Date: Fri 05-Sep-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Princess-Diana

Full Text:

GENNEWS

The Death Of A Princess Brings Varied Responses In Newtown

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

Nearly a week later, people in Newtown are still talking about the tragic

death of Princess Diana, who was killed in an auto accident in Paris last

Saturday.

The media coverage has been nearly non-stop all week and will continue over

the weekend as millions are expected to tune in for Saturday's funeral at

Westminster Abbey. The services will begin at 6 am Eastern time, with most

networks expected to carry live coverage of the somber event.

Diana, one of the world's most photographed people, struggled to stay out of

the spotlight. She was known around the globe as the common woman who became a

princess. As one person pointed out, this was a "modern-day lady" who knew

Elton John and Gianni Versace, personally.

She was thrust in front of the cameras for the first time in 1981 when she

entered the royal family by marrying Prince Charles, who was supposed to be

Britain's next king. The two divorced recently, sending shock waves through

England.

Ann Mazur of Newtown said she was watching "Saturday Night Live" this past

weekend when the program was switched over to NBC news for a special report on

the accident.

"I thought it was a joke at first. I was shocked. I just couldn't believe it,"

she said.

There was plenty of talk of the royal tragedy this week at Sharon's Coffee and

Tea on Church Hill Road, but emotions were mixed.

Sharon Johnstone said she was saddened by the news and wondered about the

future of Diana's children. Afterall, many have noted, Diana gave them

something the royal family could not - a glimpse at reality.

Mary Gratt, however, said she is surprised by all the coverage and wondered

what the big deal is over who should go to the funeral.

"If you want to go then go," she said, confused as to why they were planning

to televise the sad event.

Others said they thought the coverage of her death was "overkill" and were

shocked when one Major League Baseball stadium held a moment of silence before

a game this week.

"They wouldn't have even done that for the Queen," one woman said.

One resident remarked at how people have given more attention to Diana's death

than they might to a neighbor or distant relative.

But there are those who admired Lady Di for her beauty, charm and good deeds

and they say they'll remember her years from now as the woman who was "used"

by the royal family, but always managed to keep her dignity.

"Despite her celebrity status, people could identify more with Diana than they

could with the normal royal family," noted Jim Crouch of Newtown.

While the news that the driver of the car in which Diana and two others were

killed may have been legally intoxicated took some heat off the paparazzi, who

photographed the death scene, many local residents felt it was time new laws

were passed to protect the private lives of celebrities. And, as one woman

pointed out, Diana's death is unique in that many people may feel indirectly

responsible since they were the consumers who demanded this kind of

pseudo-journalistic coverage.

"Indirectly, we did this," she said.

One observer chuckled this week, imagining what it must be like for the

paparazzi that had been arrested to suddenly be in front of the camera, rather

than behind it.