I remember the day Princess Diana married Prince Charles. It was really a fairytale wedding. Diana captured the heart of a nation with her innocence and glamour. I was captured by her genuine compassion and human touch as a member of the Royal Family. The ease with which she reached out and touched people from all walks of life endeared me to her. Pictures of the People’s Princess meeting and playing with many children of the world and interacting with those often marginalized such as individuals with AIDS, those differently-abled, and those surrounded by poverty will be forever etched on my mind. Diana’s compassionate heart toward humanity gave a sense of dignity to everyone.
Diana’s compassionate heart toward humanity gave a sense of dignity to everyone
I recall the day she died like it was yesterday. It was a Sunday, August 31, 1997. I was in transit with several colleagues from England en route to the Netherlands for a conference when the sad news of Diana’s death broke. In fact, we were in a quaint town in the Netherlands crammed in a little coffee shop glued to the TV screen watching the sad report of the death of the “Queen of Hearts”—Princess Diana, the People’s Princess. We were all speechless; every heart was broken.
It was a very sad day for me personally. This woman that I only met on the TV screen had a profound impact on me. Not only because of her love for humanity but also because she knew the pain of marital loneliness and shared that pain with the nation. She was not afraid to be human. Her common touch was very admirable to me.
She was not afraid to be human
I did not realize how much Diana’s death had impacted me until I started to reflect on something I did. Kensington Palace was one of the many sites where mountains of flowers were laid in Princess Diana’s honour. Among the many bouquets was one laid by me. To have traveled many miles to pay this tribute says much about my sense of personal loss.
During this time, I was comforted, encouraged, and strengthened by the song that Elton John sang at Princess Diana’s funeral, “Candle in the Wind.” Truly, her flame burned out long before her legacy and impact on many lives will. That is true Royalty!
Her flame burned out long before her legacy and impact on many lives will
NSM
Ontario, Canada