I too never associate AIDS and Diana.
The first time I heard/read of her connection was from forum posters within the past 2 years.
Diana was ONE of the first noteworthy people to touch someone with HIV/AIDS. And this was a big deal at the time because not much was known about the disease and many were afraid that you could get it by touching an infected person. She wasn't the first and only but she was public figure and such a small gesture helped a lot.
I think there is some confusion about the legacy of well known figures or how they will be remembered in the future. It's worth nothing that NOT all historical figures are equal.
For some she might be a quick answer on a history test, or a passing mention in discussion about the BRF. For others she might be someone that they take a general interest in as they discuss her role in the BRF, the eternal triangle and whether or not she isn't a saint or sinner.The very fact we are discussing how someone who died 17 years ago but will be remembered in the future, tells me that Diana is a controversial subject that may be debated for years to come.
Aren't we still talking about the likes of Lincoln, Churchill and Kennedy. Okay...Diana certainly in their class in term of historical importance BUT Isn't Elvis remembered more than 25 years after his death? And not just by fans? Don't we still talk about Marilyn Monroe when previously undiscovered pictures are published? Will it by the mass hysteria that accompanied Diana's life and death? Of course not, I doubt that anything will reach that again. But she will be remembered, even if its just a footnote as the mother of a King and a grandmother of a King/Queen. The interest in the Diana might not be same as an American President or British Prime Minister or a British King, but there might be some interest in her.
She is forever connected with the Queen, Charles, William, Harry and the of the BRF. She will be mentioned with Charles and William become King and when they die. If William and Harry have daughters, and if ONE of them has a passing resemblance to Diana, it will be pointed out by the press just as the press does know when they make reference to current members of the BRF who resemble deceased family remembers (Prince Michael of Kent/Nicholas II, Lady Louise Wessex/a young Princess Elizabeth of York, etc.).
Many of us here at TRF have an interest in royalty. Mine began when I learned about Henry VIII and I read everything I could about him in the old fashioned encyclopedia...this was before the internet and even before Charles married Diana. The renewed interest in the Tudors as well as the many books written about Henry VII, Henry VIII, Mary, Elizabeth I and others have happened a good 450 years AFTER they lived. But they also lived in a time when you had to fight to survive and live through severe court intrigue, and were absolute rulers. So of course they can't be compared to Diana. Only Anne Bolyen can (mother of a future ruler) and yet many (us at TRF, authors, historians, etc.) are still talking about her.
As previously pointed out there is continued interest in the Tudors, War of the Roses, Marie Antoinette and the Windsors. Who would have thought that there would still be interest these people many many years later? Whose to say that 50 to 100 years from now...there will not be a renewed interest of Diana, Princess of Wales. Someone somewhere might feel the need to look for a new angle, and reshash (the very good and the very bad) everything we have been talking about for the past 10 years.
In conclusion, I wouldn't write her off just yet. There might be a budding historian or author, who following the death of King William V (Not that I am wishing harm on William).....and while people are discussing his legacy learns about his late mother, Diana. In the past, she was just something briefly mentioned in passing. This budding writer/historian was born a good 50 after Diana's death and decided to focus Diana's life/death and how it played a part in William's reign. And its all at their finger tips.
Anything is possible but many of us might not be around to see it. Cause that is just life.