Is it time for us to let Diana rest in peace?

Published on Friday 31 August 2007 12:24

IT is ten years since Diana, Princess of Wales, died in a car crash in a tunnel in Paris with her lover Dodi Al-Fayed.

Her tragic death at the age of 36, as her Mercedes sped away from pursuing paparazzi, left a shocked nation in mourning.

In Edinburgh, hundreds of people gathered for a service at the Ross Bandstand while many others boarded a special Diana train to take them to London so they could pay their respects.

For the Princess's funeral at Westminster Abbey, the Royal Family were joined by political leaders along with charity workers and stars who had been friends of Diana, such as Elton John and Tom Cruise.

A decade on, Diana still occupies a prominent place in the nation's conscience. Films and TV programmes have been made about her death and conspiracy theories have sprung up. Several lasting memorials have been erected, and a vast variety of merchandise has become available.

In July, Diana's sons William and Harry staged a pop concert at Wembley in honour of their mother's life. Today, the princes were due to give readings at an emotional memorial service, broadcast to a worldwide television audience.

Here we speak to some of those who knew Diana, as well as members of the Edinburgh public, and ask whether the time has come to let the Princess rest in peace.

Michael Shea

Former press secretary to the Queen. Michael remembers Diana fondly, but says after ten years it is time to move on.

"I remember her with great affection. I worked with her well before she got engaged and I took her to all the editors' offices and trained her up. She sat in our press office for a couple of days to learn what questions were being asked and she even responded to some of them anonymously.

"She discovered what was going on with Camilla fairly soon after she got married. She was very exciting and interesting but when she got bulimia she went up and down a lot. She was so much loved.

"The Queen didn't come down from Balmoral because she was looking after her grandchildren who were in a terrible state. She was doing her family duty and isn't one to parade her grief.

"It's fine to mark this anniversary but I think after ten years you gradually forget."

Margo MacDonald

The Independent Lothians MSP feels a public commemoration is inappropriate.

Instead, she thinks those who wish to remember her should do so privately.

"For her sons I imagine it will always be relevant to commemorate her. I personally don't think there should be anything showy.

"There is no doubt that her life and personality affected a huge number of people and a huge number of people still feel great regret. If they want to remember her personally and privately I have no objections.

"It's a bit unnatural to commemorate her death for as long as this. For most people now it would be better if she were left to rest in peace. A pseudo-national celebration? No."

David Johnson

Director of Waverley Care, which runs Milestone House, says Diana helped take away the stigma of HIV.

Diana visited Milestone House, Britain's first purpose-built hospice for people suffering from Aids and HIV, in October 1991. The Princess laughed and joked as she drank tea with three Aids patients in the hospice conservatory.

She later visited family groups in their private rooms and emerged holding the hand of one woman resident.

"Diana formally opened Milestone House and more than anyone else helped break down the stigma surrounding HIV. She was prepared to be seen hugging and shaking hands with people with HIV in the early 1990s when there was still a lot of hysteria around the topic.

"It made a lot of impact on how people saw HIV. People thought that if it was OK for a princess to do that, then it must be OK.

"People in our HIV sector would want to remember her because she made an important contribution to the field of Aids awareness."

Hazel Bryson

The 35-year-old from Davidson's Mains was a catering assistant when she met Diana at Milestone House.

She was impressed by her warmth and believes she is still a relevant figure, particularly amongst people with HIV.

"I'm catering manager now but in those days I was a catering assistant. We were in the reception area and she came in and shook our hands. She was a lovely person, so caring. You could see that from her expressions. She was a lovely woman and it was so nice to see someone from royalty coming in and cuddling people with HIV. We were all on a high when she left. People still talk about it. Unfortunately all the service users who met her have now passed on. I was on holiday when she died and thought it was a sick joke. It's still relevant to remember her as she was so important, especially to people with HIV."

Norman Irons

The former Lord Provost of Edinburgh met Diana in December 1992 on the Royal Yacht Britannia and at Heriot-Watt University in 1993.

He remembers her as having a very droll sense of humour and says the urge to commemorate her will die out gradually.

"Of the many people I met, particularly in the Royal Family, Princess Diana had a huge media following wherever she went. She was graceful, charming and spoke to people in a very ordinary fashion and was down to earth without being common. She had a sense of humour and was able to joke and people did laugh.

"I recollect a one-to-one with her when she showed a very dry sense of humour. It was on the Royal Yacht, on December 11, 1992. After dinner I went to introduce myself as the Lord Provost. She looked me up and down - I was wearing a kilt and the Lord Provost's diamond jewel - then looked me in the face and said: "Lord Provost. I'd never have guessed."

"The further north you come the less people are inclined to go in for a commemoration but if her sons want some kind of commemoration that is fair enough. She was a young woman who died in tragic circumstances, so perhaps after ten years it is not unreasonable. Ten years from now though I suspect it will be far less."

Christine Grahame

SNP MSP Christine Grahame is a republican.

She believes Diana should be mourned for being a young mother who died prematurely. But she questions whether much of the mourning wasn't driven by the media.

"She was refreshing. Anyone who dies at an early age, particularly an attractive person who has young children, there's a certain poignancy. From her children's point of view it was very tough but the public mourning was media-driven.

"If you ask me if the anniversary will still be commemorated in another ten years time, I suspect not. I'm a Republican and I think there are issues about the monarchy and its relevance that need re-examined."

Janice McNeill

The principal of Donaldson's says Diana, who visited the school for the deaf in 1990, will always be remembered fondly.

"Staff, friends, pupils and former pupils were invited when Diana came to Donaldson's.

"She did a tour of the building and signed hello, how are you. It was impressive that she had made the effort to learn to sign. There was high excitement and all the desk staff wanted to touch her.

"She is still relevant because she was very important as a member of the Royal Family who was obviously genuinely interested in raising the profile of the deaf community.

"The effect she had on the pupils and ex-pupils was wonderful. The Queen came as a very regal person but Diana came with a personal touch. She was young, dynamic and very personable and so probably made more of a lasting impression on the pupils."

Is it still relevant to commemorate Diana ten years after her death?

John Wittle, 68, retired engineer, Leith: "Yes. She was an important figurehead for many charities and did a lot of good work. Continuing to remember her will help keep the focus on them."

Julia McIntyre, 29, political researcher, Abbeyhill: "Yes. She did a lot of good work and it is worth commem-orating. It should be done tastefully though and should be a family matter. I'm sorry for the boys."

Ross Millar, 20, student, Portobello: "I think it is relevant. She did a lot of good stuff not just in this country but all over the world. She did a lot for charity and that's really commendable - the same as Prince Harry trying to get to Iraq, that's commendable. A lot of royalty did nothing. Just remembering her death is good but bringing out plates and things like that is over the top. She should be recognised though."

Wallace Frame, 51, engineer, Old Town: "This ten-year anniversary should be the last time we commemorate her. She was a victim of the media, which still makes a fuss over her."

Angus Millar, 50, civil servant, Stockbridge: "No. I never thought it was very important to commemorate her. When she died I just thought it was a big hoo-ha over nothing. I never saw her as a particularly interesting person. I don't mind events to commemorate her if the money goes to a good cause."

Mark Tonks, 35, Canonmills, support care worker: "Not for most people and less so in Scotland. Some of what she stood for was really good, for example the landmine work. She courted the press but later the paparazzi contributed to her death. The nation was taken over by grief but most people are quite embarrassed about it now."

Marcelina Obrzydowska, 23, student, The Meadows: "No. I've heard she did quite a few good things. I was in London the week after she died and there were kilometres of flowers. I didn't realise till then how much it had impacted on people. But for me it is important to remember my family and friends who have died."

Karen Miller, 35, legal secretary, Easter Road: "Not really. The public response to her death was hysterical and inappropriate. It was sad that she died but possibly slightly overblown."