Recollections of Dianas death

[swee'pea99]

A good friend broke the news to me, in tears: "Princess Diana has died in a car crash." "Really?" I said, and was struck by how appalled she clearly was that I was at most vaguely interested, but utterly unmoved. Immensely privileged woman dies in 100mph car crash returning from posh night club with vastly wealthy boyfriend. And I'm supposed to care.....why? Exactly?

The subsequent media coverage was predictably nauseating, and I was at one with those up-thread wondering 'am I the only one who hasn't lost it?' The recent royal parasite-popping left me yet again wondering about the extent to which the media reports this crap, or invents it. Admittedly I live in the heart of Guardianista territory, but while 'the nation' was reportedly holding its breath over the recent 'woman gives birth' sensation, I honestly didn't meet a single person who gave a monkey's. Not one.

 

[Dave Davenport]

I remember the mass hysteria and wondered why I seemed to be the only one who didn't give a toss. Adulteress to sainthood in an instant. My sympathy was reserved for her sons.

You weren't the only one, me and a lot of people I know felt the same. It did feel like most of the country had gone completely bonkers though.

 

[Monsieur]

My wife was heavily pregnant with our 3rd child at the time - she wasn't due until 14 september but after hearing the news of her death and the subsequent and constant tv coverage she actually gave birth a couple of days later on the 2nd.

I've just returned from a trip ro Paris and, after insistentence from my wife, I took her to the unofficial memorial on the road above 'Diana's tunnel' - loads of japanese tourists all jostling for a photo. My wife thought it 'garish'.

We were also present at Diana's family home on the opening day to visitors after the official memorial was opened and we were both interviewd on ITN news and shook hands with her brother.

My wife was very impressed by that

 

[MarkF]

We were packing for our hols and about to set off to Manchester airport when I heard the news on the radio. My heart sank, I knew this would send my MIL into weeks of frenzied, tedious and mindless tittle tattle. At the airport they had set aside a curtained off room, an employee asked me if I'd like to go in and sign a book of remembrance, how bizarre! Boy was I glad to be flying out of the UK on that day.

I didn't understand the mass hysteria images that I saw in the Spanish papers, reminded of that French village where everybody went crackers in the '50's.

 

[glenn forger]

I remember the Bridget Jones column in the Indie the week after Diana was murdered. Bridget agonised over what to take to leave as a tribute at Kensignton Palace. She settled on a copy of Vogue magazine. it's what she would have wanted.

 

[Twotter]

I remember how quiet the A14 on the way to Cambridge was on the day of her funeral. I think I saw one other car going the other way and remember being very pleased I wasn't stuck in the usual A14 rolling traffic jam

 

[glenn forger]

it's an ill wind.

 

[Martyn H]

I was on holiday in Mid Wales at the time. The War Memorial in Tywyn slowly became a resting place for bouquets of flowers over the week immediately afterwards. On the way home,the day of the funeral, cars were stopped on the side of the road with their occupants stood to one side, with heads bowed. The roads were very quiet that day.

 

[boybiker]

I remember getting a clip round the ear for wanting to play in the road with my friend when the funeral was on. I should add I was only a kid!!

 

[Jefferson Meriwether]

I felt indifferent to the news of her death. Yes it was a nasty death and I felt sorry for William and Harry, losing their mum whilst still so young but I was somewhat unmoved by it. I never did & still don't understand why so many people were engaging in such public displays of emotions.

On the day of her funeral I was at a wedding & we had a minutes silence at the start as a mark of respect.

 

[martint235]

[QUOTE 2581257, member: 259"]There was tons of hysteria in France as well. It wasn't off the TV news or the newspaper front pages for days and it was the only thing people wanted to talk about when they discovered you were British.[/quote]
The bits I was in, largely around Normandy, the French seemed quite restrained and apart from offering condolences for the death of a woman I'd never met, left me in peace.

 

[biggs682]

had to drive to a job in Swindon on the day couldnt understand what all the fuss was about on the Radio till i arrived in Swindon and the steward at the club i was working in on the day told me

 

[Maz]

Following the royal wedding thread anyone have Di related memories.
Good taste ones only (maybe)

I remember the Saturday after, the footie was still on but with 3 minutes silence.
I was at Pompey vs Norwich.

The mascots were on the pitch (A plastic mobile phone for Pompey - sponsored by Vodafone) and a canary for Norwich.
The PA suddenly announced the silence and the mascots were still on the pitch.
You could sense their dilemma - they had no way of leaving.

So they stayed in the pitch and tried to look respectful.

I'll never forget the bloke in the mobile phone suit trying to bow slightly at the waist in his plastic suit and the canary trying to bow his head. 3 minutes is a long time to stand motionless and convey grief via the medium of the canary and phone.

I dont think they quite carried it off

Unfortunately the crowd gradually noticed and sniggers followed.

Still it knocked candle in the wind into a cocked hat

'mangaman' (Norwich fan) of this parish was at the same game. Not seen him around for a while though.
I guess what you saw was something like this...

 

[Arch]

Actually, I was flying back to Gatwick with my girlfriend after two weeks in Greece. At the airport people were huddled round the telly in W H Smiths, and when we got the taxi home from Victoria all the flags along Whitehall were at half mast. I must admit I welled up a bit at her brother's speech.

That was how I first found out about 9/11, seeing a telly in a shop window. It was before the second plane hit, and all I saw was the tower on fire, and the ticker along the bottom suggesting a rocket attack. I was on my way to Uni to check emails, and by the time I got there we couldn't get on the internet, so I came home and put the telly on and sat there for the rest of the day, gobsmacked.

 

[asterix]

So when was this?