On this day in 1997, television broadcasts of the funeral for Diana, Princess of Wales, attract an estimated 2.5 billion viewers worldwide. She tragically passed away at the age of 36 in a car crash in Paris just a week prior.
Throughout her 15 years of marriage to Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne and son of Queen Elizabeth II, Diana emerged as one of the world’s most famous and photographed individuals. Her life inspired countless books, television shows, and films, and her likeness graced numerous magazine covers, including People and Vanity Fair. Even after her death, she continued to be an iconic figure and a source of ongoing intrigue for the media and entertainment industries.
Diana Spencer was born on July 1, 1961, in Norfolk, England. At the age of 20, on July 29, 1981, she became known as “Shy Di” due to the rampant British media attention, when she married Prince Charles in a ceremony at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London that was viewed by hundreds of millions around the globe.
On June 21, 1982, she welcomed her first son, Prince William, followed by her second son, Prince Harry, on September 15, 1984. The couple separated in 1992 amidst allegations of infidelities on both sides, ultimately finalizing their divorce on August 28, 1996. Following the end of her marriage, Diana continued her humanitarian efforts, advocating for awareness regarding the deadly AIDS epidemic and calling for a ban on landmines—explosive devices that frequently harm civilians.
In the early hours of August 31, 1997, Diana’s driver lost control of the vehicle while attempting to evade paparazzi, leading to a crash in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris. Tragically, her companion Dodi al-Fayed and the driver, Henri Paul, who was later found to be speeding and intoxicated, both perished in the accident.
The public’s mourning over Diana’s death in England was unprecedented. On September 6, 1997, hundreds of thousands lined the streets of London to witness the transportation of the former princess’s coffin to Westminster Abbey, where an array of politicians, celebrities, and members of royalty had gathered for her funeral.
Elton John performed a revamped version of his song “Candle in the Wind,” originally penned with Bernie Taupin about Marilyn Monroe. During the funeral, Diana’s brother, Lord Spencer, placed blame on the media for his sister’s fate, referring to her as the “most hunted person of the modern age.” Diana was laid to rest at Althorp, the estate of her family located in Northamptonshire, England.
