Diana’s loyal fans mark sombre anniversary
Cassandra Vinograd

LONDON—Princess Diana’s most loyal fans gathered outside her former home Wednesday to mark the eighth anniversary of her death and to revile the woman who succeeded her as the wife of Prince Charles. Britain’s royal family planned no special observances. Her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, “will be going about their business as normal,” said a spokesman at Clarence House, Prince Charles’ official residence. The spokesman declined to be identified, in keeping with royal policy.
Outside Kensington Palace, Diana’s home after her divorce from Charles, bouquets of roses, carnations and lilies were placed on the fence by her fans. The number of people at the site at any one time were in the dozens, in contrast to the throngs who piled up mounds of flowers in the days after Diana’s death. There were messages from Australia, Argentina and the United States, and pictures of Diana from every stage of her life.
Diana died in a car crash in Paris on Aug. 31, 1997, along with boyfriend Dodi Fayed and chauffeur Henri Paul. The only survivor was Diana’s bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones, who was badly hurt. Many of those who came to pay their respects were upset that Charles is now married to the former Camilla Parker Bowles, the woman Diana had blamed for the failure of her marriage.
One of the many anti-Camilla messages taped to the gates at Kensington Palace said, “Adulterers will be punished on judgment day.” “Every year is hard but it’s been more so this year because Charles married. I can’t even say her name,” said Julie Cain. Camilla took the title of Duchess of Cornwall rather than Diana’s title of Princess of Wales after the couple were wed earlier this year.
“She (Diana) is our queen of hearts. You never forget your queen of hearts,” said delivery driver Raymond Nurse, 44. “Camilla - they will forget her, she’s rubbish - but not our Diana.” Nurse and his wife, Lisa, 37, are members of the Diana Circle, a group set up to honour her memory. They came bearing pink lilies and a photo of Diana. “We’ll be here next year and the year after that,” Nurse said.