In Celebration of Princess Diana
As the country celebrates a coronation this weekend, I am reminded of a lost Princess/Queen that I will celebrate instead. I remember Diana from those shy young days when she wore that blue dress and that short hairstyle and became the people’s darling. A beautiful beacon of light, of hope for the fairy tale that never was, and for a little girl called Susie who loved Diana.
I remember the street party we had when the ‘happy’ couple got married and the dancing we did and the cakes we ate. I remember the drunken songs around a piano and the jelly and ice cream that proclaimed (at least for this little girl) their marriage as a magical moment in the history of my small world.
I remember years later, on a rainy September day, being in the crowds seeing Diana on a walkabout in a bright red coat dress. And then me having a similar dress which my sister had in for testing in the lab, with the dodgy buttons that kept coming off.
I remember me building a scrap book of Diana memorabilia and the Diana books I bought that inspired my love of clothes, shoes and ooh the handbags and the hats! My, Diana had some amazing hats and handbags! I rejoiced when two princes’ were born and when Diana rode America by storm, in the arms of John Travolta. Diana was my constant star, always present and always shining out of the TV or on the cover of a magazine or adorning a newspaper front cover.
And then that fateful day in late August 1997. I can remember hearing the words on the radio as I rose from my slumber, and the disbelief and sorrow that hit me. ‘She is dead!’ cried the newsreader, and I sobbed in shock and sadness at the unbelievable news of her passing. ‘She is gone’ was such an alien concept to me. I had grown up with Diana since I was a child of 9. I had watched her get engaged, become a wife, a mother and a national treasure. And now she was gone. I put flowers on our local Guildhall and I sent prayers for her two precious boys. And I watched a nation unravel from its stiff emotional covers to a quivering, vulnerable, sobbing crowd of people beyond solace. With the passing of this beautiful angel of light, the Queen of many hearts, including mine.
And I will remember Diana this weekend and the joy she brought to my life. With her giggles and her laughter. With her willingness to be ‘one of the girls’, and who shared her kindness and compassion, with us the people. And I celebrate that she was here, even for such a short time, and the effect she had on me and my life.
Diana demonstrated to me, courage and kindness, softness, vulnerability and strength. She had begun to stretch her wings, much like I am beginning to do. And she was willing to change her life so that she could find the happiness that I believe she deserved. And to me she represents a one of a kind ‘Grand Dame’, and she will forever be my Queen and I shall celebrate her this weekend and the legacy that she gave me. A passion for life, of people and of change. Diana, I love you and will love you for always and that is what I shall hold in my heart this weekend.
Diana, Queen of my heart – always and forever. xx