The world is still remembering the beloved Princess Diana, who died 20 years ago on August 31, 1997.
Her tragic and unexpected car accident shocked all of Britain, as she was such an influential and popular public character.
Thousands of people gathered in front of Kensington Palace, placing flowers and candles to honor their princess.
“Great Britain idolized her, specifically, so when she died it was more tragic because people felt they could relate and identify with her,” said senior Kate Herrema.
Twenty years have passed, and people are still talking about her death. Weeks before the anniversary of her death, t.v stations played countless documentaries highlighting her life and tragic death. Multiple memorials covered in flowers and candles were placed around London to honor her. Part of the reason people still discuss her death in such detail is because of suspicions that surrounds her death.
Throughout the years, people have speculated about what really happened the night Diana was killed. Although it was at first ruled an accident that was caused by driver Henri Paul’s intoxication, some investigators and the public believe that it was cause by the paparazzi chasing them or was possibly a planned murder by members of the royal family themselves.
Investigations were opened attempting to prove that her death was indeed a homicide, but despite years of speculation, her death remains an accident according to police. That still does not stop people from voicing their opinions 20 years later.
“I think the conspiracy theories could be real but I think that she was such an icon that people were trying to rationalize her death and make sense of it,” said Herrema.
No matter what you believe happened to Diana, it does not change the fact that she, her companion Dodi Fayed, and driver Henri Paul lost their lives. It doesn’t change the fact that she would be 56 years old this year. Twenty years later and her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, who were 15 and 12 years old, respectively, when she passed away returned to Kensington Palace to pay their respects to their late mother.
Princess Diana’s legacy carries on 20 years after her death, and her style, compassion, and charity work made her one of the most influential royal figures in the public eye. She seemed like a celebrity rather than a royal figure as she was considered “the world’s most photographed woman” by multiple British tabloids. It seems as if the conversation surrounding her death will never die, no matter how many years pass by.
“As a celebrity she was sensationalized so her death had to meet a certain level of interest,” said senior Naomi Hill.