Tomorrow marks 20 years since the sudden, tragic death of Princess Diana. On August 31st, 1997, Princess Diana and her boyfriend, Dodi Al-Fayed, were killed in a car crash in a Paris tunnel. Their driver, Henri Paul, had been trying to evade paparazzi when he slammed the Mercedes into a concrete pillar. His blood alcohol concentration was three times over the French legal limit. Bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones, the only survivor, suffered severe injuries and acute memory loss.
The news shook the world so strongly, and for some, Diana’s death is the first news event they can remember — this is especially true for the middle of the millennial generation, born roughly between 1989-to-1993. Older millennials generally have a clearer memory of the event; the youngest millennials’ recollection is either hazy or nonexistent. For all of us, however, the tragic death of Princess Diana shaped the media environment in which we grew up.
Our generation is used to sharing our emotions in public. We literally hit the “share” button and attach any emoji we like. Twenty years ago, people were expected to maintain a dignified public image, which didn’t include showing emotional extremes. Diana’s death did much to break down this barrier.
People openly sobbed among strangers. It was nothing like the funerals of other dignitaries, at which people lined up stoically. Raw grief poured out as people crying along the funeral route, and thousands of flowers were left outside Kensington palace. The way people reacted to the tragedy became almost as much of a news story as the tragedy itself.
People had an emotional attachment to Diana that they didn’t have to any other politicians or cultural figure. “The People’s Princess,” as she was called, brought a personal touch to issues such as land mine removal and the AIDS crisis. She wasn’t just issuing thoughtful statements – she was walking through former minefields and hugging AIDS patients at a time when many treated them like lepers.
Today we expect visual compassion from our leaders, but before Diana, leaders on both sides of the Atlantic were more likely to express solidarity, condolences, or gratitude from behind a desk. Diana knew the power of showing up, with cameras trailing, to express those feelings in person. The difference made her an icon.
The car crash that shook the world also changed the way the media chooses which images to publish. Tabloid sales dropped sharply as “paparazzi” became a dirty word. Photographers had snapped photos of Diana and Dodi in the car, and for once no media outlet wanted to publish them.
Several British news outlets updated their policies to prevent photographers from hounding Princes William and Harry. The general culture of protecting the children of Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Monarchs continues to this day.
Princess Diana’s death was one of the first high-profile crises that internet conspiracy theorists could pounce on in real time. At 5am, the BBC announced that she had passed away. By 6:40am, there was a web page paying homage to the late Princess. The first Diana conspiracy theory website appeared at 6:53am.
Diana’s life had a lasting impact on what we expect from our leaders, whether they be celebrities, politicians, or some combination of the two. Her untimely death changed forever the way news is reported, and the way we experience shocking stories as a global community.
