Diana is buried on an island in the Althorp Estate in Northamptonshire
The flag of the family home of Diana, Princess of Wales, was lowered to half-mast on the 25th anniversary of her death.
The Princess’s brother, Earl Spencer, shared a heartbreaking untitled photo of the tribute on the flagpole at Althorp House, set against a clear blue sky.
Diana – the mother of Prince Harry and Prince William – was just 36 when she was killed in a car accident in Paris on August 31, 1997.
She is buried on an island in the center of an ornamental lake known as The Oval on the Althorp estate in Northamptonshire.
The lowering of the flag for the princess has a lot of symbolism, with the lack of such a tribute having been the source of outrage in the days following her sudden death.
Diana’s death triggered one of the worst crises in the monarchy’s modern history.
The flagpole at Buckingham Palace remained bare, as did protocol, as the Queen was away in Scotland comforting William and Harry.
Newspaper headlines screamed “Show us you care” and “Where is our queen? Where is his flag? “.
The monarch, who finally addressed the nation five days after the princess’s death, relented by flying the union flag at half mast above Buckingham Palace for the first time on the day of the funeral of Diana.
Diana’s brother Charles delivered a controversial eulogy at the Princess’s funeral which was seen as an attack on the Royal Family.
Earl Spencer promised Diana in his speech that his ‘blood family’ would do all they could to protect William and Harry ‘so that their souls would not just be immersed in duty and tradition, but might sing openly as you had planned”.
Harry said he would ‘share the spirit’ of his mother with her children Archie and Lilibet as he marked the anniversary of her death on Wednesday.
Speaking last week after a fundraising polo match for his charity Sentebale, named in memory of his mother, he said: “I want it to be a day filled with memories of his incredible work and love for the way she did it.
“I want it to be a day to share my mother’s spirit with my family, with my children, who I wish I could have met.
“Every day, I hope to make her proud. She was tireless in her work to support and de-stigmatize people living with HIV/AIDS. For good reason, her favorite flowers were the forget-me-nots.
Tessy Ojo, chief executive of the Diana Award, created to promote the Princess’s belief that young people have the power to change the world for the better, paid tribute to the royal and described how she left flowers at Kensington Palace after his death.
Ms Ojo said: “His ability to connect with people through kindness and compassion is one of his most important legacies. She marked all of our lives.
She added: “I can only imagine how immensely proud she would be of the tens of thousands of young people around the world who are carrying on her legacy.”
Tributes including a flower display of white chrysanthemums spelling out “Princess Diana” adorned with roses and pink ribbons, and dozens of photos and messages have been left by fans of the princess – some of whom still make the personal pilgrimage every year – at the gates of his former royal residence at Kensington Palace.
Doctor who supported Princess Diana’s head in crash wreckage says he was ‘probably the last person she heard from’
Diana broke ground in championing issues such as AIDS awareness – holding a sick man’s hand – as well as highlighting homelessness and joining activists calling for a ban on landmines.
Her fashion sense made her a star for magazines and newspapers around the world and even after her split from the royal family, she was still seen as the modern face of the monarchy.
Diana’s sons paid tribute to her last summer – her 60th birthday – when they unveiled a bronze statue they commissioned of the princess in the garden of Kensington Palace.
Divided over many issues, William and Harry briefly stood together despite their long breakup.
The BBC last month vowed never to rerun Diana’s 1995 Panorama interview again following the Dyson investigation which revealed journalist Martin Bashir used “deceptive behaviour” to get the scoop.
Bashir forged bank statements which he showed to Diana’s brother to gain access to the princess.
William and Harry, in separate statements, condemned the BBC for its treatment of their mother, with William saying the interview fueled her with “fear, paranoia and isolation”, and Harry saying “the The ripple effect of a culture of exploitation and unethical practices has finally taken its toll.”