As the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana’s tragic passing approaches, set for Thursday, August 31, the world is reflecting on the life and legacy of this beloved figure. This week, BBC reporter Jonathan Mayo detailed the harrowing aftermath of Diana’s death minute by minute for the Daily Mail. Her story continues to resonate deeply, and these revelations paint a poignant picture of that devastating time. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most touching and heartbreaking moments...
Her Sons Were Always Close to Her Heart
According to Mayo's account, as Princess Diana lay lifeless in the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris, awaiting her former husband Prince Charles, the nurses found a cherished photo of her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, in her purse. They gently placed it in her lifeless hands. Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Balmoral, England, her boys were waking up to the shattering news that their mother was gone. This gesture symbolized the deep bond Diana shared with her children, even in her final moments.
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Back in London, Diana’s loyal butler, Paul Burrell, was given the somber task of selecting an outfit for her final journey home. Mayo described how Burrell carefully chose a set of rosary beads gifted to Diana by Mother Teresa, which were draped over a small statue of the Virgin Mary. He placed them gently in his pocket, along with some of Diana’s makeup, all packed into a leather Gladstone bag adorned with a golden "D." This act was a final tribute to a woman who touched so many lives.
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Burrell selected a black wool, three-quarter cocktail dress and a matching pair of black shoes for Diana’s final journey. Upon arriving at the hospital, he asked the nurses to place the sacred rosary beads in Diana’s hand—the other hand held the photo of her cherished boys. This final act of love and respect spoke volumes about the care and devotion Diana inspired in those around her.
A Tearful Prince Charles Says Goodbye
Prince Charles traveled from London to Paris with Diana’s sisters, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes, to retrieve her body. Mayo reported that a heartbroken Charles stood by Diana’s bedside, bowing his head in prayer before requesting some private time with the mother of his two children. “He has been crying and looks a changed man,” the report noted, capturing Charles’ raw grief. When offered the option to leave the hospital via helicopter, Charles was firm in his decision: “No, she arrived by car, so she will leave by car. There are people who love her waiting outside.” Yet, his attention to detail was evident when he noticed Diana was missing one of her earrings. “She can’t go without her second earring,” he insisted. A royal convoy then transported Diana to the airport, where she would return home to England on the Royal Squadron Aircraft of the RAF.
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William and Harry’s Final Tribute
In the documentary Diana: The Day Britain Cried, narrated by Kate Winslet, royal florist Lisa Webb shared a touching story about how Diana’s sons, Prince William, then 15, and Prince Harry, then 12, played a significant role in saying goodbye to their mother. The floral arrangement of white roses and lilies that rested atop Diana’s coffin, along with a heartfelt note simply addressed to “Mummy,” was a vision crafted by the boys themselves. “The flowers were chosen by the princes,” Webb revealed in the documentary. This arrangement became an enduring symbol of the love and respect her sons had for her.
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