Death of Lady Di: 25 years later, English and French remember at the Alma bridge

Nina Droff, edited by Solène Leroux 2:02 p.m., August 31, 2022

REPORTAGE

25 years ago, Lady Di died in a car accident in Paris.

His Mercedes was leaving the Ritz hotel and then hit the 13th pillar of the tunnel under the Alma bridge.

Time passes, but the Princess of Wales remains very present in popular culture, so much so that dozens of people continue to pay tribute to her each August 31 at the scene of the accident.

Europe 1 went there.

People come in turn to place candles, flowers, or even photos of the princess, near the entrance to the Alma tunnel.

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Among them, Europe 1 met Rima and Amy, two Britons who came to meditate.

"Diana died on my fifth birthday. I don't remember it well, but she means a lot to me as an Englishwoman," says Rima.

"She was the people's princess and we all feel very connected to Diana."

Same story for Amy: "She's our princess. It's her day and even after 25 years, I still have the feeling that she watches over us."

© NINA DROFF / EUROPE 1

Memories intact

An anniversary that brings back many memories and emotions, even for the French.

Aude will never forget this day.

"For me, [it's not been] 25 years, it feels like yesterday. I was selling my newspapers on Avenue de Wagram," she recalls.

"I remember well, that's when we learned how she left. [She] maybe [left] because she was too nice."

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But what his fans remember most is his humanity.

Paco came specially from Nantes to pay homage to him.

"This great lady, she is an icon, she is a person with a big heart," he says, mentioning in particular Diana's humanitarian trips to Africa.

"It touches me, it stays," he concludes.

Now many are heading to the Ritz, the hotel where the princess was staying just before her accident.

Please note, there will be no official tribute to Lady Di in the UK.

His two sons, Harry and William, will meditate on their own.