Diana, Princess of Wales

By: Jessica Jones

Diana, Princess of Wales was born Diana Spencer in 1961. As a child Diana lived the life of luxury, living in a ten room mansion on the queen’s estate in Sandringham, Norfolk. Growing up her future husband who was 12 years older than her, Charles, Prince of Wales lived just right next door. At the St. Paul’s Cathedral on July 29, 1981 Diana Spencer became Diana, Princess of Wales as millions watched worldwide on television. In the following years they would welcome two sons into the world, the heir to the throne William Arthur Philip Louis born on June 21, 1982. Two years later she would give birth o her second son, Henry Charles Albert David. The Fairytale would be short lived however; her tumultuous marriage would end with divorce in 1996. A year later she would meet with tragedy, the princess was killed in an automobile accident in Paris after a high speed chase with paparazzi photographers. After her death she was hailed the “people's princess” by the British Prime Minister Tony Blair because of the timeless efforts on behalf of the sick and the poor.

At the time when people were frightened about catching AIDS simply by a touch, Diana would visit people with the virus to show the world that was it not true but also to show that people with AIDS deserve compassion and kindness. Despite having donated financially, Diana’s biggest contribution to the AIDS charity work was her public persona. In 1987 there was still a lack of widespread education on how the virus was contracted and many believed that AIDS was contagious through casual contact. Diana showed a different story by being one of the first celebrities photographed touching a holding hands with and HIV/AIDS patient. This work took her efforts internationally, raising millions of dollars for AIDS treatments and research during her life and even after her death. In addition to her many visits to AIDS patients, the charity work of the princess also supported the work of the NATIONAL AIDS TRUST which seeks to not only educate people on the virus, but to also promote research and in other positively influence the fight against AIDS. By supporting the cause of AIDS, she is credited as beginning the public conversation about AIDS as an epidemic.

Diana, Princess of Wales played an active role in the International campaign to ban landmines, a campaign that won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997. Her participation was due to her concern about injuries that landmines often create often to children. On January 15, 1997, the princess of Wales earned public criticism and praise as the world saw the princess touring landmine fields. Her crusading with the International Red Cross and Crescent movement irritated government officials. The international pressure helped to ultimaly pass the ban on the landmines. In the months preceding her death, Diana’s most publicized activities were her agitation against landmines. She visited victims and also spoke in favor of the treaty that bans landmines before the present labor government took office. This was one of the few political causes Diana supported.

Diana’s legacy has inspired many to give to charitable causes. At the time of her death, thousands of Americans raised more than two million dollars in charitable gifts. The Diana, Princess of Wales memorial fund was created as a way of contributing Diana’s work in the United States. To date the fund has contributed over six million dollars to forty-two youth driven groups. Diana made charity work glamorous again, especially among the rich and famous. To outsiders, her life began in a fairytale fashion; yet she rose to demonstrate to the world that one can overcome adversity and leave a meaningful legacy.