Despite being an icon of the eighties, Princess Diana’s legacy lasts into 2020 with documentaries and Netflix series done in her memory. On the 31st of August 1997, Diana died in a car crash in Pairs. Millions mourned her death as they had spent months watching her achieve great things and set high expectation for the royal family.
Today, the Netflix program, “The Story of Diana,” goes in depth about the Princess’s struggles in life and how she kept them a secret.
According to Vogue magazine, “From her brother Charles, to journalists, photographers, biographers and royal family insiders, those who knew her best describe their Lady Diana, revealing a character at once at the center of attention, and yet profoundly alone.”
The Royal House of Winsor Vogue “tells the story of the reign of Elizabeth II, dedicating two episodes to the Lady Diana period. Here, she is not the main character but a key part of a power play.”
In another new Netflix documentary, . Diana: In Her Own Words, the life and tragedies of Diana are rehashed with an especially personal touch.
According to an article in Vogue, “From her tumultuous marriage to her global status and the invasive paparazzi, this documentary film uses archive images and Lady Di’s voice straight from the past to unveil some the most profound secrets that surrounded the life of the princess.”
The documentary portrays the Princess’s perspective on being a royal: dealing with the paparazzi, her many responsibilities and the traumatic scandals. However, the documentary also reveals the positive side of Diana and how she helped change people’s lives. The Princess used her fame to help others and give a voice to those who did not have one.
For example, the Princess had a great fondness for children. When she moved to London, she worked with children as an assistant at Young England Kindergarten.
According to an article by History plex, “Diana was involved in many charities works for children who were underprivileged, drug abused, and who were suffering from ill-health. She was a patron of the British Deaf Association. She learned a number of sign languages in order to associate and communicate with the hearing-impaired people in the UK and around the world.”
Alongside working with children, she was involved with supporting many charities funding the arts in schools, children’s issues, and even AIDS patients. She raised awareness for AIDS programs and gave people with AIDS a sense of compassion and warmth by publicly associating with AIDS patients. She was also a strong advocate for minorities being cast out by society.
Additionally, Princess Diana played a significant and active role in the International Campaign to ban Landmines. She worked towards a ban on anti-personnel mines, to which the campaign won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997. Diana was concerned about the injuries that occurred to the landmine workers, especially children.
Overall, Princess Diana was a proud activist for humanity rights and an activist for those who could not stick up for themselves. She made a powerful impact in not just England, but the whole world.
Queen Elizabeth II of England comments, “She was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness. I admired and respected her – for her energy and commitment to others, and especially for her devotion to her two boys. Thanks to the legacy of love and compassion Diana left her sons, the monarchy is still poised to survive–and thrive–well into the next generation.”
