20 years on, Britain's Diana cult lives on
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| This picture shows a photograph of Princess Diana circled by flowers on August 29, 2017, in Paris, around the Flame of Liberty statue plastered with iconic photos, flowers and messages, two days prior to the 20th anniversary of her death. The Flame of Liberty statue became the Paris’ unofficial memorial to Ladi Di, near the Pont de l'Alma tunnel where she died in a car crash on August 31, 1997.[Photo/VCG] |
People were angry. Very angry. Were the paparazzi that pursued her car in Paris responsible for her death? While the facts were still being established, many members of the public took it upon themselves to publicly berate members of the media for "murdering" the princess. The public's own role in buying the media publications featuring photographs of the princess garnered rather less scrutiny.
Most shocking of all was the tragedy's impact on the monarchy. The Queen, in Scotland with her family for the summer, was sharply criticized. Why was she not in London, mourning with her people?
In a moment that has now passed into folklore, the traditionalist monarch was persuaded to return to London and address the nation by her prime minister, Tony Blair, appeasing the angry crowds and joining in the mass mourning and canonization of her former daughter-in-law.
The mob had forced the British establishment into retreat.
The views of those opposed to the scenes of mass mourning were largely silenced. Most British newspapers went along with the mood of the public, silencing some of their critical journalists.
There is little doubt as to the importance of this moment in the country's history; many now talk of a "post-Diana" Britain.
