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| Did Diana's death change us? | Did Diana's death change us? |
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| By Marie Jackson BBC News The effect of Diana's death on the British public was as perplexing as it was profound. But was it a blip or did it change Britain for ever? | By Marie Jackson BBC News The effect of Diana's death on the British public was as perplexing as it was profound. But was it a blip or did it change Britain for ever? |
| On the morning Diana, Princess of Wales' death was reported, few could have guessed the extraordinary momentum that the mourning for her would generate. By the time of her funeral it had reached fever pitch with thousands lining the funeral route. | On the morning Diana, Princess of Wales' death was reported, few could have guessed the extraordinary momentum that the mourning for her would generate. By the time of her funeral it had reached fever pitch with thousands lining the funeral route. |
| A sea of flowers was laid in front of Kensington Palace, strangers embraced, snaking queues formed in front of condolence books, businesses closed as a mark of respect. | A sea of flowers was laid in front of Kensington Palace, strangers embraced, snaking queues formed in front of condolence books, businesses closed as a mark of respect. |
| DIANA SURVEY In hindsight, 37% say public grief over death was too muchBut 50% say it was about right56% think the Royal Family are out of touchBut 40% think they are in touch ComRes poll of 1,000 adults done for Ten O'Clock News In one small section of society, the death spawned further tragedy. Suicide rates rose, particularly among women of a similar age to Diana, more people self-harmed in the week after her death and some declared themselves to have mourned more for a princess they had never met than their own parents. | DIANA SURVEY In hindsight, 37% say public grief over death was too muchBut 50% say it was about right56% think the Royal Family are out of touchBut 40% think they are in touch ComRes poll of 1,000 adults done for Ten O'Clock News In one small section of society, the death spawned further tragedy. Suicide rates rose, particularly among women of a similar age to Diana, more people self-harmed in the week after her death and some declared themselves to have mourned more for a princess they had never met than their own parents. |
| Her passing roughly coincided with a seemingly broader shift in British sentiments, marked by the end of 17 years of Conservative government a few months earlier. In his recent History of Modern Britain, writer and broadcaster Andrew Marr noted the "perceived shift towards a more compassionate, more informal and more image-conscious Britain". | Her passing roughly coincided with a seemingly broader shift in British sentiments, marked by the end of 17 years of Conservative government a few months earlier. In his recent History of Modern Britain, writer and broadcaster Andrew Marr noted the "perceived shift towards a more compassionate, more informal and more image-conscious Britain". |
| Had this princess unlocked something in the psyche of the nation, typically painted as private, stoic and emotionally detached? Or was this just a twitch of our otherwise rigid upper lip? | Had this princess unlocked something in the psyche of the nation, typically painted as private, stoic and emotionally detached? Or was this just a twitch of our otherwise rigid upper lip? |
| State of shock | State of shock |
| After her death on 31 August 1997, the newspapers were telling us the nation's streets were stained with our tears (Evening Standard) and that Diana had brought an intensely personal language of pain and love into the "buttoned-up discourse of civic life" (Independent). | After her death on 31 August 1997, the newspapers were telling us the nation's streets were stained with our tears (Evening Standard) and that Diana had brought an intensely personal language of pain and love into the "buttoned-up discourse of civic life" (Independent). |
| Shock and sorrow. But did Diana's death have a lasting impact? | Shock and sorrow. But did Diana's death have a lasting impact? |
| Even the death of an idolised war leader like Winston Churchill could not compare to the type of grief that accompanied Diana's death, says psychologist Dr Christina McVey. | Even the death of an idolised war leader like Winston Churchill could not compare to the type of grief that accompanied Diana's death, says psychologist Dr Christina McVey. |
| "A huge number of people took to the streets in 1965 for Winston Churchill's funeral but that was to pay their respects in silence, so there's a qualitative difference." | "A huge number of people took to the streets in 1965 for Winston Churchill's funeral but that was to pay their respects in silence, so there's a qualitative difference." |
| "People related to Princess Diana as a 'feeling' person. The public perception was she was prepared to publicly hug her children, be tearful and vulnerable." | "People related to Princess Diana as a 'feeling' person. The public perception was she was prepared to publicly hug her children, be tearful and vulnerable." |
| This, Dr McVey says, legitimised people's own emotions and behaviour. | This, Dr McVey says, legitimised people's own emotions and behaviour. |
| Dr Simon Critchley, one of many academics who studied Diana after her death, believes she became "some sort of universal lightning rod for people's sense of hurt, wrong and pain". | Dr Simon Critchley, one of many academics who studied Diana after her death, believes she became "some sort of universal lightning rod for people's sense of hurt, wrong and pain". |
| On half a dozen occasions since 1997 the country has appeared united in grief. The reactions to the Soham murders, to that of Sarah Payne, and to the abduction of Madeleine McCann have borne similarities to the loss of Diana. | On half a dozen occasions since 1997 the country has appeared united in grief. The reactions to the Soham murders, to that of Sarah Payne, and to the abduction of Madeleine McCann have borne similarities to the loss of Diana. |
| And yet there had been public outpourings of grief before Diana, such as the murder of James Bulger. | And yet there had been public outpourings of grief before Diana, such as the murder of James Bulger. |
| Self-harm | Self-harm |
| While it is difficult to prove changes in the nation's mental state, there was concrete evidence that some of society's most vulnerable members were affected by the death of Diana. | While it is difficult to prove changes in the nation's mental state, there was concrete evidence that some of society's most vulnerable members were affected by the death of Diana. |
| Research by the Centre for Suicide Research in Oxford showed self-harm had risen by 44% (65% in women) in the week after the princess's death. One woman tried to take an overdose. Her case notes explained she shared her birthday with the day of Diana's death. | |
| Tony Blair spoke about the people's princess | Tony Blair spoke about the people's princess |
| Another patient's case notes said the media coverage of Diana's funeral had amplified the grief for her brother who had also died in a road accident. | Another patient's case notes said the media coverage of Diana's funeral had amplified the grief for her brother who had also died in a road accident. |
| The same researchers showed suicides in England and Wales increased by 17% in the month following Diana's funeral. Among women aged 25 to 44, this was as high as 45%. | The same researchers showed suicides in England and Wales increased by 17% in the month following Diana's funeral. Among women aged 25 to 44, this was as high as 45%. |
| This could be explained by an "identification" factor - the kind of people who most identified with the princess were most affected by her death, consultant psychiatrist Raj Persaud suggests. | This could be explained by an "identification" factor - the kind of people who most identified with the princess were most affected by her death, consultant psychiatrist Raj Persaud suggests. |
| He says it was possible that women close to her in age who identified with her relationship and psychological difficulties became more pessimistic about their own ability to conquer similar problems. | He says it was possible that women close to her in age who identified with her relationship and psychological difficulties became more pessimistic about their own ability to conquer similar problems. |
| However he points out that any widely reported death or suicide of a public figure can cause the suicide rate to rise. | However he points out that any widely reported death or suicide of a public figure can cause the suicide rate to rise. |
| There were people mourning her death, people drunk on Friday, lots of tourists thinking here's a big event and we want to watch it Colin Luke, documentary director | There were people mourning her death, people drunk on Friday, lots of tourists thinking here's a big event and we want to watch it Colin Luke, documentary director |
| But there is no strong evidence to suggest Diana influenced the way we handle our emotions in the longer term, Dr Persaud suggests. | But there is no strong evidence to suggest Diana influenced the way we handle our emotions in the longer term, Dr Persaud suggests. |
| "There is some recent research that throughout the Western world people are becoming more extrovert - a trend going on since the 1960s. | "There is some recent research that throughout the Western world people are becoming more extrovert - a trend going on since the 1960s. |
| "Extrovert people are more open about their emotions. We are becoming more open, but Princess Diana would not have been the cause of that," he explains. | "Extrovert people are more open about their emotions. We are becoming more open, but Princess Diana would not have been the cause of that," he explains. |
| Mix of emotions | Mix of emotions |
| Documentary maker Colin Luke questions the premise that we were ever united in grief. The public response was in fact much more complex, he says - a conclusion he reached after sending eight film makers to mingle with the crowds of mourners before Diana's funeral. | Documentary maker Colin Luke questions the premise that we were ever united in grief. The public response was in fact much more complex, he says - a conclusion he reached after sending eight film makers to mingle with the crowds of mourners before Diana's funeral. |
| "Documentaries tell different truths. There was a great mix of emotions. There were people mourning her death, people drunk on Friday, lots of tourists thinking here's a big event and we want to watch it. | "Documentaries tell different truths. There was a great mix of emotions. There were people mourning her death, people drunk on Friday, lots of tourists thinking here's a big event and we want to watch it. |
| "There were those who identified with Diana, gay people, people with problems in their lives and a considerable number were mourning her because they were mourning someone in their own lives. | "There were those who identified with Diana, gay people, people with problems in their lives and a considerable number were mourning her because they were mourning someone in their own lives. |
| "They had lost someone close to them but found it difficult to mourn. With it being a group activity, that made it easier." | "They had lost someone close to them but found it difficult to mourn. With it being a group activity, that made it easier." |
| Enlarge Image | Enlarge Image |
| The film, the Princess's People, which was eventually shown on the first anniversary of her death, painted a very different picture from the one in our memories and our newspapers, and caused a huge furore. | The film, the Princess's People, which was eventually shown on the first anniversary of her death, painted a very different picture from the one in our memories and our newspapers, and caused a huge furore. |
| Reflecting on the film now, Colin Luke says: "While the film was shocking in its day, it became the prevailing attitude. Those newspapers who tried to tell us we were all mourning, were the ones who got it wrong." | Reflecting on the film now, Colin Luke says: "While the film was shocking in its day, it became the prevailing attitude. Those newspapers who tried to tell us we were all mourning, were the ones who got it wrong." |
| Any pollster or psychologist would find it hard to gauge in concrete terms any change in British emotion. We may have more daytime television shows full of emotional outbursts, be prone to wearing charity wristbands and spill out our feelings in blogs and social networks, but there is much that remains the same. | Any pollster or psychologist would find it hard to gauge in concrete terms any change in British emotion. We may have more daytime television shows full of emotional outbursts, be prone to wearing charity wristbands and spill out our feelings in blogs and social networks, but there is much that remains the same. |
Send us your comments using the form below. | Send us your comments using the form below. |