People around the world marked the 29th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death last week. She may have died on August 31, 1997, in Paris, but her legacy lives on. This book, Who Was Princess Diana?, explores why she remains so popular around the world.
Written by Ellen Labrecque and illustrated by Jerry Hoare, this book takes you down memory lane and helps you understand why Diana, later Lady Diana and Princess of Wales, was different from other members of the Royal Family. Yes, she was born into an aristocratic family with close ties to the royals, but her upbringing and strong morals shaped her into someone who cared deeply for others.
Not only does the book cover the fairy-tale wedding that made Diana a princess, but it also shares many interesting details, such as how Diana had a poster of the prince she would later marry while at boarding school, how she disliked attending finishing school and begged her parents to bring her home, and how she worked as an assistant kindergarten teacher before becoming a princess. The pages also explore when and where Prince Charles first noticed her.
Enough of the royal princess. Let’s move on to the real Diana, who cared for the elderly as a student and later became a symbol of hope wherever she went. The book shows this side of Princess Diana, who, despite being followed by photographers, managed to show the world that AIDS patients were not untouchable, that landmines needed to be banned and that charity for a good cause could make a real difference.
Her association with global organisations, along with her fundraising for the impoverished, helped earn her the nickname ‘People’s Princess’. Although she and Prince Charles divorced a few years before her death, she remained popular worldwide for her charity work. For young readers who may find some aspects of royal life unfamiliar, or terms such as finishing schools, polo and AIDS, the book provides detailed explanations.
The book ends by explaining how Diana’s legacy lives on despite her death in a horrific car crash, and how her sons, William and Harry, are honouring their mother by continuing her good work. A timeline of Princess Diana’s life, along with a snapshot of the world at the time, gives readers a good idea of the impact of the ‘People’s Princess’ and how she evolved from ‘Shy Di’ into someone remembered for her ability to make friends wherever she went.
Published in Dawn, Young World, September 4th, 2026
