Princess Diana 30th Death Anniversary

What this countdown tracks

The 30th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, on Tuesday 31 August 2027. Three decades after the early-morning Paris car crash in the Pont de l'Alma road tunnel that killed Diana, Dodi Al Fayed and driver Henri Paul on 31 August 1997, the round-number anniversary will draw renewed public commemorations in the United Kingdom and worldwide.

About this anniversary

Diana Frances Spencer (1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997) married the then Prince of Wales — now King Charles III — on 29 July 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral, watched globally by an estimated 750 million viewers. Their elder son, the present Prince of Wales William, was born in June 1982; their younger son, the Duke of Sussex Harry, in September 1984. The couple separated in 1992 and divorced on 28 August 1996. As Princess of Wales, Diana redefined modern royal philanthropy through her advocacy on HIV/AIDS, the international landmines campaign that contributed to the 1997 Ottawa Treaty, leprosy, mental health, and child welfare across more than 100 charities.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class she was travelling in entered the Pont de l'Alma underpass at high speed shortly after midnight on 31 August 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi photographers. Diana was pronounced dead at the Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital at 4:00 am Paris time. Her funeral on Saturday 6 September 1997 at Westminster Abbey was watched by an estimated 2.5 billion people worldwide; Elton John's rewritten "Candle in the Wind 1997" remains the best-selling physical single of all time. Diana was buried at the Spencer family seat at Althorp in Northamptonshire on the islet of the Round Oval. Operation Paget, the Metropolitan Police inquiry, concluded in 2006 that the crash was an accident; the British inquest in 2008 found unlawful killing through gross negligence by the driver and the pursuing photographers.

What to expect

Expect commemorations at Kensington Palace's Sunken Garden statue of the Princess (unveiled by Princes William and Harry on 1 July 2021, the 60th anniversary of her birth), at Althorp where the Diana Memorial Museum is open during the summer, at the Diana Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park, and at the Pont de l'Alma in Paris where the Flame of Liberty has long served as an unofficial memorial. The Royal Family is expected to release official statements; King Charles III, Prince William and Prince Harry's involvement and the choreography of any joint appearance — particularly given the Sussex-Royal estrangement since 2020 — will be the diplomatic story of the day. Charity programming from the Royal Foundation, Centrepoint, the National AIDS Trust, the Halo Trust, and the Diana Award is expected. Major British and international broadcasters will programme retrospectives.

Past anniversaries

• 25th anniversary (2022) — observed quietly two weeks before the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022.
• 20th anniversary (2017) — Princes William and Harry made a joint visit to the White Garden at Kensington Palace; ITV's "Diana, Our Mother" documentary aired.
• 15th anniversary (2012) — observed during the year of the Diamond Jubilee and London 2012 Olympics.
• 10th anniversary (2007) — Concert for Diana on 1 July 2007 at Wembley Stadium organised by Princes William and Harry; thanksgiving service at the Guards' Chapel.
• 1st anniversary (1998) — Earl Spencer led commemorations at Althorp; the Diana Memorial Fund operated until 2012.

How to follow

Royal.uk publishes the Royal Family's official statements and programme. Kensington Palace and Althorp publish opening and event schedules. The BBC, ITV, Sky News, CNN, France Télévisions and other major outlets anchor coverage. The Diana Memorial Fund's continuing legacy through HALO Trust, Centrepoint and the National AIDS Trust frames the philanthropic story. Charlotte Higgins of The Guardian, Tina Brown's Diana Chronicles audio, and the Crown's Netflix dramatisation continue to shape the public conversation. Visitors at Kensington Palace can pay respects at the Sunken Garden statue year-round.

Related countdowns

Pair the Princess Diana 30th anniversary with adjacent UK calendar moments such as the Brexit TCA review and broader 50-year and centennial anniversaries. Other tribute and 50-year tracks include the Star Wars 50th anniversary and the Lindbergh 100th anniversary of the first transatlantic solo flight.

FAQ

When is the Princess Diana 30th anniversary? Tuesday 31 August 2027. Where are the commemorations expected? At Kensington Palace's Sunken Garden, Althorp in Northamptonshire, the Diana Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park, and the Pont de l'Alma in Paris. Why does the 30th anniversary matter? It is the largest round-number commemoration since the 20th in 2017, the first since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and a moment for the Royal Family's living relationships to be tested anew. Where is Diana buried? At Althorp, the Spencer family seat in Northamptonshire, on an island in the Round Oval lake.