Remembering Princess Diana

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***I wrote this post to commemorate the 60th birthday of Princess Diana. She would have turned 60 years old on July 1st this year, had she lived. I previously wrote of Princess Diana, about two years ago on my blog. Much of this post today are excerpts from my original post.***

Princess Diana was possibly the most famous person in the world when she was alive. And that was long before social media existed. Even though it has been almost 25 years since her death, she is still frequently in the news. Especially this year, as her 60th birthday approaches on July 1st. There was perhaps not a day that went by, where she was not in the news; in print media or on the television, somewhere in the world, when she was alive. She was known and loved worldwide. Her image was in the daily newspapers constantly. Some of us after all, had gotten up early as young people, (wherever we were in the world) to watch her wedding to Prince Charles on July 29th, 1981. So, it felt like we had ‘known’ her for most of our lives at that point. Even after her divorce, we were hoping that Princess Diana would find her happy ending. Sadly, that was not to be.

I remember going to work on that fateful Saturday in late August 1997 and returning home to take a nap. After awakening, I was speaking to my sister on the telephone later that night, when the breaking news flashed across the TV screen…Princess Diana had sustained serious injuries in a car crash in Paris. We were still on the phone when the official news reports started to confirm the worst….that Diana had died. That was an unbelievable moment and a very sad one. My sister and I gasped….we were so incredulous at that news. Here is the beautiful lady we had gotten out of bed early as young girls, to watch get married in 1981. Now, she was gone at 36 years old….just like that. I think that was the first time it really struck me how fragile life is. You can be young, healthy, rich, and possibly the most famous person on earth and it can all be snatched away – in an instant.

Just a little sidebar to the power of Princess Diana’s popularity back then. On the day of her funeral, I was scheduled to work the early shift at my job….starting at 6 am. I called in sick (yes I did!). I wanted to be at home to watch the funeral service on television. With the time difference of London time, the service took place very early in the morning, my local time. So; just as I had awoken bright and early on July 29, 1981, to watch Diana get married so many years before, I got up early and watched her funeral service. Heartbreaking to say the least. Guess what? When I went back to work the following day, I discovered many of my co-workers, who were also scheduled to work the 6 am shift had also called in sick the previous day. And no….we had not conspired to do so. That was just the power of Princess Diana. She was much loved by the masses. Needless to say, we had a ‘talking to’ from our manager.

So many years have passed and I am still touched when I read about this lovely lady. I admired her ability to persevere, amidst her pain. Like so many, she was searching for her special place and her special someone. This had proven to be very elusive for her, throughout her short life. She was unique and special and had a magic to her, that drew people from all cultures and backgrounds. Even strangers, who had never met her. We felt we knew this beautiful lady. She had a genuine personality and quality which enabled her to reach incalculable amounts of people. That combination of compassion, vulnerability and likability. You will never be forgotten, Princess Diana. Thanks for all the joy you brought to so many, with your kindness and brilliant smile.