Today (August 31st) marks 25 years since Princess Diana died in the car crash that killed her in Paris.
Before the tragic accident that claimed her life, Princess Diana was a beloved public figure known as the nation's princess. Her Princess Diana has managed to make headlines for both her philanthropy and unprecedented transparency.
From her panoramic interview to her funeral that rocked the world, these were some of Diana's key moments in her later years.
Separation from Prince Charles
In 1992, Prince Charles and Princess Diana separated after her 11 years of marriage, and then John Prime Minister Major announces separation. "Friendly".
"The decision was made amicably and they will continue to participate fully in the upbringing of their children," the Major read in a statement from Buckingham Palace. I was.
The royal couple separated after 11 years of marriage
(Getty Images)
A surprise, as it was previously reported that Prince Charles had an affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles.
Panorama Interview
Prince Charles Diana was interviewed by Martin Bashir on BBC One's Panorama. She confided about her marriage and her husband's cheating, depression, self-harm, and eating disorders.
This interview, which was the first solo interview for the Princess of Wales and was watched by her 23 million people when it first aired, was unprecedented for the normally private royal family.
As the then 35-year-old royal spoke candidly about Prince Charles' cheating and also admitted to being unfaithful, explaining his lack of royal support, so did the revelation of the Princess of Wales. controversial. family.
However, according to Diana, she conducted the interview out of her desire to clear her records, not in retaliation for her royal family, as some believed.
she said. , many people doubt me.
"And I would like to reassure all those who have loved and supported me over the past fifteen years. I have never let you down.
The interview remains relevant 25 years later, with Diana's eldest son, Prince William, reflecting on his mother's decision to speak to the media last year. increase.
"I can understand. Sometimes, having been in a situation like that, I become incredibly desperate and it is very unfair to be told something that is not true. He said "The easiest thing to do is say or go to the media yourself. Open that door. [But] once it's open, It can never be closed again."
Diana's divorce finalized
Nine months after the Panorama interview, Princess Diana's divorce was finalized.
In an interview with Bashir, the royal family clarified that divorce was not her ultimate goal, but the conversation ended up inciting a legal termination of her marriage, with the Queen sent a letter advising the Prince and Princess of Wales to divorce a month later.
Prince Charles agreed to the divorce, which was finalized on August 28, 1996, at which point Princess Diana relinquished her royal status.
Living Minefield
Months before her death, she was one of the most famous women in the world despite her divorce from Prince Charles Diana was walking through a living minefield in Juambo, Angola, to spread her support for the international treaty banning mines to the world.
Princess Diana visits Angola
(AFP via Getty Images)
Her visit in January 1997 Later, wearing head coverings and protective gear and meeting mine survivors made headlines around the world and brought attention to the landmine crisis.
Her poignant visit also cemented Diana's title as her humanitarian. Diana has earned praise for her advocacy on behalf of people living with HIV and her AIDS.
In 2019, Prince Harryfollowed in her mother's footstepsand walked alone through a minefield in Angola, wearing a costume similar to that worn by Princess Diana. Walked through an Angola minefield during her royal tour. Megan.
"The Duke visited a very special place and community for his mother, acknowledging her tireless mission as an advocate for all those who felt her voice was most needed.
Diana's death
Diana is no longer the heir to the British throne.
On August 30, 1997, at the age of 36, she completed a ten-day vacation. Her rumored boyfriend, Emad "Dodi" Fayed, is a multi-millionaire whose father,Mohamed Al-Fayed,, lives in Paris. He owned the Ritz Hotel and the Harrods department store in London.
Interest in the couple's alleged relationship became feverish at the time, with paparazzi following the couple on motorbikes and cars shortly after they left the hotel and got into a waiting car.
}In her dying moments, the driver of the car, Henri Paul, approached the entrance to the Pont de Alma in Paris at 70 mph despite the 30 mph limit, prompting her to lose control. It is said that vehicle.
Paul and Fayed died on the spot and Diana was taken to hospital where she died on the morning of August 31, 1997.
Diana's death, which rocked the world, sparked an immediate backlash. Directed at photographers who wanted to take pictures of the royal family, nine French photographers were arrested and charged with manslaughter at the time.
Charges against the photographers were later Although taken down, the constant paparazzi pursuit of Diana has been responsible for her death for years.
In 2008, after hearing evidence for more than six months, an inquest jury returned a verdict of wrongful murder, stating that driver Henri Paul's blood had passed the statutory blood alcohol limit. and said the paparazzi shared responsibility for the death. of Diana and Fido.
Diana's sons also spoke of the role constant press had in her untimely death.
In the BBC documentary Diana, Seven Days, Prince William said that every time she left the house, a cameraman would wait for her and harass her or "call her." He insisted that he would resort to tactics such as "putting on". "Her name" elicits her response.
In the same documentary, Prince Harry accused the photographers who drove Princess Diana into the tunnel of taking posthumous photos of Princess Diana. One of the hardest things to do is that the people who drove her into the tunnel were the same people who were taking pictures of her while she was still dying in the back seat of the car." He said.
Diana's younger brother also condemned the public's obsession with the Princess of Wales, calling the late royal "the most wanted person in modern times".
Recently, Prince Harry Alluding to the media's treatment of his mother as a key reason for his and Meghan's decision to step away from the royal family, he told Winfrey, "My biggest concern was that history was repeating itself."
Funeral of Princess Diana
Princess Diana was buried on September 6, 1997 in a ceremony attended by more than 2.5 billion people.
The enduring legacy of the beloved royal family was also attested by the more than one million mourners who arrived in London to pay their respects and leave flowers.
Diana's funeral was watched by billions
(AFP via Getty Images)
British royals, celebrities and world leaders , the late Elton John, a good friend of the British royal family, performed Goodbye British Roses.
Diana was buried in the Spencer family's Althorp mansion.
According to the Duke, the emotional toll of the funeral that saw Prince Harry and his brother walk behind the coffin was great. I don't think that will happen," he added.
