20 ways Princess Diana’s legacy of good lives on

On the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death, we look back and reflect on the ways her legacy lives on today.

Princess Diana was just 36 when she died miles from the Eiffel Tower in a fatal car accident. The response to her tragic passing was astounding. Reports on that last day in August of 1997 show young people leaving nightclubs immediately after hearing the news to place flowers at Buckingham Palace.  Crying crowds formed on city streets across England. More than 2.5 billion people watched her funeral.

Twenty years later, the world is still entranced by Lady Diana. She is remembered through countless books, documentaries, and tributes. Even a 1st Edition stuffed animal created in her honor goes for about $50K.

What made Diana different from the royals before her was her accessibility. She took advantage of her position in the spotlight to shine light on important issues. She wore the best clothing. She took risks. She made philanthropy sexy. She broke all the royal rules as a mom. Diana shared the less glamorous aspects of her life unabashedly. And she wasn’t afraid to piss people off. When it suited her, she loved the media. When it didn’t, she made sure they knew it.  She humanized the stuffy, untouchable role of British princess and renamed herself the “People’s Princess.”

On the 20th anniversary of her death, we look at 20 ways Diana’s legacy of good lives on.