What were you doing when you heard about Princess Diana?

Question

I know this is a variation on the JFK theme, but I'm interested.

I was feeding my (then) 1 year old son his breakfast and flicking through the channels looking for the Waltons but finding only news. I'll never forget the shock I felt when I realised what it was all about.

Wish I'd worded this differently - maybe I could have avoided the "I was having a dump" "wa*nking" etc. But I guess, I did ask!

Answer 1

It was a bank holiday weekend and I had gone to see my brother in laws mate do a gig.

I was laying on the front room floor and watching the news when the crash happened. The news commentator made out Princess Diana was OK.
The next morning my brother in law and his mate came into the front room and woke me up and mentioned Princess Diana, I commented I knew she was in a car crash last night but had survived.
They then went on to tell me no she had died, I didn't believe them at first.

They then started mucking about putting a union jack on a brush handle and putting it at half mast out side the flat on the balcony.
My brother in law and his mate are 10 years younger than me, they were only 22.

When they realised I was getting upset they stopped doing it.

I am not a big royalist but Princess Diana's son Prince William is only 1 year older than my son. I think that was what hit home to me, she was so young and had left 2 young son's to be brought up without a mother.

Answer 2

I remember that I was up late watching TV on a Saturday night when news broke into the programming and I heard she had been in an accident and taken to a hospital.

The next morning, I went to church and during the service, the pastor said, "In our prayers, Let us remember the British Royal Family and the people of Great Britian as they mourne Princess Diana who died last night." I kept thinking, "No, no, that's not true. She was only injured. We should be praying for her recovery." I was so upset that I left church immediately.

At home, my phone rang all day long. All my 30-something girlfriends were as shocked and as saddened as I was. We felt that we had known her. She was truly the People's Princess.

Answer 3

Was getting ready to go and help someone. Heard it early in morning around 6.45/7a.m. UK time, on a 2" screen portable TV. when reports were still coming in and exactly what had happened was uncertain.

As more and more info came through I felt in a complete state of confusion as the reports were not consistent. Then was completely dumbfounded when events were confirmed. I couldn't get her nor her two sons out of my mind for days. The funeral was poignant and very moving.

She did lots for many and I believe will always be remembered with love.

We do need a better memorial for her in this country other than the legacy of her life.

Answer 4

Sunday morning turning on the Radio in Kitchen after putting the Kettle on, the National Anthem was being played, we thought it was the Queen Mother who passed away at first.
Always remember the TV footage of the Princess being flown back to RAF Brize Norton with the RAF Pallbearers carrying the Coffin Draped in the Union Flag from the Aircraft to awaiting Hearse.
Tragic.

Answer 5

I was driving to Newcastle with my then boyfriend, now husband. My birthday treat, yep my birthday is the same day. We picked up an early morning paper with the news that Princess Diana was in a car accident badly injured. ( the paper would be worth a bit now) Then we realised all the radio chasnnels were playing sad music and heard it on the radio.

Answer 6

I woke up to the news. I remember my little nephew being so disappointed that there weren't any cartoons on the TV that Sunday morning - only news and more news.

I remember going upstairs and waking up my folks to tell them about it. I was still living with them at the time.

That whole week seemed freakish, surreal, like a really bad dream.

And to this day, there are some around these parts who swear that Di did not die by accident; that she was killed to order.

Answer 7

I and many of my friends were out celebrating the birth our our other friend's baby boy only a couple of days before hand. We were heading home in a taxi and heard the news over the radio. A little worse for wear, I thought I dreamt it when I woke up on the Sunday morning.

Answer 8

Having a lie-in because I work all the shifts, then my partner came back from buying the Sunday papers and told me. I went to work, and we were able to keep up with the news. Didn't follow the funeral much as I had a genuine bereavement, which puts it in perspective. I was shocked about Diana though, because she was the same age as myself.

Answer 9

my husband and I were on our way to Galveston Texas for a fishing tournament. when i first heard the news i thought is was just a sick joke, but when i turned the TV on and saw the news coverage i knew it was true. i was heart sick (still am). She was such a lady the likes of which we shall not see again. her two young sons, i worried about them and how her death would affect them. what an out pouring of love the world gave her, to bad her " family" (chucks) didn't feel the same way. when they finally did show some whatever it was,to me was just to save face. as you can tell I'm not a fan of the royal family except for the 2 young princes.

Answer 10

Can't remember if it was when I heard about the accident or when I heard she died, but I had been out for the evening with my roommates, came home around 11:00, switched on the TV and there it was. Why am I thinking it was a Tuesday?