Remembering Princess Diana 20 years on

Tributes have been paid to Diana, Princess of Wales, 20 years after she was killed in a car crash in Paris aged just 36.

The news of her death was announced in the early hours of August 31 1997 and shocked millions around the world.

Mourners left flowers, posters and messages outside Kensington Palace to remember her, just as they did 20 years ago.

Diana's sons, Princes William and Harry were just 15 and 12 when their mother died.

Ahead of the anniversary, Harry said in an ITV documentary there was "not a day that William and I don't wish that she was ... still around".

He added: "We wonder what kind of a mother she would be now, and what kind of a public role she would have, and what a difference she would be making.''

Former prime minister Tony Blair called Diana the ''people's princess'' on the day she died and in a magazine interview with his former spin doctor Alastair Campbell, William echoed the words of his brother.

He said: ''I think she would have carried on, really getting stuck into various causes and making change.

''If you look at some of the issues she focused on, leprosy, Aids, landmines, she went for some tough areas. She would have carried on with that.''

Princes William and Harry at their mother's funeral. Credit: PA

Among the events to mark Diana's death, the princess will be remembered at East London's Mildmay Mission Aids hospital.

It was there she was famously filmed shaking hands with AIDS patients, helping to break down the stigma surrounding the illness.

Diana died on August 31, 1997, when the car she was travelling in crashed while travelling through the Pont de l'Alma in the French capital.

The crash also resulted in the death of Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul.

A public funeral for the princess later took place in London which was viewed by millions around the world.

It was during the ceremony Elton John famously performed Candle in the Wind as a touching send off to the princess.

Diana and Prince Charles were married for 15 years. Credit: PA

Just one year before her death, Diana had divorced her husband Prince Charles after 15 years of marriage.

Elizabeth Emanuel, who famously designed her wedding dress, paid tribute to the princess saying "we miss you so much".

She also tweeted a photo of Diana on her wedding day with the caption: "Thinking of the wonderful times we spent with Diana and the great joy she brought into our lives and all those who knew her."

  • Watch the moment ITV News announced Diana, Princess of Wales, had died on 31 August 1997