Death anniversary of Lady Diana: The Queen of Hearts is undisputed queen

Diana Spencer, a young girl from the British country estate of Sandrigham, fell in love with Prince Charles and so began the tragic story of loss, heartbreak and death that shook the crown to its core and changed the world forever.

The world is marking the 27th anniversary of the Princess of Wales's encounter with her Creator in the infamous tunnel accident that sent shockwaves around the world.

Her death and her enduring popularity continue to inspire millions and bring tears to the eyes and anger at the crown to thousands around the world.

But why are we even interested in a princess from a royal, feudal and arguably problematic family?

What makes it so difficult to forget Princess Di's legacy and forgive the obvious cruelties of the British royal family?

The romance between the Prince of Wales and the current King Charles III is one of the most tragic in world history. The couple met, fell in love and gradually grew to despise each other so much that they divorced, an event that is very rare among the stiff and staid British royals.

Charles' affair with the current Queen Camilla Parker Bowles was no secret, nor was Diana's affair with the Egyptian film producer Dodi Fayed.

As mentioned in many books, films and the hit Netflix series, Diana faced backlash from the royal family due to her “modern, direct and sassy” demeanor, which was in sharp contrast to the Crown. This endeared her to the world.

The British royal family has become notorious for opposing “outsiders” and for maintaining strict boundaries between the inner and outer circles. Everyone served the monarch, and the monarch cannot be seen making common cause with the common people, with all their weaknesses.

This alleged xenophobia became apparent when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made public their dislike for the crown and even their alleged contempt for the colour of its skin.

But the true story of prejudice begins with Diana, and her legacy will forever be linked to that of the world.

Princess Di's death was noted by newspapers around the world. “Farewell, England's Rose,” wrote The Age in a charming reminder of the loss suffered by Britain.

“Thank God, Dodi… we have miraculously escaped the media,” praised the Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram, referring to the brutal media trial that followed Diana and Dodi throughout their relationship.

It is controversial that BBC journalist Martin Bashir allegedly “deceived” Princess Diana into saying: “There were three of us in this marriage.”

In short, the world mourned – albeit vicariously – the death of its princess, daughter, friend and companion.

Even after two centuries of being under the yoke of the British crown, Indians mourned Diana's death as much (if not more) as the British themselves. “I was at home in London when it happened and I remember having a kind of delayed reaction in my mind, as there always is when you hear news that doesn't make sense,” wrote Sarah Lyall, then the Times' London correspondent.

“I still remember the day Princess Di died. I was living in Bangalore and my neighbour rushed in to tell me the news. I was shocked, as if it was a personal loss. She captured the hearts of millions of people everywhere because people could identify with her. She felt like one of us. A human being,” says Anuradha, who was a 26-year-old dental student at the time.

“Princess Diana's legacy of kindness, compassion and advocacy for marginalized communities, including people living with HIV/AIDS, resonates deeply with queer people who value inclusivity and empathy. Her vulnerability and resistance to royal norms also make her an enduring symbol of resistance to rigid societal expectations,” says Adwitya, a man born six years after that fateful day.

“The energy that Diana brought to the global public was so positive that the world wanted her to be happy, even though she could not be happy all her life. That still touches us. When this unusually beautiful woman married into the British royal family, an institution that is still seen as insensitive and deaf to today's reality, Diana brought that open-mindedness to that institution. That open-mindedness still touches us,” says Mukul Sharma, a journalist who has written extensively on global geopolitics.

“There was never anyone like Diana. People may try to imitate her way of appearing in public without PR. As humanity continues to suffer from the halo effect, Diana's case goes completely against this convention. Because where there is resistance, there is also current and that is why the world loves Diana even today,” adds Sharma.

The former Princess of Wales, Diana Frances Spencer, lives on in the hearts of billions of people. Every time she is mentioned, social media explodes. Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles have grown in popularity since their early years, but Princess Di holds a special place that even the late Queen Elizabeth II could not fill.

Her life was tragic and her death even more tragic, but the people's princess continues to reign unchallenged.