20 years on, Britain remembers Diana’s shock death

LONDON: Fans and friends of Diana, Princess of Wales, were marking 20 years since her death on Thursday as the nation looked back on the day when the shocking news broke she had been killed in a late-night Paris car crash, reports AFP.

She was just 36 at the time, with her death triggering an unprecedented outpouring of grief across Britain.

With her was Dodi Fayed, her wealthy Egyptian boyfriend of two months and their driver Henri Paul who was trying to shake off paparazzi photographers, both of whom also died.

Two decades on and the nation has still not forgotten, with well wishers laying flowers and candles outside Kensington Palace in London in the emotive run up to Thursday's anniversary.

A couple in Union Jack clothing were the first to arrive at the gates of the palace where Diana's sons William and Harry had paid tribute a day earlier.

Overnight, a handful of people had braved the rain in Paris to visit the Pont de l'Alma tunnel where her car smashed into a pillar at 12:23 am on August 31, 1997, ending the life of the world's most famous women.

Diana was "revolutionary," said Sian Croston, a 17-year-old student from London who was visiting the gold-leaf Flame of Liberty monument that stands above the underpass and has become something of a shrine.

"She changed the royal family forever."

 

20 years on, Britain remembers Dianas shock death

LONDON: Fans and friends of Diana, Princess of Wales, were marking 20 years since her death on Thursday as the nation looked back on the day when the shocking news broke she had been killed in a late-night Paris car crash, reports AFP. She was just 36 at the time, with her death triggering an unprecedented outpouring of grief across Britain. With her was Dodi Fayed, her wealthy Egyptian boyfriend of two months and their driver Henri Paul who was trying to shake off paparazzi photographers, both of whom also died. Two decades on and the nation has still not forgotten, with well wishers laying flowers and candles outside Kensington Palace in London in the emotive run up to Thursdays anniversary. A couple in Union Jack clothing were the first to arrive at the gates of the palace where Dianas sons William and Harry had paid tribute a day earlier. Overnight, a handful of people had braved the rain in Paris to visit the Pont de lAlma tunnel where her car smashed into a pillar at 12:23 am on August 31, 1997, ending the life of the worlds most famous women. Diana was revolutionary, said Sian Croston, a 17-year-old student from London who was visiting the gold-leaf Flame of Liberty monument that stands above the underpass and has become something of a shrine. She changed the royal family forever.