I was sixteen at the time, and had a friend visiting for a few days. We were outside, on the swinging bench, just talking and laughing, and being teenagers. My mother called us in several times (with a threat of locking us out if we didn't come into the house
), and when we finally did, she told us that Diana was in a car accident, but was receiving medical attention and not hurt too badly. My friend and I went to my room, feeling shocked (the sick thing is, as I write this, I'm seeing it all rather clearly), and our cheerfulness from earlier was subdued, to say the least. Diana was someone we heard so much about, and it felt foreign to hear something so drastic. We went to sleep, and heard nothing about this until the next morning.
This part will be in my memory for the rest of my life (just like the day World Trade Center was attacked and fell). It was a sunny and pleasant morning, and my mother came into our room, and just stood there, with the laundry basket on the floor. I said something about not coming downstairs during the night, but she didn't react. Her next words had my friend and I stunned. 'Girls, Princess Diana died'. She said it with sorrow I've never heard before or since (and my mother is a very emotional individual mind you). I think we were silent for a couple of minutes, just taking it all in, but my first thoughts and words were 'Poor William and Harry'. I wasn't thinking about a great humanitarian who has passed on, I was thinking of a mother, who left behind two distraught boys. The whole day went by in a daze, spent looking through various newspapers and watching the news.
What I remember about the week leading up to the funeral is the sea of flowers by Buckingham and Kensington Palaces, and of course William accepting flowers from a mourner, and saying 'thank you'. He grew up in literally days. Watching him discreetly wipe a tear from his eye as he looked at the flowers and messages broke my heart just a little. I thought he had so much strength (still does of course). Harry's card with 'Mummy' written in a child's hand, the cries of people in the crowd, the boys walking behind the coffin of their beloved mother, and Elton John's tribute were poignant and touching. As a sixteen-year-old, I felt that it was all done so well and so fitting a person who was beloved by so many.
Now, when I'm older, and see things a little differently, I wish that the week leading up to the funeral and the funeral itself was more low key. This was the time to let the family (especially her sons) grieve and come to terms (since you never fully accept this type of loss) with what happened, and in a way, the public (myself included) intruded on that time, and that wasn't right. No one should have to grieve before millions of people, and that's what these boys were kind of forced to do. I think a a better tribute would have been something on a smaller scale, but that's just my personal opinion.
She will be remembered for many years. I hope she found the peace she couldn't obtain in her life for one reason or another. Memory Eternal.
I try to not think in this!! just thinking.. my heart is crying!
