On August 31, 1997, Princess Diana tragically died in a car accident in Paris. Diana was 36 years old at the time and left behind her two sons, Princes William (then 15) and Harry (then 12). “The People’s Princess,” as she is known, was renowned globally for her transcendent ability to empathize. Despite her own high place in society, she connected with those less fortunate than her, and the world took note. Some of her most notable public services included helping the homeless and destigmatizing the AIDS crisis.
Twenty years later, the world has not forgotten the impact she had. This summer has seen an outpouring of TV specials, each of which offers a unique glimpse into the life and untimely death of the most enduring icon of the modern day. Here are five of the most talked about tributes.
Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy
Where: HBO, streaming on HBO GO and HBO NOW
This heartfelt account focuses on interviews with William and Harry about their memories of their mother. The boys both give testaments to her loving nature, which, they say, still carries them through to this day.
The Story of Diana: Part One and Part Two
Where: ABC, streaming on abc.go.com
A combined four hours of interviews with Diana’s close friends and experts on her life will leave you amazed and tearful (sometimes simultaneously).
Diana—Her Story
Where: PBS, streaming on PBS.org
This PBS special features rare video footage of the princess coming of age from her aristocratic childhood to life in the palace and beyond. It also offers Diana’s own words on her media-crazed life.
Diana: In Her Own Words
Where: National Geographic, streaming on channel.NationalGeographic.com
This special was controversial due to its extreme intimacy with the Princess of Wales. Actual audio tapings of secret conversations Diana had with her biographer, Andrew Morton, reveal details of her troubled marriage and the life of paparazzi mayhem she endured.
Diana, 7 Days
Where: NBC, airs Sept. 1
From the experts at BBC, this special features personal interviews with William and Harry, who talk about the week immediately following their mother’s death. It also honors her lasting legacy with the citizens of the U.K. and beyond.
Photo via National Geographic
