LADY OF THE LAKE
Where is Princess Diana buried and can you visit her grave?
PRINCESS Diana was just 36 years old when her life was cut short by a fatal car accident in the French capital.
It has been over 26 years since she passed, but her memory lives on in the royal family and the hearts of the nation.
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Where is Princess Diana buried?
According to the BBC, it was her brother Earl Charles Spencer who decided Diana should be buried at the grounds of his home - where they both were raised as children.
The initial plan was for Diana to be buried in the family vault at the local church, but there were concerns for security and privacy.
Therefore, Charles decided to lay her to rest on an island at the centre of the Althorp House's oval lake.
The memorial temple features a black-and-white marble plaque of Diana, with her name engraved across the top.
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It also bears a Princess Diana quote which reads: "Nothing brings me more happiness than trying to help the most vulnerable people in society. It is a goal and an essential part of my life.
"A kind of destiny. Whoever is in distress can call on me. I will come running wherever they are."
It is understood the beloved princess is buried on an island at the centre of an ornamental lake known as The Oval in the stately home's stunning Pleasure Garden.
Althorp House, surrounded by 15,000 acres of Northamptonshire countryside, is around a mile away.
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Can you visit Princess Diana's grave?
While Diana was known as the people's princess, her final resting place is off limits to the public.
However, the small island can still be viewed from a distance.
Visitors to Althorp Park are able to pay their respects at a memorial site located on the grounds.
There is also a white memorial urn that glows among the lush greenery, and visitors can leave tributes at the lakeside temple dedicated to Diana.
Diana’s brother Earl Spencer revealed in 2017 that several people had previously attempted to gain entry to the grave.
Earl Spencer told BBC Radio 4: “We’ve had four attempted break-ins towards her body in the last 20 years and I’m very glad we’ve seen all of them off.”
He added that “there are some odd people out there” but insisted that “keeping her right here is the safest place.”
Earl Charles also said that about $27 million has been spent on repairs, modifications and maintenance of the tomb and the surrounding area.
Everything you need to know about Princess Diana's final years
After years of separation, Prince Charles and Princess Diana divorced in 1996.
In 1997, Princess Diana spent her summer in the south of France and Italy. During August, she visited Sarajevo, Bosnia, to highlight the fight against landmines.
By the end of the month, the Princess of Wales and Dodi Al-Fayed travelled to Paris together.
It was revealed that Princess Diana stayed longer than planned in Paris due to a row over her land mine campaign.
Travelling in a black Mercedes Benz, Princess Diana was involved in a car crash in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel on August 31, 1997.
The Princess of Wales died at the age of 36.
Her funeral was held on September 6, 1997. As her coffin made the journey from Kensington Palace to Westminister Abbey, Prince William and Prince Harry walked behind their late mother.
Princess Diana's mother, Frances Shand Kydd, and sisters, Jane Fellowes and Sarah McCorquodale, also attended the funeral.
The Princess of Wales was buried at her childhood home - Althorp House
If it wasn't for her tragic death, Princess Diana would have been 62 today.
When was Princess Diana buried?
On August 31, 1997, Princess Diana was in Paris with her partner, Dodi Al-Fayedc, the son of businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed.
They had just left the Ritz Hotel and were travelling with driver Henri Paul and Trevor Rees-Jones, a member of the Fayed family’s personal protection team.
At 12.23am, Paul lost control of the vehicle at the entrance to the Pont de l’Alma underpass and collided head-on with a pillar and smashed into a wall.
The car had been travelling at an estimated speed of 65 mph.
Mr Fayed and Mr Paul were pronounced dead at the scene. Mr Rees-Jones was badly injured but survived.
Diana was also still conscious but went into cardiac arrest after she was removed from the car by paramedics.
She was taken by ambulance to a hospital but was bleeding heavily in the chest area.
Diana was pronounced dead at the hospital at 4 am (3am BST) on August 31, 1997.
Despite extensive surgery, Dr Bruno Riou said that “we could not revive her”.
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Diana was buried the following month on September 6, 1997.
She was laid to rest in a long black dress designed by Lay Di's friend and designer Catherine Walker.
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