Honoring a princess
Tributes in Britain & abroad 20 years after Diana’s death
People in Britain and beyond mourned Princess Diana Thursday on the 20-year anniversary of her death.
Floral tributes and touching messages piled up at the gates of her former home at Kensington Palace, where well-wishers gathered to remember her.
“She was just the beautiful, warming, caring humanitarian,” said Kathy Martin, 55, who left behind collages and poems, as she has done every year since Diana’s death in 1997. “She touched all walks of life. Diana always put a smile on the face, and that’s something for people.”
The 36-year-old “People’s Princess” — a title coined by former Prime Minister Tony Blair — was beloved worldwide for her unwavering humanitarian efforts and decidedly unroyal outspokenness.
She was remembered Thursday at Mildmay Mission Hospital in London, where she frequently visited with HIV patients. Hospital staffers were joined by ballet star Wayne Sleep, who famously danced with Diana to Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl” in 1985.
Elton John — who performed a version of “Candle in the Wind” at Diana’s funeral — also paid tribute to his longtime friend.
“20 years ago today, the world lost an angel. #RIP #Diana20,” he tweeted, along with a picture of him smiling with Diana.
Princes William and Harry on Wednesday laid flowers outside Kensington and visited the White Garden, which was planted in their mother’s memory. They also visited with officials from the charities Diana supported.
“All of us lost somebody,” Harry told one group.
The royal family privately marked Diana’s anniversary on Thursday.
William was 15 and Harry was 12 when Diana was killed in a car crash Aug. 31, 1997, in Paris while being chased by paparazzi.
Her wealthy Egyptian boyfriend, Dodi Fayed and the couple’s driver, Henri Paul, also died.
On Thursday, firefighter Xavier Gourmelon recalled responding to the crash and said he firmly believed the princess would survive.
“As I approached, there was a blond person sitting on the floor. She regained consciousness and looked at me and said, ‘Oh, my God, what’s happened?’ ” he told “Good Morning Britain.”
Overnight, people gathered near the scene of the crash at the Pont de l’Alma tunnel. Some left tributes at the Flame of Liberty monument located above the overpass.
Diana married Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, in 1981. But their relationship crumbled as Charles’ secret affair with Camilla Park-Bowles came to light. They divorced in 1996.