IT’S hard to believe that 18 years ago today, Princess Diana died at the age of 36 in a car crash in a Paris tunnel. Diana was an icon, known for her grace, charm, hard work and of course, her impeccable style. She also had two amazing sons, Prince William and Prince Harry! HollywoodLife.com has put together a gallery of her incredible but too short life. Check it out here!Diana was thrust into the spotlight through her marriage to Prince Charles, who was 13 years her senior, and the world became fascinated by her. She had a very large heart, spending her time visiting homeless shelters or terminally ill patients in different hospices. “Everyone needs to be valued,” the Princess once said. “Everyone has the potential to give something back if only they had the chance.” Diana also did heavy charity work for people struggling with mental illness and drug abuse, working with programs Relate and Turning Point.
Diana shocked a lot of people when she famously became the first member of the Royal Family to have contact with AIDS victims. She broke down misconceptions about contracting the disease through any sort of contact, after she was photographed holding hands with an AIDS patient. “HIV does not make people dangerous to know,” she said. “You can shake their hands and give them a hug. Heaven knows they need it.”
Diana’s divorce was certainly not an easy time for her, but during the summer of 1997 things were finally looking up for Her Royal Highness. She was loved by the world, was considered a style icon, and she had seemingly moved on from the pain in her marriage after Charles’ ex Camilla Parker Bowles, had reportedly broken up their marriage. She began a low-profile romance with Dodi Fayed. On Aug. 31, 1997, Diana and Dodi were escaping paparazzi racing through a Paris tunnel, and their lives were tragically ended, along with the driver Henri Paul, after suffering fatal injuries. Prince William and Kate Middleton gave a special tribute to the late Princess, by naming their daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, which is just so sweet.
Princess Diana, you are certainly not forgotten. Rest in peace.
