Princess Di’s true legacy

AS READERS of this page will know, I have never been a great fan of the late Diana, Princess of Wales. Nevertheless, I am rather saddened by the coverage of the 20th anniversary of her death, which has concentrated heavily on her marriage problems and her mental instability instead of on her charitable work.

Whatever else can or cannot be said of her, Diana did make an actual difference to society’s attitude to Aids sufferers, who at one stage were as shunned as the lepers of old. In this she showed courage as she did in her campaign against landmines.

These were significant achievements so why has all the talk been of sex, bulimia and fashion? Why have the princes talked so much about their own emotions instead of focusing on the truly lasting aspects of their mother’s legacy in the wider world?

Sadly, the whole media circus has been yet again consumed with the trivial, the sensational and the scandalous. I think even Diana herself would have said, “Hang on, do you really think all I did was throw tantrums and have affairs?”

Soon that is exactly what people will think unless those who loved her in life honour her more appropriately in death. SOMETIMES small things bring great happiness. Recently I visited my parents’ grave which is nearly 200 miles from my home, taking along some flowers from my Dartmoor garden.

To my surprise there was already a pot of roses there. I have no idea who put it there but it warmed my heart that some of their friends in the area still remember them. So if the bearer of the roses reads this, thank you.