Can You Visit Princess Diana's Grave—And What Dress Was She Buried In?
The Princess of Wales died on August 31, 1997, after a car crash in a Paris underpass following a high-speed chase with paparazzi—an event that may or may not be depicted in season 5 or 6 of The Crown. In the meantime, the anniversary of her passing has brought up a lot of questions about Diana's life and death, such as: Can you visit the Princess of Wales' grave?
The days following the 36-year-old's death saw scenes resembling mass hysteria as British mourners queued up to add to a sea of flowers in front of Kensington Palace. On the day of her funeral, more than a million people lined the streets to pay their respects to the People's Princess as her coffin traveled the four miles between the palace and Westminster Abbey.
Related: Before She Died in August 1997, These Were Princess Diana's Final Words
Diana was buried later that day in a private ceremony in Althorp Park, the Spencer family estate. She was wearing a black woolen long-sleeved cocktail dress by Catherine Walker that she had ordered only weeks before she died, and holding a set of rosary beads that were a gift from Mother Theresa.
Related: 25 Sad and Poignant Photos from Princess Diana's Funeral
Originally Diana was supposed to be interred in the Spencer family vault at a local church, but the scenes of grief after her death led her brother Earl Spencer to be concerned that her burial place could be overwhelmed with visitors. In order to ensure that her sons and other family members could visit her grave in privacy, Diana was buried on an island in the middle of an ornamental lake.
The path to the lake is lined with 36 oak trees, each of which represents a year of Diana's life.
Related: How Old Princess Diana Would Be Today?
So although you can't visit Diana's grave, Althorp is open to visitors during summers (at least when there isn't a pandemic happening). You can look across the lake to the white memorial urn that glows among the lush greenery, and visit the lakeside temple dedicated to Diana and where visitors can leave tributes.
The temple is decorated with a black and white cameo of the princess, as well as one of her quotes: "Nothing brings me more happiness than trying to help the most vulnerable people in society. It is a goal and an essential part of my life. A kind of destiny. Whoever is in distress can call on me. I will come running wherever they are."
Next up, Princess Diana Quotes
