To mark the 25th anniversary of Princess Diana’s passing, Of Lost Time has explored the positive change that she led during her life on its website. The literary unit of Future Science Group publishes letters from across history that readers may otherwise never get to see. In its exploration of Princess Diana’s humanitarian efforts, Of Lost Time published an extract from one of her letters of note on its website, this one about a life-changing experience she enjoyed at the home of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Princess Diana wrote an abundance of letters to various individuals, including her butler Paul Burrell, some of which go into detail about her marriage and tension within the Royal Family. She was one of the first members of the Royal Family to speak out about personal struggles. By opening up this way, and by dedicating so many efforts to those in need, she became widely known as the “People’s Princess,” forming an emotional connection with not just the British public but with the wider world.
The Childhood of the People’s Princess
In 1961, Princess Diana was born in Sandringham, Norfolk to the Viscount and Viscountess Althorp (later titled the Earl of Spencer). As a child, she frequently met the Royal Family and played with Prince Edward and Prince Andrew, bonding with the Royal Family long before she married Prince Charles in 1981.
She later reflected on her unstable home life and the difficulties that stemmed from her parents’ disappointment that she had been a third daughter rather than a son. Though she felt ignored as a child, Princess Diana was strong-willed, and, according to her younger brother Charles Spencer (9th Earl Spencer), as he said in her eulogy, she remained true to herself throughout her life.
Destigmatising AIDS and Leprosy
After her marriage to Prince Charles in 1981, public appearances became a frequent occasion for Princess Diana, who took her place under the media spotlight. She became an icon in the humanitarian and charity space, particularly for her efforts to remove the stigma from diseases like AIDS and leprosy.
In 1987, she opened the UK’s inaugural HIV/AIDS unit at London Middlesex Hospital, where she was famously photographed shaking the hand of an AIDS patient, when many incorrectly believed it was possible to contract HIV through physical contact. In 1988, she visited Harlem Hospital Centre and hugged a seven-year-old boy who had the infection, also in her bid to dispel this myth. A year later, she visited a leprosy hospital in Indonesia and physically interacted with patients there too, tackling the misconception that individuals could contract leprosy through contact.
“It has always been my concern to touch people with leprosy, trying to show in a simple action that they are not reviled, nor are we repulsed,” she said at the time.
How Mother Teresa Inspired Princess Diana
Princess Diana’s passion for helping others flourished after she met Mother Teresa of Calcutta in 1992, when the two formed an unlikely friendship. At age 82, Mother Teresa had taken note of Princess Diana’s work for those in need, and Princess Diana was keen to meet the missionary who had devoted her life to caring for the sick and poor.
After meeting Mother Teresa, Princess Diana wrote one of her letters of note to her butler Paul Burrell, commenting on her “deeply spiritual experience” and explaining that “something very profound touched my life.” In the letter, which Of Lost Time has published an extract of online, Princess Diana explained that the sisters sang to her on arrival and that Sister Federica took her to the chapel to pray. She wrote that the visit to Mother Teresa’s home allowed her to “find the direction I’ve been searching for all these years.”
Princess Diana’s Charitable Work
Princess Diana was a patron for over 100 charities during her short life, through which she demonstrated her dedication to supporting others from all walks of life. From providing a home in Washington DC for women who were homeless, unmarried, and pregnant, to becoming an active campaigner to put an end to the use of manufacturing and land mines, her actions helped her become a worldwide symbol of humanitarian aid. The International Campaign to Ban Landmines won the Nobel Peace Prize within months after her tragic death in 1997, reaching a milestone in which she was instrumental.
Even 25 years after Princess Diana’s passing, she is remembered as a loving, free-natured woman who stood for change, courage, and love.
About Of Lost Time
Of Lost Time curates collections of historical letters for the wider public to read. These letters of note allow readers to connect with famous and lesser-known individuals from throughout history, understanding their perspectives, situations, and challenges. Of Lost Time has published a variety of historical letter collections, including Letters From the Holocaust and Letters for the Ages: Sport, both of which feature around 100 letters on these respective topics; The Selected Letters of Winston Churchill, which explores the former prime minister’s tenure and life beyond this tenure; and Enrico Caruso: By Himself, a biography that shares the fascinating life of the Italian operatic tenor.