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Liz Smith | 04/15/2008 5:04 pm

I Read the News Today, Oh Boy: Who Still Cares? Millions Around the World Did. Some Still Do

Liz Smith
The last time I posted something about Princess Diana, I got a lot of razzing and people bothering to care enough to write in, asking: “Who cares?”

But I was interested in the following from my good friend Dominick Dunne’s column in May’s Vanity Fair magazine.

He describes a phenomenal memorial erected in Harrods by Mohamed Al Fayed to the memory of his son, Dodi, and the late princess. Dominick, who covered the recent expensive London inquest into Diana’s death, which ended, of course, without our finding out anything new that we hadn’t known back in 1997, has this to say:

“Like the conspiracy theory surrounding their deaths, their romance, too, was orchestrated by Mohamed Al Fayed. The shrine to the eternal love of Dodi and Diana in Harrods, the most famous of English department stores, owned by Al Fayed, is a popular tourist attraction. People line up to look at it. They speak in whispers, as if they were in church, instead of next to the Egyptian escalator in the basement of the store. The shrine, which is tacky but curiously touching, consists of a fountain, two large portraits – one of Dodi and one of Diana – and floor-lamp-size candles, the scent of lilies in the air. Under a glass pyramid is a crystal glass from which one of them had drunk champagne in the Imperial Suite of the Ritz Hotel (in Paris) just before they died, and the so-called engagement ring, which Dodi had bought that afternoon at the jewelry shop down the street from the Ritz. Diana never wore it.”

Well, I’m betting very few of us are going to go all the way to London to see this memorial, not with the English pound punishing the dollar the way it is doing these days (and the English pound is now being punished by the Euro). London is now the most expensive and, some say, desperate city in the world.

So in the interest of covering all bases, I decided to bring the memorial to you, courtesy of wowOwow. I’d love to know what you think about it?
Dodi_Diana_Harrods_Memorial.jpg
My personal "P.S." is, if you ever find yourself in Harrods department store, to pay very close attention to the Egyptian décor of the escalator. That is worth going there to see. And don’t miss going to the Harrods toy department.

Note: Don’t forget to read my nationally syndicated column!!

55 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Frank Peterson
I often think the world needs less monuments and a damn sight more understanding. But I’ve lived long enough and realize that maybe my thoughts are like monuments—unnecessary. And then I see less and less understanding and I realize maybe that I have lived too damn long—the dreams of my youth notwithstanding. Monuments!
By Frank Peterson on 04/15/2008 6:37 pm
DanHamrick
For balance, it needs viewed over generations. To paraphrase Clarence Darrow, one generation builds walls and prisons for them and the next generations build memorials.
By DanHamrick on 04/16/2008 5:53 pm
TheOleCroneTheOleCrone
Frank I hear ya guy, I hear ya. How many folk remember or even know that Mother Tereasa died the same day as Britain’s bad girl/good girl Princess Diana? How little homage we have paid to a Woman who gave up of herself, so much. There’s a message here. There is something about that monument that reminds me of the golden calves. And Liz thanks for the tourist tips but I think I’ll skip Herrods thank you. Just somethin’ about that name, ya know?
By TheOleCroneTheOleCrone on 04/15/2008 6:54 pm
Frank Peterson
Yep. I remember Teresa dying that day. I really however don’t think that we owe her homage—her life was her homage and maybe that’s all the she needed. Though I knew she did despair—but them who the hell hasn’t. Think I need a beer or two to shake the blues. *shakes his head*
By Frank Peterson on 04/15/2008 8:16 pm
ElizabethBennett
I feel sorry for any parent who has to bury a son. So if this comforts Mohamed Al Fayed, let it be. Still, the thing that puzzles me, always has about this terrible accident, is simple: why on earth were they not wearing their seat belts? Had they worn their seat belts, they would still be around, and there would likely be no peculiar statue in Herrod’s. They might have been a little banged up, but would have recovered. Diana would have been pleased to see her sons grow into nice young men. Maybe she would have remarried, maybe not. But so often people behave as though they were immortal by not taking simple precautions like this. This will always puzzle me. Still I think everyone was shocked to see such a relatively young woman who was so compassionate on so many issues, land mines, AIDs, etc., lose her life so early. As for Mother Teresa, sure I remember she died the same day, but I think she was in her late eighties. So her death was not as shocking.
By ElizabethBennett on 04/15/2008 7:17 pm
MsDee
Is Al Fayed trying to antagonize the Crown? What’s to be gained by that?
By MsDee on 04/15/2008 8:02 pm
MARKKLEINMD
Eons from now after we wiped ourselves out should another intelligent species emerge from that statue they’d understand the meaning of tacky.
By MARKKLEINMD on 04/15/2008 8:31 pm
CAROLINEMuLVEY
What a lovely way to remember Princess Diana. The world has been lost without her never ending efforts for the Aids patients,Land mines, and ever lasting love for people. From all walks of this world and all those who were hurting. Thank-You for sharing memorial.
By CAROLINEMuLVEY on 04/15/2008 8:36 pm
CharlesDance
sweet young mother,griveng father,opposite cultures,best written than tackled in art form.
By CharlesDance on 04/15/2008 8:55 pm
LilacMusic
The article states ‘portraits’ - The picture shows a statue. The arms hide the faces and what is with the bird? Where are those candles? This is not what I would spend my money on to memoralize someone.
By LilacMusic on 04/15/2008 8:58 pm
BethWillis
Thank you, Liz Smith, for presenting us with the opportunity to see this tribute. I too read Mr. Dunne’s description, what marvelous lives you two lead: globetrotting and chatting up the famed, feared and fanatical. Anywho, my chances of making it out the country any time soon are slim to none. It occurs to me that Mohammed Fayed lost not only a son but also a fantasy of his future life with the world’s princess as his daughter-law and the bearer of his grandchildren. I think, too, such a loss is compounded if he thought he bore any responsibility for not stopping the young couple from heading off into the night, particularly with a tanked escort behind the wheel. Mostly, I think Fayed’s heart still hurts and his eyes fill with tears at incovenient times, and he wants as much of them near him for as long as he needs. His money; his choice
By BethWillis on 04/15/2008 10:13 pm
BarbaraTaylor
Liz - thanks for showing the statue. I was very curious. Interesting that their faces are hidden. Wonder how Prince William and Prince Harry feel about the statue.
By BarbaraTaylor on 04/15/2008 10:24 pm
sandra todd robinson
The statue is incredibly tacky and tasteless in the extreme. Unfortunately Harabs as it is now called is as well, not the Harrods I knew and loved, full of tourists and goods at absurd prices.
By sandra todd robinson on 04/15/2008 11:26 pm
ReneeB1
I feel sorry for Mr. Fayed.
By ReneeB1 on 04/16/2008 12:07 am
Bonnie Oliver
All of us can sympathize with Mr. Fayed. However, he rates the first prize in social climbing antics or just plain bad taste. Take your pick.
By Bonnie Oliver on 04/16/2008 12:40 am