World Remembers Diana

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."

But not everywhere was Diana remembered with such emotion.

In Italy, the press paid little attention to the anniversary of her death. None of the major newspapers mentioned it on their front page, though many publications had fun reporting the latest episode of the royal saga over the last few weeks — would Camilla attend the memorial service?

When asked by ABC News how they remembered Princess Diana, most Italians seemed unaware of the date and shrugged their shoulders.

"Lots of more important people have died in unclear circumstances in Italy over the years and we still know nothing," Francesco Manetti said.

Alberto Fatata, a newsstand owner, said he has a few special edition DVDs and glossy magazines about Diana on display this week, but has sold none so far.

"Nobody has asked for anything about her," Fatata said.

Nevertheless, some Italian television programs about the life of Princess Diana have aired to large audiences this summer.

"This story is like an endless novel really," said Corrado Augias, a television journalist who has worked on at least three programs about Diana over the years. "People never seem to tire of hearing the same things over and over again about this story."

In Russia, the press had few loving words for the princess.

Instead the country's papers focused more on the "who done it," with articles like "Who Killed Princess Diana?" a detailed analysis of the different explanations surrounding her death.

One Web site even featured a short piece entitled "New Witnesses: The Death of Princess Diana Was Not an Accident."

But enough dramas are airing on Russian television tonight to please Diana's Russian fan base. Back-to-back programs include the new documentary "Princess Diana — Last Day in Paris" and the motion picture "The Queen," featuring actress Helen Mirren.

In Spain, some were critical of what has been called the British mass hysteria surrounding Diana's death.

Recalling British newspaper the Daily Mail's coverage of Diana's death, the Spanish paper El Pais took a stab at her followers, as well as the British media.

More than in the streets, churches, palaces or hospitals, El Pais argued, Diana's loss is felt on the front pages of the tabloids.

"The paparazzi are the ones that will really miss her," the paper wrote. "They are the ones that will never forget her."

ABC News' Fabiola Antezana, Christine Brouwer, Christel Kucharz, Phoebe Natanson, Christophe Schpoliansky and Alexandra Nadezhdina contributed to this report.