Britons gather at dawn to remember Diana 20 years after her death
Flowers and tributes are left in memory of the late Princess Diana around the Liberty Flame monument at the Place de l'Alma, above the underpass where Diana Princess of Wales died in a car accident on August 31, 1997, in Paris, France, August 31, 2017. REUTERS/Charles Platiau
LONDON (Reuters) - Fans of Princess Diana gathered at dawn at the gates of Kensington Palace on Thursday to celebrate the life of a woman who transformed Britain and its royal family when she died 20 years ago in a Paris car crash.
One of the most famous women in the world, Diana was killed aged 36 on Aug. 31, 1997, when her limousine crashed in a tunnel as it sped away from paparazzi giving chase on motorbikes.
A royal fan cradles a book about the late Princess Diana at the gates of her former residence in Kensington Palace on the twentieth anniversary of her death, in London, Britain August 31, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
Her death prompted the biggest outpouring of grief seen in Britain in recent times and hurt the monarchy, which was accused of reacting coldly.
The events that followed, when Queen Elizabeth promised to learn from Diana's life, are regarded as a turning point in the modernization of the country and how the royal family relates to the public.
"She brought a breath of fresh air to the royal family," said Caryll Foster, 57, who got to the palace for 3:00 a.m. to mark the time when the news of Diana's death broke.
A royal fan looks at tributes left in memory of the late Princess Diana, at the gates of her former residence in Kensington Palace on the twentieth anniversary of her death, in London, Britain August 31, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
"The royal family can be a bit cold, and she was warm hearted and kind. She was very special and we want to keep her memory alive."
On Thursday, fans gathered in the dark to lay candles and remember a woman who married Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, in a glittering 1981 wedding ceremony before their bitter divorce in 1996.
The 20th anniversary of Diana's death has prompted a renewed fascination with the "People's Princess", as she was dubbed by then-Prime Minister Tony Blair, with her two sons Prince William and Harry leading the tributes.
Flowers and tributes are left in memory of the late Princess Diana, at the gates of her former residence in Kensington Palace on the twentieth anniversary of her death, in London, Britain August 31, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
The front pages of newspapers showed the two royals examining flowers and notes left for their mother, next to the same image taken 20 years ago when, aged 15 and 12, they met mourners and read some of the thousands of messages left at the gates.
In documentaries broadcast in recent weeks, the two men have spoken about the trauma they suffered from their mother's death and their sense of confusion and bewilderment at the country's grief.
The Times newspaper said on Thursday the fact the royal princes could speak so openly about their emotions showed the lasting legacy of Diana, one of the first royal figures to talk about her emotions.
Royal fans look at flowers and tributes left in memory of the late Princess Diana, at the gates of her former residence in Kensington Palace on the twentieth anniversary of her death, in London, Britain August 31, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
"Their courage to be openly vulnerable and to talk about these issues is a mark of how the royal family has changed and an example of the role a modern royal family can play in British life," it said in an editorial.
"The princes have led the way in dispensing with the stiff upper lip against which Diana railed."
A royal fan looks at flowers and tributes left in memory of the late Princess Diana, at the gates of her former residence in Kensington Palace on the twentieth anniversary of her death, in London, Britain August 31, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
(Reporting by Emma Rumney; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
A royal fan looks at flowers and tributes left in memory of the late Princess Diana, at the gates of her former residence in Kensington Palace on the twentieth anniversary of her death, in London, Britain August 31, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKayRoyal fans look at flowers and tributes left in memory of the late Princess Diana, at the gates of her former residence in Kensington Palace on the twentieth anniversary of her death, in London, Britain August 31, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKayA cake, flowers and tributes are left in memory of the late Princess Diana, at the gates of her former residence in Kensington Palace on the twentieth anniversary of her death, in London, Britain August 31, 2017. REUTERS/Peter NichollsRoyal fans light candles in memory of the late Princess Diana, at the gates of her former residence in Kensington Palace on the twentieth anniversary of her death, in London, Britain August 31, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKayTributes are placed in memory of the late Princess Diana on the gates of her former residence Kensington Palace. REUTERS/Hannah McKayTributes are left in memory of the late Princess Diana at the gates of her former residence Kensington Palace in London, Britain, August 31, 2017. REUTERS/Peter NichollsRoyal fans lay flowers in memory of the late Princess Diana, at the gates of her former residence in Kensington Palace on the twentieth anniversary of her death, in London, Britain August 31, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKayFlowers and tributes in memory of the late Princess Diana are placed at the gates of her former residence in Kensington Palace on the twentieth anniversary of her death, in London, Britain August 31, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKayRoyal fans light candles in memory of the late Princess Diana, at the gates of her former residence in Kensington Palace on the twentieth anniversary of her death, in London, Britain August 31, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKayRoyal fans put up bunting at the gates of Kensington Palace as flowers and tributes are left in memory of the late Princess Diana, on the twentieth anniversary of her death, in London, Britain August 31, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKayA royal fan holds candles in memory of the late Princess Diana, at the gates of her former residence in Kensington Palace on the twentieth anniversary of her death, in London, Britain August 31, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
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