And what might the repercussions be? What is the next line to be crossed? Who will be the next to so brutally lose their privacy and, more importantly, their dignity to line the pockets of a few?
We have the power to decide the answer to that question.
In contrast, Diana had no choice. She didn't choose to be photographed as she lay dying.
But we can choose whether we wish to disrespect her in such a terrible way as to search out an image which we know shows her in the last moments of life; a life lived relentlessly in the spotlight.....a life which was lost because she chose to give herself (and her privacy) to help and serve us.
Comment: As Diana commented in her panarama interview that she was a product that could sit on a shelf and sell well. Why in the world would anyone run a picture nine years after the fact and a pledge that they would never be published be ignored? I agree it was to make alot of money and hope he comes out the loser.
Name: Diana Wessler
Comment: Little Mo,
We see images daily of people killed, dying etc. They are part of current events of that day. Those images are unnerving no matter who the person is. The photo of Diana is 9 years old nearly. It just is not necessary to rerun 9 year old news at the expense of her sons who have made their wishes clearly known to leave their Mother alone. A picture of Diana lying fatally injured is not current news. I have yet to hear a protest from the Kennedy family directly to the press asking them to cease showing these photos. Kenneday was a world leader, Diana was a private mother and citizen at the time of her death. Big difference in status and what is expected from a KNOWN assasination versus an arguable car accident.
You say the photo of Diana shows peace. That is your opinion, I sincerely doubt her sons see "peace" or get a "peaceful" feeling upon viewing their Mother's final minutes of life. The thought of viewing my loved one in the final moments of life lying in the wreckage of a car actually sickens me. It is just something THAT IS UNNECESSARY TO SEE unless one has a morbid need to entertain themselves in that fashion.
I agree with you that this is being done soley for money. I disagree with you in your charge that we the public are the reason behind the actions of the photographers. Photos of Diana during her work hours, or ones that she agreed to have taken, there is nothing wrong with enjoying those. None of us are responsible for the actions of photographers. But photos of Diana alive, smiling, doing her work, posing for the camera, do not violate her wishes.
Something tells me that The Princess would find the publication of her lying dying unacceptable and would find it a horrific act. I am in the same camp with her sons, I believe it wrong to publish photos of Diana dying, during what should have been the most private moments of her life...her last minutes alive. She has been violated in the most horrific fashion and I for one, will have NOTHING to do with it.
Name: LittleMo
Comment: This whole furore is a lot of hypocrisy !!
(I duck for the response )
How many times do photographers and indeed video news cameramen take photos of people injured in war zones, dying or dead as a result of war or terrorist activity, people starving and dying in Africa, (yes - show a quick image to give the message but not so many or so long as we often get,) and other people in pain or anguish for a variety of reasons. Diana's photo shows nothing but outer peace, if she was unconscious then she wouldn't consciously feel the pain. We see the horror of the modern world, disease, warfare and famine all the time - indeed in our 'civilised' protected world it may do us good to see what happens to many millions of other people. Video footage is often shown of President Kennedy with his brains blown out and his wife beside him holding his head. So what is all the fuss here - like many other things about Diana's life the media are picking it up and making a lot of it - with the end result - that they get to sell even MORE papers.
We and our loved ones all live and will all die one day, some before our time, some in pain. Its a natural consequence of life and we should all accept and face it.
It is indeed tragic that it is us 'Royalists' that keep the interest in Diana alive and so buy the papers and so encourage the press to print these things and thus cause extra and ongoing hurt to the two Princes and Diana's other family and loved ones.
Name: Lisa
Comment: Excellent article! I believe the outcry is because there is no REASON to show/view these pictures. Some may doubt whether it was truly an accident but no one is suggesting that is wasn't really her or that she died from another means(ex:bullet wound, knife wound, etc.). These photos prove nothing except what your article has pointed out- that she was surrounded by vultures in her last moments. As for the old argument that the media was practically forced to pursue Diana to keep up with public demand- it does not wash. There are no more "new" photographs of Diana yet book/magazine sales are still healthy when she is in them. How do they explain THAT?
And what might the repercussions be? What is the next line to be crossed? Who will be the next to so brutally lose their privacy and, more importantly, their dignity to line the pockets of a few?
