when i started my public life, 12 years ago, i understood the media might be interested in what i did, but i was not aware of how overwhelming that attention would become. diana makes a surprise announcement. at the end of this year, when i ve completed my diary of official engagements, i will be reducing the extent of the public life i ve led so far. she retreats inside kensington palace. i think, for her, a lot of time it did feel like a cage. it was usually paparazzi down by the gates of the palace. very difficult for her to have a normal, social life. they d follow her everywhere,
marriage, royal responsibilities, and a rigidly-controlled way of life. she tried to withdraw and take some time out, because she was trying to focus on really what was her life about. she scaled back her public role, staff and scotland yard security detail. butler paul who is one of the few who remains close. she dismissed her body guards because they were running tales and stories back to prince charles. she wanted her freedom. she wanted a life. it s a dangerous move, some say reckless. but diana wants a simpler life focused on her boys, a few select charities, and her new romance. the love of her life, really, after charles was a pakistany
losing my mum at such a young age. william was 15, harry just 12. but even harry and i over the years, have not talked enough about our mother. never enough. i always thought to myself, what s the point of bringing up the past. it ain t going to change it, it ain t going to bring her back. when you start thinking like that, it can be really damaging. what must happen with us, you have to prioritize your mental health. somebody has to take the lead and has to be brave enough to force that conversation. william and harry have forced that conversation, addressing mental health openly and often in a way that was difficult for their mother. it s just one example of the change she brought to the royal family. without diana, i don t think we d have the monarchy today in its present form. diana dragged the royal family, kicking and screaming into the 20th century. she said from the moment she set foot in that family, there was never any feeling in it, and that she really wanted to
diana lived a life of fairy tale and tragedy, hunted by the press, beloved by the people. a charismatic and yet complex character, vulnerable and manipulative, but strong and sympathetic. there can be no question of the impact she made. her boys, william and harry, have combined the best of the traditions of the monarchy with a warmth and humanity of their mother. a commitment to public service, deep, personal compassion, and a dedication to family. qualities that make diana s legacy as vibrant today as it was 20 years ago. captions by vitac www.vitac.com
has had her heart broken. and days later, she is on the rebound on the french riviera. she was invited to spend the summer atvy l on his yacht. he s a wealthy egyptian businessman. he was, in fact, trying to arrange a meeting between his son and diana, and he did. and it turns out his son they have a lot in common. he, too, was caught in the middle of his parents horrible divorce in a custody battle. he often felt like an outsider and quite painfully shy. sh shy, yes, surrounded by body