Anywhere in the world the mere mention of Princess Diana’s name evokes feelings of admiration and awe on some level, regardless of how the divide between fans and detractors of Britain’s royal family is drawn.
The Princess of Wales, or the "Queen of Hearts" as she was fondly called by her avid followers, left an indelible mark on the family she married into at the age of 20.
Her death in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, sent shock waves around the globe and prompted a huge outpouring of grief. Closer to home, it left a black hole in the monarchy and a massive void in her young sons’ lives.
A quarter of a century on from that fateful day, the legacy Diana left behind still inspires her fans, intrigues authors and even haunts the institution with which she wrestled.
‘She was like a meteor’
Richard Fitzwilliams, a royal commentator who has followed the royal family for more than two decades, said it is hard for anyone to argue with the idea that Diana was unlike any other member of the monarchy, or “the firm” as it sometimes called. She cared less about airs and graces and more about forging deep connections with the people and causes closest to her heart, and this was one of the reasons so many were drawn to her, he said.
“Diana was unique,” Mr Fitzwilliams told The National. “She has a legacy of charitable causes that are unique. It was extraordinary how much she achieved in her short life. It was amazing, considering she was personally unhappy.
“There’s no doubt that she has left her mark on the world. There’s no question that she was an extraordinary person.”
Mr Fitzwilliams said one of Diana’s most impressive traits was her ability to appear upbeat in public and carry out her role as a working royal to a high standard while her life was crumbling behind the walls of Kensington Palace. It was remarkable how put together she always appeared on engagements, given that she was “deeply unhappy with failed relationships” and her seemingly fairy-tale marriage had “turned out to be a nightmare”, he noted.
‘The People’s Princess’
Mr Fitzwilliams recalled the breathtaking scenes he witnessed outside Buckingham Palace in central London in the days after Diana died, as throngs of heart-broken mourners gathered to express the nation’s loss and add their bouquets to the “mountains of flowers” left in her honour. The scale of the response was testament to the popularity enjoyed by Diana, he said.
“It was absolutely unprecedented, the grief that seemed to sweep British life,” he recalled. “Usually there’s a precedent to things in the royal family but in this case there simply wasn’t.
“Tony Blair summed it up at the time as her being ‘the People’s Princess’”.
“She was the world’s most glamorous woman. It was almost impossible to take a bad picture of her.
“She was like a meteor and left a special legacy. I think this will be a torch that will be kept alive in different ways at different times. At the moment Diana died nobody dared criticise her.”
The royal expert said the powerful legacy left behind by the princess rises to the surface time and again, particularly during major royal occasions or when fresh revelations about her life come to light.
“There will always be interest in her,” he said.
An English rose
For all the glitz and glamour that surrounded Diana whenever she stepped out of a car to the applause of waiting crowds, the fashion icon and wife of the future king was strikingly humble.
This was evident to Edith Conn, then the vice president of the Red Cross’s Greater Manchester branch when she met the princess at an event in March 1990. The curious charity boss enquired about what plans Diana had for the evening, and was surprised at the run-of-the-mill response the royal gave.
“She said ‘I am going to go home and I’m going to have beans on toast and I’m going to watch Eastenders',” Ms Conn told The National. “That tells you all you need to know about the person. She was very regal but very down to earth. I really laughed about it. We have got this person who you would imagine going home to have caviar!”
Ms Conn, who was on holiday in Spain when she received the “shocking” news of Diana’s death, believes the mother of two left behind a legacy of kindness and generosity which has since inspired a new generation of royals.
A few years after their meeting, Ms Conn approached Kensington Palace requesting a signed portrait of the princess to auction at a fundraising gala for the Red Cross, as she was patron of the charity’s youth. What she received in response went above and beyond her expectations.
“I was bowled over. All I asked for was a signed photo and she sent back a letter, a signed picture and a trinket box for rings,” she remembered. “It was just quite fantastic.
“She’s the English rose, the queen of hearts. That will always be her.
“Kindness is not something that everyone has. It’s not a given. She had it and Prince William does.”
The princess who 'hogged the limelight'
The public simply could not get enough of Diana, with her natural beauty, show-stopping outfits, delicate mannerisms and bold statements. However, this proved to be a perfect storm for the royal institution which was keen to keep Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, on top. The more Diana, or “Lady Di” as she was informally known, shone as a star in the public’s eyes, the more Charles’ popularity waned.
Michel Faure, author of the book, Charles, King of England, published in 2021, said it took the future monarch the best part of a decade to rebuild his public image which had been battered by the infidelity scandal that led to the collapse of his marriage.
“For a while Charles was almost at the bottom of public opinion and Diana was this heroine of the story,” the author told The National. “She was beautiful and she wasn’t emulated by anybody. She was popular, she was a star, she was intelligent and she was good with the press.
“It was Charles who was not very engaging with people and he still is not.
“If there had ever been a challenge to see who would win it would have been her of course.”
Mr Faure said Diana’s willingness to speak openly about her marital woes and eating disorder threatened to plunge the monarchy into an irreversible scandal, particularly because the crown is “a very fragile institution”.
But despite her ability to attract the attention of millions during her hey days, Mr Faure believes the younger generations do not hold Diana in as high regard as their parents and grandparents.
“She’s a souvenir now,” he said. “When she died she was not forgotten at all and she is remembered as a really nice princess. To the younger generation, she’s a part of history and does not belong in the present.”
‘Diana opened the floodgates’
When Diana opened the first ward dedicated to Aids and HIV-related diseases at London’s Middlesex Hospital in 1987 she crossed a boundary not many others would during an era of stigma and public shame. Without gloves, she boldly shook the hands of the 10 patients lined up to meet her.
An iconic photo of her shaking the hand of one patient — the only one who agreed to be photographed — changed the way the world viewed those afflicted with the diseases.
Royal commentator Kristen Meinzer said Diana broke down an invisible but sturdy barrier when she ripped up the rule book to embrace members of the public and show empathy with people, including those who were seen as unapproachable.
“Rather than simply smile politely while those around her bowed and curtsied, Diana chose to treat her admirers like fellow humans,” she told The National. “She laughed with them and held their hands. She got down on the same level as children and played with them. She hugged people living with HIV and Aids. And this way of conducting herself went beyond royal business.”
In the decades since Diana lost her life, her sons Prince William and Prince Harry have also ventured into previously unforeseen territory for royals and campaigned for awareness of mental health issues. This, Ms Meinzer says, is just one example of how Diana’s legacy lives on today in the royal family.
“This humanity and vulnerability could not just be put back into the bottle once it was out,” she said. “It spilled over into the rest of the firm.”
She argued that even in today's open and more liberal society, royals would still be apprehensive to speak about difficult subjects “had Diana not first opened the door”.
Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
england euro squad
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Man Utd), Sam Johnstone (West Brom), Jordan Pickford (Everton)
Defenders: John Stones (Man City), Luke Shaw (Man Utd), Harry Maguire (Man Utd), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (Man City), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Reece James (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolves), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid)
Midfielders: Mason Mount (Chelsea), Declan Rice (West Ham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Man Utd), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
Juventus v Napoli, Sunday, 10.45pm (UAE)
Match on Bein Sports
The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE
Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000
Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6
Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UK%20record%20temperature
%3Cp%3E38.7C%20(101.7F)%20set%20in%20Cambridge%20in%202019%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
The%20Emperor%20and%20the%20Elephant
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESam%20Ottewill-Soulsby%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPrinceton%20University%20Press%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E392%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJuly%2011%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
The Bio
Favourite holiday destination: Either Kazakhstan or Montenegro. I’ve been involved in events in both countries and they are just stunning.
Favourite book: I am a huge of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, which I suppose is quite apt right now. My mother introduced me to them back home in New Zealand.
Favourite film or television programme: Forrest Gump is my favourite film, that’s never been up for debate. I love watching repeats of Mash as well.
Inspiration: My late father moulded me into the man I am today. I would also say disappointment and sadness are great motivators. There are times when events have brought me to my knees but it has also made me determined not to let them get the better of me.
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
Stage result
1. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix 4:42:34
2. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe
3. Elia Viviani (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers
4. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) BikeExchange-Jayco
5. Emils Liepins (Lat) Trek-Segafredo
6. Arnaud Demare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
7. Max Kanter (Ger) Movistar Team
8. Olav Kooij (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
9. Tom Devriendt (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
10. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) UAE Team Emirate
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The specs: 2019 Cadillac XT4
Price, base: Dh145,000
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged in-line four-cylinder engine
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 237hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 350Nm @ 1,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
UAE - India ties
The UAE is India’s third-largest trade partner after the US and China
Annual bilateral trade between India and the UAE has crossed US$ 60 billion
The UAE is the fourth-largest exporter of crude oil for India
Indians comprise the largest community with 3.3 million residents in the UAE
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi first visited the UAE in August 2015
His visit on August 23-24 will be the third in four years
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited India in February 2016
Sheikh Mohamed was the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations in January 2017
Modi will visit Bahrain on August 24-25
Bombshell
Director: Jay Roach
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie
Four out of five stars
Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
Voy!%20Voy!%20Voy!
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Omar%20Hilal%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Muhammad%20Farrag%2C%20Bayoumi%20Fouad%2C%20Nelly%20Karim%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WHAT ARE NFTs?
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are tokens that represent ownership of unique items. They allow the tokenisation of things such as art, collectibles and even real estate.
An NFT can have only one official owner at one time. And since they're minted and secured on the Ethereum blockchain, no one can modify the record of ownership, not even copy-paste it into a new one.
This means NFTs are not interchangeable and cannot be exchanged with other items. In contrast, fungible items, such as fiat currencies, can be exchanged because their value defines them rather than their unique properties.
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
