Olympics fans in Paris pay heartwarming tribute to Princess Diana at the spot where she was killed in a crash 27 years ago
Thousands of Olympic fans paid tribute to Princess Diana at the spot where she died in a car crash in Paris 27 years ago.
The Games attract sports fans from all over the world to the French capital and many take the opportunity to commemorate the late princess.
The French Flame of Liberty has become the unofficial memorial to Diana, as it stands above the tunnel where she died on August 31, 1997.
Olympic fans left the stadiums to visit the memorial at Pont de l’Alma, a short walk from the Eiffel Tower, where beach volleyball is played.
Princess Diana died 27 years ago in a car crash in Paris. Olympic fans paid their respects at the scene of the crash
From left to right: Luca Antoniutti, Arya Kahramaner, Marcela Antoniutti, Carla de Castro Ferreira and Luiz Antoniutti at the Princess Diana Memorial
A woman poses at the Flame of Liberty, which has become the unofficial memorial to Diana
An Olympic fan leaves a message in memory of the late princess who tragically passed away almost thirty years ago
The Flame of Liberty on the Pont de l’Alma in Paris is located above the tunnel where Diana died on August 31, 1997
Some bowed their heads and folded their hands in prayer in memory of Diana, who died along with her partner Dodi Fayed and Mercedes-Benz driver Henri Paul when the car crashed in the tunnel.
Among those who remembered Diana was Brazilian Luiz Antoniutti, who visited the memorial with his wife, daughter and son and said a short prayer for her.
His son Luca, 26, who was with his girlfriend, said: ‘If I have a daughter, I’ll call her Diana.
“I know all about the name Diana in Roman mythology and the power of that figure. But Princess Diana was one of the strongest Dianas the world has ever had.”
Luca, an architect from near Sao Paulo, added: ‘Diana died maybe a year or so before I was born. But I know what a good person she was. She was incredibly strong and inspired a lot of young people like me and we talk about her a lot.
His father said, “Diana was a sweet girl who cared about others, especially children. She had a beautiful heart
Some bowed their heads and folded their hands in prayer in memory of Diana, who died along with her partner Dodi Fayed and Mercedes-Benz driver Henri Paul.
Kathy Rapley, 43, and her wife Neysha, 33, travelled from Aberdeen to Paris for the Olympics and made a detour to remember Diana at the spot where she died
‘In Brazil we don’t have a monarchy, but many millions of people in my country loved Diana. We saw how she treated everyone as equals and we had a lot of respect for that.
‘I took my family and my son’s girlfriend to Paris for the Olympics to watch tennis, football and athletics, but we couldn’t leave France without respecting Diana’s memory.’
Emma Stones, 40, from Leeds, attended the memorial service with her husband Lee and said one of her priorities was to pay her respects.
“I suppose this place where our princess died is not only historical, like the terrible attack on the Twin Towers in New York, but also a place for us to remember the great woman we so tragically lost. I do think it’s a shame that this monument doesn’t actually mention her.”
Lee added: ‘Emma and I are here for the Olympics, but seeing this memorial and remembering Diana has always been on our bucket list.
‘I can still remember the day Diana died, with great sadness.
‘Emma’s mother Christine was a huge fan of Diana and would buy the magazines when she was on the cover. They studied every detail and adored her.
“She was such an inspiration and a strong woman despite everything she went through.”
Kathy Rapley, 43, and her wife Neysha, 33, travelled from Aberdeen to Paris for the Olympics and made a detour to remember Diana at the spot where she died.
Kathy, 43, a teacher, said: ‘Diana was a great humanitarian and she stood up for people from all different backgrounds.
‘With her kind nature, she would treat both the top executives of large companies and the homeless on the street in the same way.’
The Flame of Liberty was given to France by the US eight years before Diana’s death in gratitude for French expertise in the restoration of the Statue of Liberty in New York.
A woman takes a selfie at the Flame of Liberty. Although it is not officially designated as a memorial to Diana, its proximity to the scene of the tragedy has made it a natural place for mourners to pay their respects.
Augustus Dhana, 63, a doctor from Accra in Ghana, said: ‘This is my first visit to Paris and I came for the Olympics but I couldn’t leave after the Games without paying my respects to this wonderful woman, Princess Diana.
‘My family and I have always been fascinated by her, especially the way she loved everyone equally. She did a lot of great work for Africa with humanitarian causes.
‘I will always regret that we missed so much of her life. She would have been so powerful in pushing for more medical care, education and clean water for poorer people.
‘I have my seven-year-old daughter with me and we stood here for about 30 minutes and I told her everything about Diana and now, when she is back in school in Accra, she will tell all her friends too. We must not forget Diana.’
Although it is not officially designated as a memorial to Diana, its location near the scene of the tragedy makes it a logical place for relatives to pay their respects.
Eight years before Diana’s death, the Flame of Liberty was given to France by the United States in gratitude for French expertise in the restoration of the Statue of Liberty in New York.