Princess Diana Tribute

Looking at this photograph, we see a beautiful little girl with wide eyes and an easy smile, content with her life.  She could be anyone; your own young niece, the girl who lives next door, or even a picture of you as a child. However, this girl grew up to be Diana, Princess of Wales, and a woman who touched the hearts of so many people across different nations with her generosity, kindness and compassion.  Her early childhood was happy and relaxed as she grew up in a large house on the private estate of the Royal Family at Sandringham with her mother, father, two older sisters and younger brother.  Later, her life began to fall apart after her mother left and she was left in the custody of her father.  The warmth and joy of her family life was gone.  “She remembered as a child sitting on the steps of the kitchen waiting for mummy to come home, and she didn’t,” recalls Rosa Monckton, Diana’s close friend. (Diana was godmother to one of Rosa’s children). Princess Diana may have come from a life of privilege, but she also came from a life of pain and loss.  After her mother left, she had a difficult time at school.  She grew up and entered into an unhappy marriage under the scrutiny of the world.  However, she used that pain to understand and help others; reaching out with empathy and tenderness.  She stayed true and humble, just like that little girl in the picture.  That is why we fell in love with her, and why we remember her spirit, courage and integrity today.   Diana touched my life in so many ways.  What I miss about her is her sense of humour, her laughter and her spontaneity.  I remember the week we spent together in Greece 10 days before she died, when she tried, and failed, to teach me how to dive.  I remember her above all for her boundless compassion at two very difficult moments in my life.  In 1994 I lost a baby when I was six months pregnant.  Diana took over, was by my side for the days after that extremely difficult time.  She, more than all of my friends, knew exactly what to say, what to do and what should be done.  She was by my side when I buried my baby.  It is largely because of how she looked after me in those days that I will always, whenever necessary, leap to her defence.  So much has been written about her, so much gossip and speculation, truths and half truths and absolute lies.  All that should pass.  She should be remembered for the things that matter, for the good that she did, for her kindness, and the power of her spirit.  The potential of this is common to everyone, every single life has the power to touch other lives.  Watching her playing with my eldest daughter, Savannah, I witnessed the extraordinary gift she had with children. She found it easy to get into the child’s mind. So many adults forget, or have never really understood the child’s view of the world, but she was more intuitive than philosophical.  Her gifts were those of practicality, laughter and compassion. On 1st June 1995, my daughter Domenica was born, and immediately diagnosed as having Down’s Syndrome. Once again Diana showed herself to be a true and steadfast friend.  She arrived in hospital and said ‘I am taking this one on board, you will need all the help you can get’ and she added Domencia to her quiver of godchildren. Diana touched people across the world because, as I saw in my own case, she was always there for people who needed help, whether she knew them or not.  What made her so special was her ability to give hope to people who had none.  For her it was not the quantity of words, but getting something simple across . It was her ability to touch, to reach out across barriers of race and language.  Her touch, her look, made words redundant.  Her own unhappiness gave her a real empathy with those who were suffering.    . By Rosa Monckton, personal friend of Diana and former CEO of Tiffaney London. Check out her website at: www.rosamonckton.com. As the concert organised by the Princes  to  remember  their mother approaches, one of the beneficiary charities recalls the impact she made on its work. By reaching out to people with leprosy Diana, Princess of Wales brought their plight to the world’s attention and helped to fight the stigma of the disease. When television broadcasts in November 1989 showed Diana shaking the hands of leprosy patients at a hospital in Sitanala, Indonesia, against the advice of officials and the press, a neglected and ignored disease was thrown into the spotlight.  She recognised that more than medicine, patients needed the healing power of touch.  Dr Ruth Butlin CBE, who was superintendent of Anandaban Hospital when Diana visited Nepal as Patron of The Leprosy Mission in March 1993, observed Diana’s effect on the patients. “When they heard about her coming visit, the in-patients were delighted. Most did not know she was English nor that she was married to the heir to the throne, but they understood that she was a foreign Princess. After the visit we found they were not disappointed; perhaps a little surprised at her informality, but overwhelmed by her kindness - the way she paid full attention to the patient in front of her, ignoring staff, reporters and dignitaries to listen to their story. ‘Because of the Royal visit, Anandaban Hospital appeared in the news on prime-time Nepali television. The consequent publicity resulted in several previously undiagnosed patients voluntarily coming for treatment over the next few weeks. ‘At the time and afterwards some people said “no Nepali Princess would do this” whereas in fact Princess Shanti had visited earlier and Princess Shruti visited a few years later. The difference was perhaps that they came to see the hospital whereas Diana quite obviously came to see the patients.” Diana gave the gift of time.  Shovakhar Kandel, superintendent of Anandaban Hospital, says, “She was interested in patients’ stories and was curious to know how surgery had made a difference to their lives.  ‘Before, dignitaries had come to see the hospital from a distance, but Diana came closer. Her heart was for the people.” Diana said, “It has always been my concern to touch people with leprosy, trying to show in a simple action that they are not reviled, nor are we repulsed.” Her involvement in The Leprosy Mission’s work broke down barriers for people with leprosy and inspired staff and supporters.  The Leprosy Mission is mindful of Diana’s contribution as we continue to fight stigma and care for people affected by leprosy, even after they no longer have the disease.  Provided by: Helen Knowles, The Leprosy Mission England, Wales, the Channel Islands & the Isle of Man, Goldhay Way, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough PE2 5GZ. Direct line: 01733 370505. Email: helenk@tlmew.org.uk - www.leprosymission.org.uk. Heather Marie Bender from England, was eight years old when she met Diana at one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals. Diana was President of Great Ormond Street Hospital for many years and she would often show up to visit sick children on the wards unannounced. The Great Ormond Street Children’s Charity was one of her favourite causes. The hospital was one of the beneficiaries of proceeds from the recent Concert for Diana hosted by Princes William and Harry to mark what would have been her 47th birthday. Now at 19, Heather expresses her feeling about how Diana touched her and how she feels Diana touched the world.  Heather says, “I met Diana on Valentine’s Day, 1997. It was during one of her visits to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, where I was a patient for many years. When I was told that she’d be visiting my ward, I remember feeling so nervous about what I  would say and how I would greet her. I’d never dreamed that I would meet a Princess. When she walked onto the ward she sat down and I presented her with a card that all the children had made for her. She spent time with all of us individually and when she came to me,  she spoke to me as if I was someone she’d known for ages. She put me at ease straight away.  Diana asked me about my Barbie doll and said that as a mum to two boys, she knew nothing about it. She was so down to earth. I still feel so lucky to have met her. She travelled all over the world to help people.  I think she had a natural ability to bring people out of their shells. Diana was a wonderful lady and no one can ever replace her.” Provided by Melanie Vessey, Press Officer, Great Ormond Street Hospital/UCL Institute of Child Health, 40 Bernard Street, London. “’When she was alive we completely took for granted her unrivalled love of life, laughter, fun and folly. She was our guardian, friend and protector.  She will always be remembered for her amazing public work. But behind the media glare, to us, just two loving children, she was quite simply the best mother in the world.’” - Prince Harry Attributed to: Royal Insight Magazine, www.royalgov.uk.    “’She proved the elegance of embrace and touch which of course have been used by royal healers throughout the centuries ... She sought out places of suffering ... and she was not afraid to be with the dying and to comfort them in an unsentimental way.’” - Bishop of London Attributed to: Royal Insight Magazine. www.royalgov.uk    “’Princess Diana carried out her first solo official engagement at The Royal Marsden in 1982.  She became President of the hospital seven years later and held that post until her death in 1997. During her time as President, Princess Diana visited the hospital often, both officially and privately, and had a great impact on the morale of both patients and staff.  She also leant her support to The Royal Marsden’s first major appeal for charitable support in 1990, helping to raise funds towards the building of the Wolfson Children’s Cancer Unit. The Royal Marsden continues to reap the rewards of Princess Diana’s support; the Cancer Campaign recently received 150-thousand pounds, raised through the ‘Concert for Diana’ which was organized by her sons Princes William and Harry.’”  - Tessa Green Attributed to: Royal Marsden Hospital. “’The Princess of Wales was very special to many people: to people she came into contact with, those who attended the events which helped us raise money to support our work. For fifteen years she gave so much to the British Red Cross.  We are grateful. We want to say thank you and we will remember her forever.’”      - John Gray, British Red Cross Attributed to: Princess Diana Memorial Website: www.theworkcontinues.org. “’This concert is our way of remembering our mother the way we knew her - full of fun and laughter, and full of a love of life... It’s got to be the best birthday present she’s ever had... And this is how she would want to be remembered’” - Prince William.  Attributed to: Concert for Diana website, www.concertfordiana.com. “Over the years our hospital has been faced with an increasing number of patients with HIV/AIDS and other incurable conditions.  The grant awarded by The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund to train our staff in palliative care and integrate it into our existing home-based care service has enabled us to offer vital support to patients and families throughout the course of their illness.”     - Dr. Athanase Kiromera, Medical Director, St. Gabriel’s Hospital, Malawi.  Provided by the Princess Diana Memorial Website: www.theworkcontinues.org. “When I got sick with HIV/AIDS and TB I felt very ill and lost a lot of weight.  Since starting anti retroviral treatment (ART’s) my health has improved so much.  Chilanga hospice helped me put on weight and manage the side effects of my drugs.  I’ve now returned home, where a home carer helps me. I’m getting stronger every day.” Mervis, 33, Chilanga Hospice, Zambia. Provided by the Princess Diana Memorial Website: www.theworkcontinues.org.   Even after her death, Princess Diana still has a profound effect on people’s lives.  The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, was started in her memory as an organization to aid those in need.  In the past 10 years The Fund has given over £70 million to 350 organizations worldwide. The Fund supports organizations helping vulnerable, sick and marginalised people worldwide, including child soldiers, street children, disabled and homeless people, young carers, landmine victims and people living with HIV/AIDS..