“Impossible day” is how Charles Spencer describes August 31, the date he lost his beloved sister Princess Diana. Each year, he honors her memory with a heartfelt tribute, and this year was no different. Twenty-eight years on, Spencer once again marked the day with a touching gesture for his beloved sister.
(Photo by Thierry Chesnot/Getty Images)On Sunday, August 31, the 61-year-old Earl of Spencer shared a beautiful Instagram post featuring the flowers he gently placed at Diana’s resting place on the private island at Althorp Estate.
(Photo by Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images)“Flowers we cut this morning from Althorp’s gardens for the Island,” he wrote alongside the photo, adding, “Always an impossible day.”
(Photo by Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images) The late princess rests on a secluded island at the Oval Lake on the family’s Althorp Estate, located about 75 miles north of London.
A Glimpse Into Spencer’s Tribute
The tribute included a photo of a bouquet of white and pink roses, along with a shot of the serene island at Althorp Gardens, where Diana is laid to rest.
Spencer has long emphasized the importance of selecting a peaceful and secure site for his sister. “I think it’s very important for them to be there with her,” he previously told People in July 2017, referring to Prince William and Prince Harry.
(Photo by Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images)“It is, luckily, very tranquil here, and they can come and go as they wish whenever they want.”
Why Diana Was Buried at Althorp
Spencer decided that Diana would be laid to rest on the secluded island in the Oval Lake at Althorp Estate. The choice provided privacy for her sons, William, now 43, and Harry, 40, to visit their mother away from the public eye.
In his 1998 book, Althorp: The Story of an English House, Spencer reflected, “We all agreed that, with its beauty and tranquility, this was the place for Diana to be.”
Although the island itself is not accessible to the public, a dedicated memorial was built on the grounds in July 1998, allowing visitors to pay their respects.
How Princess Diana’s Glorious Life Was Cut Short
(Photo by Len Trievnor/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, alongside her partner Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul. At the time, her sons were just 15 and 12.
The accident occurred as paparazzi pursued the car through the Pont de l’Alma tunnel. Paul, who was later found to be inebriated, was driving at a speed of 121 mph when the crash happened.
(Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)“There was this huge, violent, terrifying crash followed by the lone sound of a car horn,” witness Jerome Laumonier told People.
While Fayed and Paul were pronounced dead at the scene, Diana was rushed to Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital. Doctors tried to restart her heart for hours, but she was ultimately pronounced dead after suffering extensive internal injuries.
