World Remembers Diana

Emotions vary as world considers princess' legacy.

ByABC News
January 8, 2009, 1:06 AM

Aug. 31, 2007 — -- Hundreds of people gathered in London today to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the death of Diana, princess of Wales.

People laid flowers in front of Kensington Palace, where she used to live, and paid their respects.

In the Guards Chapel, near Buckingham Palace, Diana's sons and her former husband, surrounded by relatives, friends and acquaintances of the princess, remembered Diana's life.

But the outpouring of emotion today was not limited to London or to the British people. Around the world, reactions to the 10th anniversary of Diana's death ranged from heartfelt tributes to complete indifference.

In Germany, morning television shows showed footage of Diana's royal engagement and wedding, as well as other highlights celebrating her life.

To commemorate her life and death, the country's biggest tabloid, Bild Zeitung, invited its readers to participate in a portrait drawing competition.

In response, readers sent in more than 1,000 drawings of Diana. The winner will receive a two-day trip to London, a helicopter ride over the memorial in Althorpe and a visit to the Diana memorial exhibition at Kensington Palace.

Bild Zeitung's online service is also hosting a book of condolences, which has received several thousand entries from all over the world since it opened a week ago.

"You will be missed," wrote Irmgard Gilbert from Tennessee. "Even 10 years later you are the Princess of our hearts."

In Paris this morning, a smattering of people gathered at the Pont D'Alma tunnel, the scene of Diana's death.

Mourners, mainly tourists, laid wreaths of flowers and photographs in tribute to Diana.

Janice Weber from San Diego told ABC News, "I feel sadness and yet, when I got here, I thought this is wonderful, because people have not forgotten her life."

Sabi Uppal from Birmingham, England, found it harder to reconcile herself with Diana's death.

"Ten years after her death, I still feel disbelief," Uppal said. "I think it's hard to believe that she is no longer around doing all the charity work that she did."