her tumultuous life also influence Prince William’s choice of wife and partner in Kate. While also warm and elegant, her age (older then Diana by 10 years), Princess Di’s tragic history, and the eight years she’s had to prepare for this day have served her well. She seems poised, grounded and very well suited for her position.
Dubbed the “Peoples Princess”, her love of children led her from being a kindergarden teacher to an advocate for children’s rights around the world.
Her many charitable works raised awareness for troubling issues such as the banning of landmines that people, especially children, walked through every day; orphanages filled with needy children around the world; and the tragedy of daily life for aids and HIV victims. She not only visited people with aids, but by touching them in front of the cameras, sent a message to the worlds public that it is not a disease spread by simple humane touch.
Did you know that Mother Teresa and Lady Di died on the same week end? It’s true!
I don’t think there’s much for me to say as her life is so well documented. Her life was an inspiration to me, and I think to many globally, and it was definitely a Little Bit of Beauty™.
On the eve of her son’s marriage I want to remember Diana and to wish Prince William and Kate a toast:
And to Di, to you I say, I think you would be proud.
What do you remember most about Princess Di? I invite you to share your memories below in the comment section.
Your Candle burned out long before your legend ever will” Sir Elton John
1961-1997
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26 Comments
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Hearing Elton John’s song made me cry all over again. I’ll never forget the day I heard she died. It was my birthday (here). What I remember most about Diana is the love and affection she showed to her children and it is evident in the men they are today. That and how she help remove the stigma of AIDS and HIV. She was real. There will never be another like her but I have hopes that Catherine will follow in her footsteps.
Susan Berland
A Picture’s Worth
http://www.susan-berland.com-
Author
OMG Susan…we have the same birthday! August 30. I turned 40 the year she died and will never forget it. Actually, Mother Teresa died the same week end. It was a Saturday that Lady Di died. Thanks fellow Virgo
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I remember being a little girl and dreamily watching the wedding…..Di was such a presence, so gracious and beautiful – how could you not look up to her?
I see a lot of Di in her boys, and I swore that I would not watch the latest wedding, but I did AND loved every minute!
Kate seems so real and gracious like DI — an obvious choice for the prince. Thanks for the reflection and the beautiful photos. Rachel -
I, too, loved Princess Dianna, and was stricken by her untimely death…I just recently watched a special about her life and found myself crying both tears of joy and tears of sadness for her loss. There is something magical about her, and I have to believe it is her spirit, just someone very unique that I believe God used in a very special way…I think Kate is darling and she and the prince make a sweet couple, but no one will ever (I don’t think) elicit the same feelings and emotions that Princess Di did. I am so sorry that she could not be there to see her son’s wedding, but I believe she was present in spirit and in the hearts of all there who loved her.
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I agree with you Donna. But perhaps Kate will come close with her role model of Lady Di. It was nice to watch joyful news instead of all the crazy negative news out there, isn’t it?
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I was certainly shocked by her death, and I find a lot of human warmth in her pictures. But I didn’t follow her in any systematic way and didn’t have a particular feeling about her. I felt sad that she lived secretly with an eating disorder and perhaps felt so constrained in the life of royalty. I sometimes find the “fairy tale” coverage rather troublesome, because it can create a false expectation in little girls and perhaps denies Diana a chance to be a real, flawed human being. At the same time, I saw that she carried a spirit to people of the world, and that people really responded to her.
Judy Stone-Goldman
The Reflective Writer
“My cat owns me, my clutter stymies me, my writing frees me. Word maven loves—and learns from—ordinary life.”
http://www.thereflectivewriter.com/blog/-
I do think that’s one of the reasons the public really liked Di, because she did present her human face, flaws and all. She certainly gave a voice to the troubling presence of the paparazzi. It will be interesting to see what will happen to the Royal family from this point forward
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I, too, thought of Di as her son was married. She had such a caring grace about her. I think she would be proud!
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I remember exactly what I was doing when I heard the new of Princess Di’s death. She had a troubled life, but never stopped advocating for children all over the world. I couldn’t help but think how Prince William must have had her in his heart on his wedding day and how proud his mom would have been of him. It was a bittersweet day and her legacy will live on a long time as a real human being, not just a stuffy member of the royal family. She is missed greatly.
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I can vividly remember her metamorphosing from the shy little teenager into the mature woman with heart that she became. Having her own children seemed to bring a great change in her.
I always like to look for benefits in every situation and I feel that her failing marriage to Charles allowed her to pour her heart into her humanitarian work and give it the complete focus it needed. I think that allowed her to go out to the edge and find her true voice.
Fiona Stolze
Inspired Art and Living
http://fionastolze.com -
I too most remember her metamorphisis into a real glowing beauty and such an amazing advocate for her different causes. I did feel a little sorry for Camilla on Williams wedding day though – she looked so nervous and as if she felt out of place there with that overwhelming memory of Diana there. I too remember where I was the day she died. She died at a very tumultuous time for me as I was heavily pregnant and my Dad had terminal cancer so I was very engrossed in my own issues and I felt the over the top reaction to her death in the UK was a bit much.
Louise Edington
Fearless Over Fifty
http://louiseedington.com -
I just read Louise’s post and I was not compelled to watch that wedding, but why with Princess Di it was different. I wonder about that. There was something about Princess Di that you just wanted to know more about her. The way she carried herself, the way she truly cared and did the charity work she did. She was beautiful…just like you said with all her flaws. It was a sad day when she died…pause
I just had to take a moment there and breath in the appreciation I have for her and to honor her.
Thanks for sharing this. Not outdated at all.
Alara K. Castell
Your Sassy Spiritual Guide -
Growing up i was not a fan of the Royal Family. In fact i almost downright disliked them. (I think i was trying to be a bit of a rebel) but princess Di did to me what she did to the rest of the world. She melted our hardened hearts. I liked her because she was so different from the rest of the Royal and i could identify with her. i was truly sad when she died.
Thanks for the reminder of this lovely lady
Julie Labes,…The Fierce over 50 feels much younger point and click junkie loves to travel does not use a jogging stroller and before you ask this is NOT my granddaughter..Woman
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I remember thinking hers and Charles wedding was ridiculously ornate – I’m much more low-key, so it was a little over-the-top for me. I would have to say that the woman she became was the real inspiration. Her kindness and charity inspired her children and the world. Such sadness in her life and yet always a force for others.
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Hi Irene,
Thank you for this lovely testament. Like just a few others in our lifetime, Diana became iconic during her life, and moreso after her death. She came to embody so many worthwhile virtues, and her memory still inspires us. I suspect many of us harbor some deep personal feelings about her and the life she lived,
Robbie -
I was in school when she died and I remember feeling so sad…and surprised at how sad I felt because I didn’t follow royalty. I felt sad because it was so untimely and she left children and it was so easy to feel her vulnerability…even thousands of miles away.
I think I need to watch some clips of the wedding 🙂
Brandy -
Irene, your blogs are always so elegant and beautifully delivered. This one especially. I, too, have been thinking about Diana this week and last–and how proud she would be (and is, I’m sure) of her firstborn. I’m sure William missed her too, but seems to have found another woman who brings humanity to the royal scene. Thanks so much for this loving reminder of who Diana was and why we loved her.
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Irene – Beautiful pictures and I loved the toast.
I remember the wedding – we were on vacation at a beach cottage. We brought our tv from home just so we could see the wedding.
I wasn’t very interested in this wedding, but I do think that together, harnessing all the world’s good will (ha!) for this couple, they could really make a difference on this planet!Debbie
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This is just lovely, Irene. Thank you for all the pics. I just know Diana is elated that her son married for love. She taught Prince William well. And I agree with Maridel above, H.R.H. The Duchess of Cambridge “brings humanity to the royal scene.” There are many in the UK who no longer want the royals (some of my relatives included); maybe this darling couple wlil save the monarchy!
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Worth reading twice…
Right on the target, danke….
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