Princess Diana’s final summer includes trips to the US, important charity auctions and more.
Diana passed away on August 31, 1997, at the age of 36 in a car accident in Paris. The tragedy took the lives of her boyfriend Dodi Al Fade and the car driver Henri Paul.
Ingrid Seward, a royal biographer who personally knew Diana, said, “There are few moments like history. When I heard about Diana, I remember where I was in every detail. It had an impact on everyone.”
Diana had begun a new chapter as her divorce from King Charles was finalised shortly before her death.
Think back to how Princess Diana spent the last few months of her life.
June 3rd
In an ice-blue Jack Azagherry dress, Princess Diana was surprised when she visited Royal Albert Hall to perform on Lake Swan. After the performance, Diana, a patron of the British National Ballet, welcomed a dancer behind the scenes.
June 6th
When she visited the Sri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu temple in London (the largest Hindu temple outside India), she threw away her shoes (and wore a white Katherine Walker dress).
June 6th
Diana was known for defending many charity causes, but working with children may not remember her best. When she visited the temple, she spoke to a young girl.
June 17th
Dressed in lavender and pearls, Diana arrived at the Red Cross headquarters in Washington, DC, and gave a speech to a landmine, one of many causes she defended throughout her life. During her visit, both she and American politician Elizabeth Dole called for the use of land mines around the world.
June 17th
Later that night, Princess Diana, ready for the red carpet, gave a speech at a gala hosted on a red cross for the land victims.
June 18th
Diana chatted with then-first lady Hillary Clinton while in Washington, DC on behalf of the Red Cross.
June 23rd
At Christie’s in New York City, Princess Diana had exhibited one of her dresses before it was sold at auction to raise funds for her charity. In total, the auction raised over $3 million.
June 23rd
She was attracting even more attention from where she went and her clothing auctions.
July 1st
Diana celebrated her last birthday (age 36) at the gala, which was held to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Tate Gallery in London. “People’s Princess” greeted her beloved fans outside.
July 17th
More than a month ago before she went to Paris, Diana and her then boyfriend, Dodi Al Fayde, the final place in the car accident that claimed her life, took a break in St. Tropez.
July 17th
Her young sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, joined her on a trip, including a jet ski ride in the Mediterranean.
July 21st
One of the last charities at home, Princess Diana visited a hospital just outside London to lay the foundation stones for her new children’s walking care centre.
August 10th
While working with the Land Mining Campaign in Bosnia, Diana posed with a group of French soldiers. A visit to the country where she met the victims of the land mine was her last official involvement.
August
After a much-captured trip to St. Tropez, the romance of Dodi and Diana quickly evolved into one of the most talked about in the world. On August 30, the two arrived in Paris after nine days of vacation together in Rivera, France and Italy. Just a few hours later, both Diana and Dodi were killed in a car accident in the Pont de Alma road tunnel and drove from the hotel’s Ritzpari to another apartment in the city.
August 31st
On the day of Diana’s death, Canadian tourists can be seen in copies of the world’s news, where the headline “Diana Dead” makes up a large part of the homepage. Behind her is St. Paul’s Cathedral, the place of Diana’s wedding with Prince Charles.
