Nation Mourns

"My heart is full of grief and pain. Lady Diana was the most beautiful symbol of humanity and love for all the world. She touched my life in an extraordinary way. I'll always remember her with deep love and joy

She was the People's Princess and that is how she will stay, how she will remain, in our hearts and our memories forever" - The Prime Minister, Tony Blair


A charming and delightful picture of Diana, England's Finest Rose	The first draft of the tribute which Earl Spencer read during the funeral service of his sister on Saturday 6th September 1997	Prince Philip, Prince William, Charles Spencer, Prince Harry and Prince Charles follow Diana's body on the last stage of the journey to the Abbey

The earthshattering News that Diana, Princess of Wales and her companion Dodi Fayed had died in a car accident in a Parisian underpass in the early hours of Sunday 31st August 1997 was a complete shock to all the nation.

Everyone felt that they had lost someone special, even if they didn't know the Princess - because of the so many humanitarian things that she did.

Within hours the world's media and press began to report on the story that to some, still wondered if they were dreaming that such an awful event had happened.

The Funeral Cortege set off at a slow pace from Kensington Palace just after 9:00 a.m. on Saturday 6th September 1997. The coffin, shrouded in the Royal Standard was borne on a gun carriage pulled by four police horses and attended by 12 soldiers from the Welsh Guards.

From Buckingham Palace the coffin was followed by Diana's former Husband, Prince Charles, her beloved sons Prince Harry and Prince William, Earl Spencer - Diana's brother, and her former Father-in-Law, Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

At 11:00 a.m. the procession reached Westminster Abbey. There the service included Diana's favourite hymn "I Vow To Thee My Country"- chosen by her eldest son Prince William and also sung at her wedding to Prince Charles, as well as a revised version of "Candle in the Wind" by Elton John entitled "Goodbye England's Rose". A passionate speech by her brother Earl Spencer followed: "My sister - the unique, the complex, the extraordinary and irreplaceable Diana...."

Diana was then driven to the Althorp family estate in Northampton for burial on consecrated ground.


The gun carriage bearing Diana's coffin on the route of the funeral from Kensington Palace to Westminster Abbey	A wreath of white lillies bearing a poignant message from Prince Harry adorns Diana's coffin	The Pont d'Alma tunnel was re-opened not long after the dreadful accident

Diana's final resting place is on the Round Oval lake at Althorp House where she spent many happy moments when she was young and it was also the favourite place of her father, Earl Spencer.

Opposite:- Liberty Flame memorial, Paris - an unofficial memorial to Diana and Dodi


Dianas Funeral Cortege arrives at Westminster Abbey	The ground outside Kensington Palace become a sea of floral bouquets	The Hearse carrying the body of Diana, Princess of Wales on her journey back to her final resting place