Remembering Princess Diana:

Kensington Palace vigil marks 19th anniversary of Diana's death

By Richard Palmer

Dozens of mourners laid flowers and left cards, pictures, Union flags and balloons at the gates of the palace in remembrance of Diana, who died in a Paris car crash on August 31, 1997. Julie Cain, 53, from Newcastle, was among a group of 10 who had been there since dawn, setting up a makeshift shrine.She said: "I arrived here last night and got here about 12.30am and then we all arrived here at about 5:30am to set up the flowers and flags. "I have always had an affinity with the Royal Family and Princess Diana. "At one point in around 1994 or 1995 I was living in a homeless women's refuge and Diana came and paid a few private visits. "I always remember one funny incident, when we weren't allowed to smoke for two hours before her visit, so by the time she turned up we were all sitting desperate for a cigarette.

"And when she arrived she asked what's wrong, and we said 'dying for a smoke ma'am' and she just looked and she said 'ma'am? No, my names Diana please call me Diana', and I said 'sorry ma'am'. "And there was a glare when she was unhappy with somebody, and I just said 'we're 'dying for a smoke', and she said 'have one' and I said 'we're not allowed on until after your visit'.

"Then she said 'No, this is your home not mine. Could I have some ashtrays please'? It just shows how down to earth she was."Ms Cain, a regular visitor to the palace on the anniversary, added: "I made a vow 19 years ago that I would come here to at least try and keep her memory alive and if we don't do it, then no-one would.

Rest

"I think some people want it to be laid to rest, but I don't think that should happen."Retired chef John Loughrey, 61, who attended every day of the five-month inquest into Diana's death, had also been outside the gates since 5.30am.

He said: "I have been here every year for 19 years.

"It means an awful lot to all of us here because of the sad circumstances of how she passed and we're here to support her sons, her wonderful grandchildren to show we really care. "She did so much for us when she was alive, and we want to do something for her while we're alive and keep her legacy alive. "I'm so glad the sun is shining down on her today. What's really nice for us is having all the tourists coming up to us and sharing their memories of Diana and remember her in their own way."

The group of fans has already started planning next year's landmark 20th anniversary and hope to hold an all-night vigil. Yadi Mitchell, 67, who placed a small bouquet of flowers, said: "I used to live nearby years ago and I would see her in the park with her boys.

"She had the amazing ability to make people feel better. She was so special to so many people and had a wonderful personality. "I make sure I come back every year to say a little prayer for her."Decked out in a union flag blazer, Margaret Tyler, 72, from Wembley, north-west London, said: "When you think it's been 19 years since her death, it doesn't seem possible. "But when you are here you feel closer to her because it was her home.

"And we've heard that William and Kate are in residence, which is nice. It's nice to think we're all together in that sense, because we're all still mourning her really.

"I come here every year and I think people come to pay their respects because she had such a huge impact on our lives.

Died

"I met her six weeks before she died. She came to my local hospital and I was wearing a rosette with a photograph of her in the middle and she threw back her head and laughed 'you have got it bad'.

"She was so warm and friendly and she looked sensational. "Her real legacy is her boys and the charity work they do. She would be very proud of them."

Diana's sons, Princes William and Harry, have told how they think about their mother every day and try to imagine what she would have thought about their work to maintain her legacy.They have approved plans for next year's 20th anniversary of her death to be marked by a special exhibition entitled Diana: Her Fashion Story opening in the State rooms at Kensington Palace from February.The sea of flowers left outside the palace by mourners after her death will also be echoed in a special floral tribute, the White Garden, using seasonal flowers from spring to summer.

At Buckingham Palace, where courtiers have long been accused of trying to airbrush Diana out of history, the mention of her name no longer prompts such awkwardness. This year's summer opening for tourists, for example, features the outfit that the Queen wore to Prince Charles and Diana's wedding in 1981. At Diana's ancestral home, Althorp, in Northamptonshire, her brother Earl Spencer is remodelling the island where she is buried and plans to build a memorial next to her grave.

And apart from her son's work, the Princess's legacy lives on in the charity set up in her memory, the Diana Award, which helps and honours inspirational young people.Next week it will launch a new campaign to offer anti-bullying advice to children returning to school.

Tessy Ojo, chief executive of the Diana Award, said: "As we remember Princess Diana on the anniversary of her death, it is heartening to know that her legacy lives on through tens of thousands of young people across the UK.

"Many of these young people were not born when Princess Diana died 19 years ago but they carry their Diana Award with pride and admiration for the woman whose memory it was set up in."

- express.co.uk