Remembering Diana the Right Way

COMMENTARY | On Aug. 31, 1997, Diana, princess of Wales, was killed in a car accident that took place in the Pont de l'Alma road tunnel in Paris, France. People across the planet stopped still and listened to the news. Diana impacted lives all over and was loved by millions. We knew we'd never see her again, but we were wrong!

The July 4 edition of Newsweek gives Diana back to us. This time at age 50, nearly perfect face, same piercing eyes looking straight ahead, adoring daughter-in-law Kate smiling at her. Are we supposed to like this?

Nobody can fault the photograph; it's amazing what computers can do these days. Her face has grown gently older, she has a rougher skin that still entrances, yes it is a flawless picture. Well done, R. Mutt Studios.

Why not a photograph of Princess Diana when she was alive?

Because it wouldn't have generated nearly as much attention. R. Mutt Studios is now the famous (or infamous, depending on how you view the photo) creators of "Diana At 50." It is fun to play with faces, bring back the dead and give them a cell phone. The photograph with the article does just that. We have a smiling princess holding a cell phone. She may well have done that; she was ahead of her time, after all. However, be that as it may, we do not want to see this.

Who Is Tina Brown?

Tina Brown is the author of "The Diana Chronicles," a book based on interviews and conversations about Diana's life, as well as the former editor of Vanity Fair and Tatler Magazine. Brown professes to have known Diana; well yes -- she met her for lunch a few times! Brown is the writer of the "Diana at 50" article, which isn't actually that bad. She does stress that the two things Diana cared about most were "her children and her humanitarian passions." Problem is the article cannot stand by itself. It needs a sensational gimmick, and she found one.

William and Harry.

Are Diana's sons affected by this? Of course they are. The tasteless photograph on the cover of Newsweek was only one step behind showing a glowing 50-year-old Princess Diana with her two sons. On June 18, William and Harry held an interview with Mat Lauer on NBC News. When asked how life had been since his mother's death, Harry replied "there was never that sort of peace and quiet for any of us." He continued, "her face was always splattered on the paper the whole time."

Sources.

http://www.randomhouse.com/doubleday/dianachronicles/author.html

http://thegloss.com/odds-and-ends/prince-william-and-prince-harrys-interview-with-matt-lauer/

http://www.englishclub.com/this-week-in-history/Archive/Princess_Diana_Dies_After_A_Car_Crash/

http://www.newsweek.com/2007/06/17/tina-brown-talks.html