On August 31, 1997, the world was shocked and saddened to hear about the passing of Princess Diana following a car accident in Paris, France, at just 36 years old. After all, in addition to being a beacon of hope for the country she served and beyond, she was also a mom to two young boys and had her whole life ahead of her. But, after that one tragic night, Diana’s humanitarian efforts became her legacy.
So, in honor of the late Princess of Wales’ life, we’ve taken a look at what she’d been up to during the summer of 1997. While beginning a relationship with Harrods heir Dodi Fayed, Diana also had a busy schedule, traveling to the United States and Bosnia-Herzegovina for official engagements and to Saint Tropez, France, for a vacation with her boys, Princes William and Harry.
To find out what big moments marked her last few months of life, including the celebrity she met while auctioning off her dresses to charity, scroll below.
Princess Diana Attended a Performance of ‘Swan Lake’
On June 3rd, Diana made quite a dazzling appearance at the Royal Albert Hall as she attended a ballet performance of Swan Lake. For the occasion, she wore this shimmering blue Jacques Azagury dress with a pearl-and-diamond necklace and earrings combo. According to WWD, the necklace alone was crafted with 178 diamonds totaling 51 carats.
“She knew she had great legs, and after her divorce, she wanted to show them off,” Azagury told Vogue about her fashion era.
Princess Diana Connected With Students
Three days later, she stole the show while talking to a student at The Swaminarayan School in Neasden, London. Talk about lucky girls!
Princess Diana Met Mother Teresa
Diana continued her busy schedule in her last few months, even meeting with Mother Teresa in New York City on June 18.
Princess Diana Auctioned Off Her Dresses
On that same trip to the United States, Diana auctioned off many of her dresses from over the years at Christie’s International.
Diana Met Kate Moss
At the Pre-auction Party, she met a fellow highly-talked-about celeb, Kate Moss.
Princess Diana Vacationed With Prince William & Harry
In between public appearances, Diana traveled to Saint-Tropez, France, in July with her boyfriend, the late Dodi Fayed, and her sons Princes William and Harry. In this picture, she’s seen jet-skiing with 12-year-old Harry.
In the documentary ITV documentary Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy, the brothers reflected on their last conversation with their mother, which happened on the phone shortly after.
“Harry and I were in a desperate rush to say goodbye, you know, ‘See you later,'” he remembered, per People. “If I’d known now obviously what was going to happen, I wouldn’t have been so blasé about it and everything else.”
“I can’t necessarily remember what I said but all I do remember is regretting for the rest of my life how short the phone call was,” Harry continued, per The Mirror. “If I’d known that that was the last time I was going to speak to my mother, the things I would have said to her.”
Princess Diana Looked Carefree
In many pics from this trip, Diana seems to be having the time of her life. At the time, she had started her relationship with Harrod’s heir, Dodi Fayed.
“She’s living her life as she wants to live it,” her friend Rosa Monckton told Vanity Fair. “And she’s free of the restrictions that she had before. Certainly, in the way she looks, you can see that. She’s much happier with herself.”
Princess Diana Attended Gianni Versace Funeral
A few months before her own passing, Diana honored her friend and designer Gianni Versace is a tribute to him at Duomo di Milano in Milan, Italy.
Prior to his tragic death, Versace opened up about Diana and their friendship to Vanity Fair. “I had a fitting with her last week for new suits and clothing for spring, and she is so serene,” the late designer said. “It is a moment in her life, I think, when she’s found herself—the way she wants to live.”
Princess Diana Bonded With Young Fan
While visiting The New Children’s Ambulatory Care Centre on July 21, Diana shared this sweet moment with a young fan who handed her this yellow, green and purple bouquet.
Princess Diana Continued to Fight for Landmine Awareness
In early August, Diana made a three-day visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of her campaign to raise awareness about the devastating effects of landmines, a cause she held dear to her heart for many years.
Princess Diana Made Her Last Official Engagement
Marking her last official royal engagement ever, Diana sat alongside these two boys, Malic Bradoric and Zarco Beric, both of whom had been injured by landmines.
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