Rethinking Diana’s memory

Royal Watch Features

By Christopher Vaughan Oct 28, 2006, 15:54 GMT

When Diana, Princess of Wales, was tragically killed nine years ago, there was a tremendous amount of public grief and sorrow. In the years since, many people seem to be unwilling to let go of this grief and it is preventing Diana’s memory from resting in peace.

Diana, Princess of WalesAlong the gates of Kensington Palace, people still place flowers and cards in tribute of Diana. But there are also banners and posters decrying Diana’s divorce and Prince Charles’ re-marriage – many carrying the slogan “Diana Forever, Camilla Never.”In her own lifetime, Diana is said to have come to terms with Charles and Camilla’s relationship. She herself had moved on to dating other men and was keen on letting the public see that she was enjoying life as a single woman. Why then are people still carrying on negative campaigns against Charles and Camilla? Surely the memory of Diana would be better served by remembering more of her life’s accomplishments rather than critically focusing on her ex-husband and his new wife.There are the countless number of Diana’s friends and acquaintances who have cashed in to write memoirs about their relations with Diana. When these so-called friends have exhausted their memories of Diana, they often seem to “remember” new stories about Diana in order to write subsequent books about her. These tell-all books are in no way honouring the life or memory of a woman who enjoyed her privacy as much as her public life. Further muddling Diana’s memory are the numerous conspiracy theories plaguing the official inquest into her death. How can the truth about Diana’s final hours ever be known if certain people keep contending there was some sort of widespread and highly-detailed plot to murder the Princess?Perhaps the truth is far less captivating than these theories would have us believe, but at least Diana’s memory would be better served if the truth (and only that) about the end of her life was finally documented and presented to the public in its entirety.Rumours, speculations and dimmed recollections are not the best ways to remember the life of Diana, Princess of Wales. Her lasting impact will only be fully realized once we choose to remember her for the woman she really was and finally let her memory rest in peace.----------------------------------------Christopher Vaughan is a journalist living in Canada. He has been a royal watcher for more than 20 years.

View blog reactions

If you liked this story please support M&C and Buzz the site on Yahoo.

Latest Headlines in Royal Watch

Talkback

Add your comment (no registration required)

page: 1

meDec 14th, 2006 - 13:23:04

nobody buys your argument.

Report this comment

ElizabethJun 1st, 2007 - 16:40:51

I just hope that one day Diana will be left alone to rest in peace! We all know she deserves at least that!

Report this comment

Edie MaeJul 26th, 2007 - 18:35:54

Forget Diana? Never? As for Camilla, how can we accept this woman as Charles wife when she was the one who broke up the marriage. Charles and Camilla should be banned from England as his uncle was............

Report this comment

page: 1

Add your comment (no registration required)

Latest from M&C Blogs

Second presidential debate; no 'gamechanger' ? - Global Eye on October 8, 2008 5:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Debate: did McCain do enough? - Global Eye on September 29, 2008 6:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (22) | TrackBacks (1)

Should Sen. John McCain's health records be made public? - Global Eye on September 15, 2008 8:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (50) | TrackBacks (0)

Raindance Film Festival - Estomago - London Calling on October 8, 2008 9:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Raindance Film Festival : It's Hard To Be Nice - London Calling on October 8, 2008 9:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

London Film Festival - Dean Spanley - London Calling on October 6, 2008 9:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport - The World in Pictures on October 2, 2008 4:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Devotee to Chinese Shrine of Sapam has face pierced - The World in Pictures on October 2, 2008 4:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Indian Muslims offer prayers on the occasion of Eid-al-Fitr - The World in Pictures on October 2, 2008 4:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Royal Watch

Rethinking Diana’s memory

Royal Watch Features

Latest Headlines in Royal Watch

Talkback

Latest from M&C Blogs

More about Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

More about Diana, Princess of Wales

More about Charles, Prince of Wales

In Monsters and Critics

Corporate

The Fine Print