7th September 1997

Shy child, blushing bride, doting mum, caring princess... Diana over the past sixteen years since her marriage to the heir to the British Throne became the world's most photographed woman. Here are some pictures from the short and sometimes tragedy touched life of the woman who embodied a modern-day fairytale, sadly one that had no happy ending.

Baby Diana	As a bashful teenager	As a kindergarten teacher
The Royal Wedding	Honeymoon happiness	Fateful night: leaving the Ritz on Saturday August 30

That day of pomp, pageantry

By Dunstan Wickremaratne

Returning home from church last Sunday morning, I had an urgent phone call from my daughter requesting me to switch on the television.

To my surprise, the pictures flashing across the screen were of the wreckage of a Mercedes Benz accompanied by the shocking announcement of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in Paris. As millions reacted with shock and disbelief at the untimely death of the Princess my thoughts went back to her glamorous wedding on July 29th, 1981.

It was the day I saw Diana through the telephoto lens. I was at Trafalgar square with Press representatives of about seventy other countries, covering the Royal wedding of Prince Charles heir to the British throne and Lady Diana Spencer. I had been assigned by Independent Newspapers Ltd to take pictures of the Royal procession as it wound its way to St. Paul's and to capture the reaction of the massive crowds who had come to witness all the pomp and pageantry associated with a Royal wedding.

As the church bells started to peal the procession left Buckingham Palace along the route to the cathedral of St Paul's. The procession was led by the ceremonial guards followed by the carriages with the Queen Mother, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, Princesses Anne and Margaret, Prince Charles and Prince Andrew and finally father and daughter Earl Spencer and Lady Diana.

Princess Diana looked radiant, the picture of youthful innocence.

Who could imagine that such a fairytale wedding could have such a tragic ending. But the shy girl who captivated a nation that day will remain in their hearts.

"May she rest in Peace".

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