Courageous. Iconic. Generous. Humble. These words all describe someone many people knew and loved, Princess Diana. On August 31, 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, passed away after a fatal car crash. But 26 years later, her legacy still lives on.
Diana Frances Spencer grew up as British nobility, not royalty. She was raised on properties her parents rented from Queen Elizabeth II, and she attended school nearby. She later grew up to become a kindergarten teacher. She met Prince Charles III when they were neighbors at her childhood home, but they really got to know each other when they spent a weekend together. Her beauty and shyness immediately made her a sensation to the press and public. Prince Charles and Diana wed on July 29, 1981, with about 750 million people watching on television. Her wedding and joining the royal family was a great excitement!
As a princess, Princess Diana became one of the most notable fashion figures of all time. Her most famous dress was her “revenge dress”, which she wore to a dinner party after Prince Charles announced on TV that he had been unfaithful to Princess Diana. The dress was so popular largely due to the fact that it was a black, off-shoulder, sleek tight-fitting dress paired with a necklace and handbag that really made the princess stand out more than anything she’d ever worn before. Her second most popular gown was the icy off-shoulder gown she wore to the Cannes Film Festival in 1987. She wore matching-colored shoes, a scarf, earrings, and a bracelet. Her dress made a statement showing how Prince Charles’ new partner could never compete with Diana’s fashion. Besides her revenge dress and blue dress, a few more statement gowns included the dark navy gown she wore at the ball with John Travolta, her pink gown during her visit to Brisbane, and the dress she wore to Saudi Arabia in 1986.
Princess Diana’s striking “Revenge Dress” Photo source: The New York Times 
Princess Diana’s dress at the Cannes Film Festival Photo source: People Magazine
While Princess Diana was a fashion icon who will be forever noted in history, what people remember most in their hearts was how she aided numerous charitable causes. Princess Diana was not afraid to help others less fortunate than her, and it showed during her many years as a campaigner. After many problems in her marriage, Princess Diana decided to throw herself into charitable work. During her marriage, she was president of over 100 charities and visited all over the world to help those in need. She especially helped those who were homeless, disabled, or had HIV/AIDS. That wasn’t all. She also raised awareness for domestic abuse, leprosy, and mental health. During her visits on behalf of charities and organizations, she gave speeches, fed people, helped on behalf of their cause, and sat down just to talk with them. She also had a very strong belief that landmines should be banned from use, and she traveled often to campaign for this idea. One of those trips featured her very memorable meeting with Mother Teresa. Princess Diana’s humility, compassion, and warmth earned her the name “the People’s Princess.” The princess made headlines when she shook hands with an AIDS patient, disproving the very popular belief that the disease could be spread by touch. Princess Diana was not afraid to help those in need, regardless of what others had to say about her. Everywhere the princess traveled and helped people, she left a trail of happiness and encouragement behind.
After the princess’ death in 1997, many leaders and people from the charities she worked at flooded at her funeral. All the hearts she has touched have never forgotten her work. Outside her estate, an estimated 60 million flowers had been put outside in memory of her. Many of her dresses are displayed in museums. While her time as royalty was short-lived, the impact she had on the world will be something that will be long-lived. Princess Diana’s fashion and charity legacy will be remembered for years to come.