Beginning with footage from Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997, this adulatory tribute celebrates the life of the late princess who would have been 60 years old on July 1, 2021. Mourned and remembered as the “people’s princess,” she stood out at a posh boarding school where former teachers and the headmistress remember her as a girl who, despite being somewhat shy, liked the center of attention.
After finishing her education, she worked as a nanny for Mary Robertson who recalls that Diana was sweet, helpful, accommodating, and competent.
At age 19 when she became engaged to Prince Charles, Diana expressed that her “dream had come true.” Intense media scrutiny throughout her engagement is revealed in footage of hordes of photographers following her and journalists badgering her for comments. Her 1981 wedding is relived through footage from that magical day; other scenes during their early marriage show Charles and Diana as affectionate and caring.
Her “fairy tale life began to unravel” following the birth of Prince Harry, yet even after her much-publicized divorce, Diana was present in her son’s lives and made conscious efforts to expose them to more common activities such as eating in local restaurants, visiting local shops, and having fun at amusement parks.
The tragic accident that took her life is seen in grainy footage and opens the door for questions about possible conspiracy theories: lack of working cameras in the tunnel, length of time for the ambulance to arrive, and other facts that have been buried or forgotten.
Pondering a bit about what Diana would have achieved by age 60, interviewed persons—including some of Diana’s friends and staff—who agree that she would have continued with her philanthropic work and been a solid support system for her sons.
It’s a joy to relive the highlights of Diana’s life and watch her warm interactions with a wide range of people, including those she visited in health care facilities, schools, and other venues where her warm personality blossomed. Will be popular with Anglophiles and Royal watchers. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P.
Check out more films about Princess Diana