August 31st, 1997
“All of us lost somebody.”
20 years ago, the world as we know it experienced a true heart-break; Princess Diana of Wales passed away in a car crash alongside her boyfriend, Dodi Fayed.
Of course it’s always distressing when we lose someone but Princess Diana wasn’t just a someone. Her death not only triggered an outpouring grief across Britain, but across the whole nation. Her funeral held at Westminster Abbey still holds the record for being the most watched television broadcast; averaging around 2.5 billion viewers. To say she was loved, would be an understatement.
Prince William and Prince Harry were only 15 and 12 at the time when they lost the most important woman in their lives. Now, in their 30s, it’s safe to say they’ve grown to inherit their mother’s ways – despite her physical absence.
On Wednesday, both sons paid a private tribute to Diana’s memorial garden outside Kensington Palace. They also met with representatives of the many charities Diana supported, including those who help AIDS sufferers and children in need.
They wanted to say thank you to those who made the journey to Kensington Palace.
?PA. pic.twitter.com/gj9R7pWQbz— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) August 30, 2017
They participated in a short BBC Documentary called ‘Diana, 7 Days,’ which is set to premiere on September 1st on NBC. It’s said to display the desolation after losing such an incredible, kind-hearted, selfless woman.
I couldn’t understand why everyone wanted to cry as loud as they did and show such emotion as they did when they really didn’t know our mother. But looking back over the last few years, I’ve learned to understand what it was that she gave the world and what she gave a lot of people. – Prince William.
They were also featured in ‘Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy,’ which premiered on HBO in July. In the documentary, William and Harry discuss their childhood memories and what they loved most about their mother. It was the first time since her death that both sons chose to publicly speak about the tragedy they endured.
Elton John made an appearance in the documentary as well, as him and Princess Diana were very close.
20 years ago today, the world lost an angel. #RIP #Diana20 pic.twitter.com/svQJSDkWPA
— Elton John (@eltonofficial) August 31, 2017
“We always worked together to raise awareness for AIDS. It was considered to be a gay disease. But to have someone who was in the royal family, who was a woman and who was straight, was an incredible gift. She cared from the other side.”
You can visit HBO.com/documentaries to watch the full series.
Princess Diana was revolutionary. She changed the Royal Family forever, she changed the world forever, and her legacy will continue to live on in all of those she touched. She was a special person, not just in her outside beauty but the beauty she had within. Her compassion and humanity inspired everyone around her because everyone knew she cared. It wasn’t fake, and she never expected anything in return. Her actions simply portrayed the type of person she was. And to this day, there are no words that provide her enough justice.
There’s not a day that William and I don’t wish that she was still around. And we often wonder what kind of a mother she would be now, and what kind of a public role she would have. We wonder about all the differences she would continually make. – Prince Harry.
No matter how long it’s been, the heartbreak of losing Princess Diana still feels as real as it did 20 years ago. Rest in Peace to the most beautiful soul, there will never be another you.