Thursday, August 09, 2007


Princess Diana
Do you remember where you were when you heard she died?
OMGosh, I've always been a Princess Diana fan. I had my tonsils taken out the summer she got married and while laying in bed recovering from surgery I watched her wedding all day long. I remember it so vividly ~ she was stunning in that gorgeous dress and well it just seemed like a fairy tale ~ which we know now it really wasn't.






















I remember when we first moved to England I purchased quite a lot of things with her on it ~ you know the touristy things like postcards, cups, trinkets, etc.



I remember getting the stamps the first day they were released because I wanted to make sure I got them.











This is a photo that came in a British magazine after she died. It's a glossy 8x10 that I forgot I had until recently when I was going through all off my England pictures.










I remember my husband coming in on a Sunday morning to tell me that she had been in a crash in Paris and they didn't think it was good news.

I jumped out of bed to watch the tv and then they made the announcement that she passed away. I remember I called my sister to tell her and she was sound asleep ~ I think it was like 2a.m. there in TN. She said that when she went to bed, they thought she was severly injured but would be alright.
I called that day to see if I could go on the tour of Buckingham Palace that the Officer's Spouse's Club was taking the Tuesday after she passed away. They had one space available. I didn't care that much about touring the palace but really wanted to go and take some flowers and well, just be in London for some reason. The tour still took place as it was booked a year in advance and well the palace said all was well with their schedule and come on.

I'm sure my opinion of the palace would have been much different had I gone months before. It was beautiful, gorgeous, breathtaking ~ but all I could think about was how Princess Diana must have thought walking through these halls, seeing all these beautiful antiques and heirlooms and feeling so lost in a family of staunch traditions and views. Another lady and myself on the tour were the only ones to bring flowers which really surprised me. We got to BP and with some time before our tour were able to walk up and lay flowers among the thousands already there. We went into our tour and 2 1/2 hours later when we came out there were over 10,000 people in line. All the amercian tv shows were there - Good Morning America, Today, etc. and I was so thankful that we got there early enough to put our flowers down and read some of the sweet notes left with them.

























Then we jumped on the tube and went to Kensington Palace ~ Princess Diana's private residence. I spoke with a lady on the train from Wimbley that told me how she privately idolized Princess Diana and that she didn't know why but said she just had to be in London today to pay her respects.


We went over the church to sign the condolence books but the line was at least 1,000 deep and we wanted to go over to Harrod's (Dodi's dad owns this very popular store)
We were crying the entire time we were there. Everyone was crying really. Grown men, women, children ~ all generations, all races.









There were thousands of people here as well bringing flowers, notes, and signing books.


These pictures were in one of the front windows of the store and several others like the one to the left were taped up outside showing pictures of Princess and Dodi together.


I will share pictures with you soon from my trip to Althorp ~ Princess Diana's childhood home. I was able to go the first week they opened to the public in 1998 with my friend, her family and my youngest son. Unfortunately we couldn't take pictures inside the residence but the grounds were gorgeous and the momuments to her are beautiful.
It's hard to believe it's been 10 years.
I hope you have a wonderful day! I'll be busy busy busy painting for my classes this month and coming up with ideas for next month as well ~ of course I'll share them with you when I get them done.
PS ~ had a wonderful time at Artsymama's blog party yesterday ~ if you have an opportunity today go on over and check out the fabulous tutorials and ideas that the amazing bloggers shared!

12 comments:

Sandi McBride said...

This brought back memories for me that also brought tears. My friend Audrey and I stood in the Mall waiting for the procession to go by and I was worried about my fur daughter, Digby the Old English, who had had surgery on her foot the day before. We had watched the newshounds annoy Diana for so long, I collected everything about her, still have the teatowels, the ladybug book of their wedding...my son (who is a Newspaper man, himself, he's an Editor now, )called me to tell me that Diana had been killed. He was crying. Oddly enough, we love the royal family and I could well understand the Queen's hesitance to put her family on display. Diana...such a contradictory person she was...yet we loved her, warts and all
Sandi

Sugar Bear said...

Wow, it must have been so interesting to have been right there in the midst of all this. I can't believe it has been 10 years - seems like it was yesterday - sometimes I still think she is alive. I cried like a baby for weeks after she died. I just kept thinking about Prince Harry's flowers on the casket with the note that said Mummy. I couldn't stop thinking about what would become of them without their mother's influence. I was so happy to see the interview William and Harry did with Matt Lauer recently. They really seem to have taken all of her lessons and become wonderful men. Thank you for your kind comments on my blog and of course you can add me to your favorites! I've added you as well.
Karla

Anonymous said...

Wonderful post!Princess Diana was sooo beautiful! Elton John wrote a song for her.... made me cry.
Great post!
*HUGS*

Michelle said...

This is the fun thing about blog-parties, now I have found your blog and really enjoy it! Loved this post. I don't know quite what it was about her that was so hypnotising, but she was just marvelous to follow wasn't she? I have only ventured out of the states once when I was 14 with my family and as we were at a play one day in London a whole team of police showed up, threw up baracades and out Princees Diana came to go to a little theater there. My only brush with someone famous, at least it was with someone wonderful. Thanks for bringing back memories.

Sandi McBride said...

Drop over to my blog when you get the chance...I have a surprise for you
Sandi

carlene federer said...

What an amazing experience to be there right after she died...how sad, I still miss her and can't believe it's already been 10 years...

Julie said...

She was an amazing person that is for sure. When they were getting married....I was in labor with my oldest daughter - Emily!

Miss*Laurence said...

Hi Sandi! I remember I was also in bed when I was told that she had died and I remember thinking " how my God she's been murdered!" but it was a car crash (and in Paris!). People tend to forget that Dodi Al Fayed died in the same crash, and although it still is a very public subject, I wish for her sons and Dodi's family that it was all left to rest by the media now. In fact at the funeral I thought the children looked really lost and oh so lonely in their pain.
I like the B&W photo as well.

swell.life said...

I can't even believe it's been 10 years. Thanks so much for sharing your story! I am so dazzled by your beautiful wallpaper flower and hydrangea paintings from yesterday. Absolutely beautiful! You truly have inspired. :)

Justabeachkat said...

I was in the hospital giving birth to our youngest daughter on the day they were married. I loved watching all the coverage. What a beautiful person with a beautiful spirit. She is missed!

Anonymous said...

I remember skipping school to watch her wedding. I even have a paperback book that has all the details. My parents went to England the following year and brought it back for me. I wanted to dress like her and I read everything on Diana when she first came on the scene. I remember where I was when I found out she'd been killed. It was so sad.

Anonymous said...

sandy - thanks for all you share....loved the dress & other bits for posh...and the story of diana...brought back lots of memories of our experiences, as well, while living up in wereham and visiting with the local villagers at the pub & all...i was glued to the screen and bbc for the entire week!

nanc