Princess Diana: Twenty Years On
As the world remembers the fateful day of August 31, 1997, Princess Diana’s sons joined what has become a highly significant day of commemoration. Prince William and Prince Harry added their own tribute, alongside cards and flowers from the public, to their late mother at the Golden Gates of Kensington Palace, central London.
For William and Harry the hope is that there will be closure and an end to speculation about the causes of Diana’s death. But for many the car crash in the Alma Tunnel, Paris, remains an inexplicable event when the much loved royal, along with her companion Dodi al Fayed and driver Henri Paul, lost their lives. Even today the memories are still raw.
One of the firefighters who tried to save Diana at the crash scene recalled the moment. Sergeant Xavier Gourmelon, who led the response team, found Diana still conscious, her last words to him were: “My God, what’s happened? To be honest, I thought she would live. As far as I knew when she was in the ambulance she was alive and I expected her to live. But I found out later she had died in hospital.”
(Above) The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry arrive to Kensington Palace. (Top) William and Harry view tributes to Princess Diana at the palace gates.
But for William and Harry the twentieth anniversary of Diana’s death is the point from which they will move on from the tragedy and focus on the future. At Kensington Palace TRH were joined by the Duchess of Cambridge, who has teamed up with the brothers to continue Diana’s legacy through the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
