Breaking News: Princess Di is DEAD!
Ten years ago, VH and I were sitting at Preservation Hall in New Orleans when the news broke that Princess Diana had died in a tragic car accident. It was sad, really: such a young, luminous life cut so unexpectedly short.
Not surprisingly, televisions were tuned in to the news coverage of her death everywhere we went that night. We nodded along sorrowfully with fellow patrons who expressed their surprise and feelings of loss. We squinted through the smoky haze — as did everyone around us — in morbid curiosity to see if the media would run the accident photos. We clucked and shook our heads upon hearing the inevitable speculation that perhaps it wasn’t really an accident after all.
Two days later, I confess, I was sick of the near non-stop coverage, the endless reports and retrospectives documenting the life of Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales.
She was dead. Got it. Yes, yes, it was quite tragic but even so: she was dead. And as lovely and ill-treated by her husband as Diana was, I found myself revolted by the media’s portrayal of her as being practically a saint.
Ten years later, I still feel the same way.
She’s dead. Still. And did I mention it’s been ten freaking years?
Why on earth are so many people fascinated with a woman who would’ve been wholly anonymous but for the man she married? A man who turned out — not at all surprisingly, considering his royal lineage — to have wed her for political reasons more than anything else? A man who — not at all uncommonly, considering his royal stature — had an affair with someone else. (Which, by the way, so did she.)
Ten years after her death, Diana is still being portrayed as a near saint despite her adultery, despite the incongruity between her public shows of concern for the poor while draped in clothing and jewelry that, if turned to cash, could have fed an entire starving Third World country for a month.
Her devotion to her sons is recited with the same hushed, reverent tones one ordinarily hears in church, and yet little is said of how often she left those children in the care of nannies and governesses while she herself globe-trotted with playboys.
Her much-praised “independence” and refusal to kowtow to the Queen’s expectations is recited as one of her virtues, but just how praiseworthy is it for a woman to have knowingly married into that role, with its high profile and public expectations, then thumb her nose at the protocol associated with her position?
To be a saint, one must have performed three miracles. Diana, Princess of Wales, performed but one: she married into a family infinitely more prestigious and powerful than her own despite having no qualifications for such a union beyond her alleged virginity at the time.
Yes, the limo wreck was tragic, but considering that the one person who survived that accident was the only one in the car wearing a seat belt — as Diana herself was not — it’s her own damn fault. She’s dead. Get over it. I guarantee she has.
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I was pretty much “over” the coverage of Diana’s death about 30 minutes after the news hit. I felt very sorry for her boys (having to deal with their mother’s death and all the media coverage - good and bad).
Otherwise, I fail to see why the news media continues to think I have an interest in this story. I don’t.
I have no interest in the British royal family. I don’t want to bow or curtsy to them, I don’t care if they party, I don’t care who they marry, or even who they sleep with.
It’s time for the news media to move on with other things… sadly they never do.
I had recently moved into the house I’m living in now and I was driving to my house when I heard the news. I was sorry for Wills and Harry. That’s about it. I’ve been watching more Food Network and catching up on TiVo’d stuff this week. All Diana All The Time is a little much. They didn’t go All Elvis All The Time and this year was a “landmark” anniversary too.
I didn’t know the US had a fascination with the British monarchy until the wedding. Then the kids. Then the death. Then the tribute concerts. Now this.
Why do they have the monarchy anymore, anyway? It’s not like they’re good for anything but media fodder.
Oh, Kate. You have a life — that’s why you don’t need hers (Diana’s).
I agree with what you said, but she clearly fulfilled a need for some folks, and she looks good on camera, so the media plays her as often as they can.
My mother-in-law, whose role model is The Queen, didn’t like Diana because, well, “She’s just not very English.” I’ll quit talking now because it can only get worse.
Actually, Anne, I think I may share your mother’s view on this matter.
The Brits have to have some hope for their Royals.
At least the Brits don’t claim to see Princess Diana in the Trafalgar Square Burger King, the way people here in Michigan claim to have seen Elvis in the Burger King in Kalamazoo!
I’m sorry but I had a good laugh reading this post because someone finally said what most of us are thinking (as usual).
I think it’s more appropriate to say she LOOKED good on camera. I doubt she’s maintained her photogenic tendency.
Oh, pooh. She was a princess. No, she was THE princess of the English speaking world. And she was hot. Every woman wants to be hot. Every girl knows she ought to be a princess. Any gentleman would advise you to respect a women’s childish fantasies.
Ohh, Ms V, that was harsh. Yes, coverage is overboard, yes the conspiracy theories are bordering insanity, but…and there’s always a but
considering what she did, and her name is still doing for the charities she supported, she should be remembered. There has been a huge change in the Royals since her death, specifically the Queen (more user friendly) - HRM has finally realized that change was needed within the family to keep the support of the people.
I’m not and never have been a royal fanatic, but they bring a lot of money into the UK (tourism wise). People don’t visit London to shop (it’s to darn expensive) first stop is Hyde Park, The palace and anything else associated with the Windsors.