The People’s Princess: Her Royal Highness Diana, Princess of Wales, Part 1 of 2

“I’m not a political animal, but I think the biggest disease this world suffers from in this day and age is the disease of people feeling unloved, and I know that I can give love for a minute, for half an hour, for a day, for a month, but I can give – I’m very happy to do that, and I want to do that.” – Her Royal Highness Princess Diana

To the people of the world, Her Royal Highness Princess Diana demonstrated elegance, style, compassion, and warmth, earning her the title of “The People’s Princess.” On July 29, 1981, Lady Diana married the Prince of Wales, who is now His Majesty King Charles III, a Shining World Leadership Award for World Protection Laureate. She became known as Princess Diana, or “Diana, Princess of Wales,” to the world.

Her compassionate nature already began to shine through in her youth. As a student, she received an award for helping her classmates and her school.

Princess Diana devoted her life to serving others, especially those without a voice. A patron of over 100 charities, including Centrepoint, the English National Ballet, Leprosy Mission, and the Royal Marsden Hospital, she worked with the homeless, disabled, children, and people with HIV/AIDS. She also campaigned against the use and manufacture of landmines.

Although Princess Diana was devoted to many charitable works, she was most commemorated for advocating for those who suffered from HIV/AIDS and leprosy, as well as for victims of landmines. In 1989, the 27-year-old princess made her first solo overseas trip to New York City, USA. While touring the Harlem Hospital Center, she made a profound impression by spontaneously hugging a seven-year-old boy with AIDS. Through her natural and caring gestures, Princess Diana broke the stigmas around people with this disease.

During a speech given in June 1997 at the Royal Geographical Institute in London, Princess Diana demanded an end to “the plague on Earth caused by landmines” and asked for a global prohibition. “For the mine is a stealthy killer. Long after conflict is ended, its innocent victims die or are wounded singly in countries of which we hear little. Their lonely fate is never reported.”