Twenty years ago today in September 1997 I went to London with my mother to Lady Diana’s Funeral (obviously we did not go the ceremony at Westminster Abbey). Instead of jostling for a position on the funeral cortège’s route, we decided to head to Hyde Park where big screens had been erected to show the funeral service.
Crowd in Hyde Park for Lady Diana’s funeral. I’m assuming the lady on the right and guy in all denim are mother and son.
I have never done anything with these photos until now. At the time when they were developed I did not really think they were anything special and then forgot about them. A few years back my mum found them when moving, looking back at them it seems worlds away; the fashion, absence of mobile phones. Tony Blair had only been prime minister for five months and 9/11 was four years away. At the time my mum raised concerns when I was taking pictures “Are you sure it’s a good idea to take pictures at a funeral?” fair point but we were not technically at a funeral and it’s an historical event so someone needs to document it. It’s strange to think that I was in a minority taking pictures.
In hindsight I wish I had documented more of the journey to London. We got a really early train and it was full already even though we at the start of the line, hindsight is a wonderful thing. One last note for the camera nerds out there, these were shot on a Canon EOS 50e (film body obviously).
Princess of Wales on a big screen in Hyde Park (click on image to open slide show)
Crowd in Hyde Park (click on image to open slide show)
People in Hyde Park for Princess Diana’s funeral
The Mall looking towards Admiralty Arch after the funeral
Flowers outside Buckingham Palace
Flowers outside Buckingham Palace
