Death of Princess Diana

The passing of Princess Diana sparked shock and mourning on a global scale. The mother and ex-wife of two British heirs to the throne were given near-saintly treatment by the international press and media. Numerous people gathered in their thousands to Buckingham Palace to pay their respects with flowers, cards, messages, banners, posters, and vigils. Celebrities paid tribute continuously. However, there was a lot of disapproval of the Queen and the Royal Family. The Royal Standard was not flying at half-mast over the palace, which was one of the concerns. The Royal Standard flew at Balmoral, the Queen's previous house, as required by convention at the time the Queen was not residing there at the palace.

Diana was portrayed as a role model mother to Princes William and Harry during the grieving period and funeral, which reintroduced the circumstances that led to her divorce from Charles. The Queen and the Royal Family came under heavy fire at the same time for how they handled Diana while she was still alive and for what many believed to be their lack of concern for her terrible passing. Some conspiracy theories connected Diana's demise to British intelligence, French intelligence, and possibly Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen's husband. This may have been inevitable. Many are still up for discussion today.

Years after Diana's death, which was the consequence of a car accident in which her driver had a blood alcohol level more than three times the French legal limit, she was still held in high regard. The monarchy was shaken by her terrible demise, but over time, Elizabeth, who had initially drawn harsh criticism, gained the respect of the majority of her subjects.

• Year: 1997