Tributes began to pour in from world leaders, admirers and ordinary folk, many of them in tears, within minutes of the announcement of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
One of the most moving came last night from Richard Branson.
Speaking on the pitch before the Super League match between London Broncos and Bradford Bulls in the at The Stoop in Twickenham, west London, the Virgin tycoon described how Diana had sent him a letter after he had cheated death in a motorway crash.
An emotional Branson said: "We arrived home to find a motorcyclist holding a letter. In it was a hand-written note.
"`I was so worried. I am so glad you and your family are well,' it said.
"How Diana. It was an immediate gesture to think of other people.
"If only we could all send a similar note today."
Branson asked the 9,000-strong crowd to hold a two minutes' silence for Diana and sons William and Harry, which was impeccably observed.
Reporter Martin Bashir, who interviewed Diana for the controversial BBC Panorama programme in which she admitted having an affair, said: "It is an enormous loss to the country and our thoughts and our prayers are with her family and particularly her two sons.
"I share the feelings of the whole nation which is grieving over the loss of a rare and extremely special person."
Some of the tributes were tinged with anger, with claims that this was the tragic and inevitable culmination of a relentless paparazzi pursuit of the Princess over the years.
Her brother, Earl Spencer, said in South Africa: "This is not a time for recriminations, but for sadness. However, I would say that I always believed the press would kill her in the end. But not even I could imagine that they would take such a direct hand in her death as seems to be the case."
He said the family needed space "to pay our final respects to our own flesh and blood".
Earl Spencer added: "For that we will need privacy. Finally, the one consolation is that Diana is now in a place where no human being can ever touch her again. I pray that she rests in peace."
Other tributes were led by the Prime Minister, who said that "like everyone else in this country", he was "utterly devastated". The Princess, he said, was "a wonderful and a warm human being", although her own life was often touched by tragedy.
"She touched the lives of so many others in Britain and throughout the world with joy and with comfort."
Opposition leader William Hague said: "She was a unique and very lively and attractive individual and so people will feel a personal sense of loss."
He added: "She did a great deal of charitable and humanitarian work. We should recognise that, and salute that ... She was a shining individual who will never be forgotten and I think that is how we should remember her."
Terry Waite, the former Beirut hostage, said: "It is really beyond belief that in a sense she died at the hands of the paparazzi.
"But personally I hope this won't lead to a blanket condemnation of the press. Most press people, in my experience, are reasonable."
John Major, who announced the separation of the Prince and Princess of Wales, said: "This tragic news will shock and sadden people around the world." The Princess was one of the icons of the age and she would leave an imperishable memory in the minds of millions. "Everyone's hearts will go out to Prince William and Prince Harry and the Princess's family and friends," the former prime minister added.
President Clinton spoke of his sadness at "the terrible accident that has taken the lives of Princess Diana and the others who were with her".
He went on: "We liked her very much. We admired her work for children, for people with Aids and for the cause of ending the scourge of landmines in the world and for the love of her children William and Harry."
A moving tribute came from Mother Teresa, who said: "Diana helped me to help the poor, and that's the most beautiful thing. She was a very great friend, in love with the poor ... She was a very good mother."
German Chancellor Helmut Kohl praised her "open-minded personality and her humanitarian commitment".
He went on: "Princess Diana also became the victim of an unceasing, gross and unscrupulous circulation battle in a section of the media. This terrible accident and her death should at last give those responsible in the media cause for thought."
Irish President Mary Robinson spoke of her "deep distress". And the Irish prime minister, Bertie Ahern commented: "The Princess had won the hearts of the Irish people through her commitment and work on behalf of so many charities and international causes throughout the world."
French President Jacques Chirac expressed his great shock. "She was a young woman of our age, warm, full of life and generosity," he said. "Her tragic death will be deeply felt because she was a familiar figure to everyone."
President Nelson Mandela of South Africa described her as a "warm, compassionate and caring person".
"I vividly recall our meeting when she visited South Africa last year and her burning desire to assist HIV positive children in Africa.
"Princess Diana had indeed become an ambassador for victims of landmines, war orphans, the sick and needy throughout the world."
Singer Elton John, who was comforted by the Princess at the memorial mass in Milan for murdered fashion designer Gianni Versace, said he had lost "a special friend".
"This is the most tragic and senseless death," he said. "The world has lost one of its most compassionate humanitarians."
Another friend, Rosa Monckton, who accompanied the Princess on a Greek holiday last month, said: "She was steadfast and loyal and whenever I had any setback in my life she was immediately there and would drop everything.
"She did everything from the heart. Her heart ruled her head, which is why I think she was so often misunderstood."
In the US, Elizabeth Taylor shed tears of rage as she imagined Diana's last ordeal.
"I know what it's like to be chased in a car by the paparazzi," she told CBS's 60 Minutes.
It was one of the most frightening feelings in the world because you had nowhere to go, she said.
"You are in a car, going faster, faster to try to get away from them.
"They can shoot through darkened windows and you hide in the darkened corners of the car.
"She must have known such fear and it makes me so angry."
The whole world was in a state of loss and grief, she said.
Singer George Michael said there were no adequate words to describe the loss, either to Diana's friends or the world at large.
"She was truly the greatest ambassador for compassion and humanity in modern times, and we can only hope that her memory will inspire many of us to pursue those qualities in our own lives.
"On a personal level, I believe that some souls are too special to be kept from heaven.
"However painful, it is for the rest of us to let them go.
Michael, who recently lost his own mother to illness, said: "I pray that Harry and William will, after time, feel her presence in everything that they do, and know that their mother's love will never leave them."
One of the charities most closely linked to the Princess, the National Aids Trust, announced plans to collect personal tributes to her work with HIV victims in the form of a commemorative book.
The move has been prompted by the spontaneous outpouring of emotion that greeted the death of the woman who was patrol of the trust.
The organisation said people with HIV and Aids had "a special debt of gratitude" to the Princess because of her work to break the taboo which previously surrounded the illness.
It is urging HIV organisations around the world to support the book by sending in their message of remembrance about the Princess.
Director Derek Bodell said: "Our Patron gave so much of herself to support people affected by Aids and it seems vital to us that we give something back at this time of tragic loss.
"We hope people with HIV and their families and friends from around the world, will support our particular tribute to her life and work on Aids.
"Her work must continue."
HARLEY. |
