LONDON 香蕉视频直播� Kathy Martin joined the stream of visitors laying tributes to Princess Diana outside the gates of Kensington Palace on Thursday, just as she did 20 years ago.
The 55-year-old Diana devotee vividly remembers Aug. 31, 1997. She was wakened by an early morning phone call from family in Australia telling her the princess had died in a Paris car accident, then raced to the palace with her daughter and was among the first to leave a floral tribute. Throngs of people began arriving 10 minutes later, adding cards, teddy bears and mountains of flowers.
Earlier this summer TRH's spoke about their mother and her inspiring work in the ITV documentary Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy.
香蕉视频直播� Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal)
Martin returns to Kensington Palace, where Diana once lived, every year on the anniversary of her death, on Christmas and on the princess香蕉视频直播� birthday. On Thursday, she brought picture collages, poems and a Victorian spongecake decorated with Diana香蕉视频直播檚 picture, which she shared with other royal fans.
香蕉视频直播淪he was just the beautiful, warming, caring humanitarian,香蕉视频直播� Martin said. 香蕉视频直播淪he touched all walks of life. Diana always put a smile on the face and that香蕉视频直播檚 something for people.香蕉视频直播�
The weeks leading up to the anniversary have been filled with television documentaries and newspaper stories reflecting on the princess and her contributions to the country and to the monarchy. Diana香蕉视频直播檚 sons, Princes William and Harry, added to the buildup with a series of heart-wrenching interviews in which they talked about their mother香蕉视频直播檚 love and the pain of her death.
On Thursday though, it was the public香蕉视频直播檚 turn to recall 香蕉视频直播淭he People香蕉视频直播檚 Princess.香蕉视频直播� Fans like Martin gathered at the palace to mark the two decades since Diana香蕉视频直播檚 death triggered a flood of grief across Britain and beyond. Her admirers began paying tribute to the princess before dawn, placing candles shaped in the letter 香蕉视频直播淒香蕉视频直播� at the palace gates.
香蕉视频直播淲e had never met her and been nowhere near her, but I think she touched so many people because of who she was, the way she conducted herself in the context of where she was living and who she became,香蕉视频直播� said Mara Klemich, 55, a well-wisher from Sydney.
William and Harry weren香蕉视频直播檛 scheduled to take part in any events Thursday. They honoured their mother Wednesday, visiting a garden at Kensington Palace where she used to stroll and talk to gardeners about their ever-changing displays. The princes and the Duchess of Cambridge, William香蕉视频直播檚 wife, met with well-wishers afterward.
The 36-year-old princess died in the early hours of Aug. 31, 1997. Her Mercedes, pursued by paparazzi, crashed into a concrete pillar in the Alma Tunnel in Paris while travelling at more than 60 mph (100 kph).
Diana, her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and their driver Henri Paul were all killed. Her bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, was injured but survived.
In Paris, royal watchers gathered at the tunnel Thursday to remember Diana香蕉视频直播檚 life. Some wept.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 been 20 years now, but there are people you don香蕉视频直播檛 forget, and she is one of them,香蕉视频直播� said Sylviane Rives, who works nearby. 香蕉视频直播淭hat is what I wrote on a little card for her.香蕉视频直播�
Those who didn香蕉视频直播檛 go to the palace or to the tunnel took to social media to express their grief and to recall her kindness.
The co-designer of Diana香蕉视频直播檚 wedding dress, Elizabeth Emanuel, tweeted a picture of the princess shortly after her arrival at St. Paul香蕉视频直播檚 Cathedral for her 1981 wedding. In the image, the designers and bridesmaids straighten the dress香蕉视频直播� immense train, unfurling a sea of white that flowed in her wake.
香蕉视频直播淭hinking of the wonderful times we spent with Diana and the great joy she brought into our lives and all those who knew her,香蕉视频直播� Emanuel said.
Elton John offered a tribute, posting an image on social media with his hand on her shoulder. Both are smiling.
The pop icon, who memorably performed his moving song 香蕉视频直播淐andle In The Wind香蕉视频直播� at Diana香蕉视频直播檚 funeral, wrote 香蕉视频直播�20 years ago today, the world lost an angel. #RIP.香蕉视频直播�
As the day wore on, images of the day two decades ago ran on the television newscasts and websites, reminding the nation of events long past. Aerial photographs offered reminders of the carpet of flowers that people brought to the palace, one bouquet at a time.
The intense outpouring will likely not be the final time the country mourns for Diana, said Pauline Maclaran, co-author of 香蕉视频直播淩oyal Fever: The British Monarchy in Consumer Culture.香蕉视频直播� Like other cultural icons, such as Marilyn Monroe or James Dean, Diana will live on 香蕉视频直播� even if the royals may have said all they wish on the subject.
香蕉视频直播淢aybe a new generation doesn香蕉视频直播檛 relate to her that much,香蕉视频直播� Maclaran said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut that will change. 香蕉视频直播� The media will find new and innovative ways to reinvent her.香蕉视频直播�
Here is a timeline of the key moments in Princess Diana香蕉视频直播檚 life:
香蕉视频直播擩uly 1, 1961: Diana Frances Spencer is born into an aristocratic family.
香蕉视频直播擣ebruary 24, 1981: Lady Diana香蕉视频直播檚 engagement to Prince Charles, 32, is announced.
香蕉视频直播擩uly 29, 1981: Diana, 20, marries Prince Charles at St Paul香蕉视频直播檚 Cathedral in London. The wedding was broadcast around the world, watched by hundreds of millions on television.
香蕉视频直播擩une 21, 1982: Princess Diana香蕉视频直播檚 first son, William Arthur Philip Louis, is born. He is known as Prince William.
香蕉视频直播擲eptember 15, 1984: The royal couple香蕉视频直播檚 second son, Henry Charles Albert David, is born. He is known as Prince Harry.
香蕉视频直播擩une 1992: Andrew Morton香蕉视频直播檚 book, 香蕉视频直播淒iana, Her True Story,香蕉视频直播� is published. It reveals she attempted suicide and suffered from an eating disorder.
香蕉视频直播擠ecember 9, 1992: Charles and Diana香蕉视频直播檚 formal separation is announced to Parliament by Prime Minister John Major
香蕉视频直播擭ovember 20, 1995: Diana speaks about her marital problems, affairs, postnatal depression, and tensions with the royal family in a widely-watched interview on the BBC.
香蕉视频直播擠ecember 20, 1995: Buckingham Palace says the Queen wrote to the couple earlier that week calling on them to divorce.
香蕉视频直播擜ugust 28, 1996: Diana and Charles divorce.
香蕉视频直播擜ugust 31, 1997: Diana and her companion Dodi Fayed die in a high-speed car crash in Paris.
香蕉视频直播擲eptember 6, 1997: Thousands attend Diana香蕉视频直播檚 funeral in London.
The Associated Press
