Can you believe that it has been nearly a decade since Princess Diana died in that horrific car crash? Ten years since the entrance to her home was turned into a sea of flowers; her front gates transformed into a bulletin board of sorts, plastered with banners announcing the pain, shock and sorrow people from around the world felt when they heard the news of her death. It’s also been ten years since we watched her two visibly distraught sons walk silently behind her casket—–perched on top—a bouquet of flowers, and nestled among the blossoms a card that read simply: “Mummy.”
In the decade since her death, Diana’s young sons have grown into formidable young men. It will be Britain’s Princes William and Harry who will lead mourners as they mark the 10th anniversary of their mother’s death. According to news reports, the princes are planning to stage a concert with performers including Elton John, Madonna, Beyonce and Kylie Minogue next year in memory of their beloved mum.
According to the Sunday Mirror, the brothers plan to arrange the event, which is scheduled to be held July 1, 2007 at London’s renovated Wembley Stadium (which can hold around 90,000 spectators) and all proceeds will go to benefit the British homeless charity Centrepoint and other causes supported by Diana. In addition, the newspaper reports the event will be broadcast live on television.
The paper writes that the Palace has not officially confirmed the concert plans. A spokesman for Prince Charles, who divorced Diana in 1996, told reporters: “We’re considering a number of options on how best to commemorate next year. William and Harry will make a decision in due course.”
You’ll recall that Diana was just 36-years-old when she and then boyfriend, Dodi Fayed entered a car driven by Henri Paul on August 31, 1997. All three died when their vehicle crashed in the Pont d’Alma tunnel in Paris, France. Currently, a retired senior judge is holding an inquest into the deaths and is awaiting a report on the crash by the former head of London’s Metropolitan Police. To this day rumors and conspiracy theories continue to swirl around Diana’s death, despite a French judge’s 1999 ruling that the crash was an accident. An investigation later concluded that Paul had been drinking and was speeding.
I woke up at 2 a.m. to watch Diana marry Prince Charles all those decades ago. If this benefit concert does go on as planned I will make every effort to watch it too.