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A new expression has recently found itself in circulation amongst the younger generation despite the subject having passed nearly three decades ago, that being ‘She’s my Princess Diana’. This phrase gained popularity on social media, specifically in conversations and posts surrounding women who are particularly idolised or admired.

The term reflects the attitude held towards Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales, who gained the affections of not only the British public, but the hearts of those worldwide. This adoration ultimately led to her being referred to as ‘The People’s Princess’, a title originally given in a 1992 magazine article which then became widely adopted following a speech made after her death in 1997 by then prime minister Tony Blair. This term used to describe Diana conveys the admiration and affection she garnered in her life, as well as the loss and grief people still feel years after her tragic death. Alongside being admired for her selflessness and her devotion to helping others, she is remembered as one of the most influential women of the last century, as featured in TIME’s 1987 edition and their 100 Women of the Year.

One of the ways in which she made such a positive impact was by the continuous work she did for numerous humanitarian causes. She initially placed her focus on children’s welfare where she acted as a voice for young people experiencing homelessness, and later in her life she advocated for those with AIDS and HIV by shaking hands with patients which changed the public’s perception of the diseases. At the time, people didn’t understand the illness and there was fear and stigma surrounding sufferers, but through Diana’s contact with these individuals she showed that it was not spread by casual contact and people living with the disease deserved empathy and support instead of isolation and suspicion. She used her social status to consistently break the stigma surrounding those less fortunate than herself which is one of the reasons she is remembered as being so selfless.

Whilst striving to change the world’s view of those less privileged than herself, she also gave numerous vulnerable interviews throughout her later life where she opened up about her own battle with mental health, specifically post-natal depression and bulimia, which really broke the perceived divide between the public and herself. This vulnerability allowed people to relate to her, seeing her not only as a princess but as a woman with real and perceivable struggles.The stigma surrounding the royals and the belief that they are constantly perfectly polished was altered and made her sincerity pivotal in the movement towards the modernised view of the royals. Her bravery when acknowledging and discussing her own difficulties so openly was an important step towards the updated perspective of mental health and inspired increased support for those struggling. 

So why has an expression used in discussions of the late Princess resurfaced in today’s society? This could be attributed to the rise of influencers and cancel culture. Someone who is popular one moment can have past mistakes revealed or offer an unfavoured opinion and instantly lose their popularity. The younger generation are in need of someone they can look up to who shares the same values as Diana. So with this desperation for a genuine role model, ‘My Princess Diana’ is a phrase attached to those that individuals admire or look up to. They associate these feelings of admiration with how their parents or even the public felt towards the princess.

Another explanation for the revival of the phrase could be how iconic Diana is in British culture and so women who are thought of as iconic, whether that be through their support of a worthy cause, showcasing their talent or even an impressive PR stunt are now being hailed as women’s own ‘Princess Diana’ or ‘People’s Princess’. The phrase also gained popularity after the 2023 release of Ice Spice’s single titled ‘Princess Diana’ which she wrote after being labelled by her fans as their own Princess Diana. She was originally confused by the comparison but later embraced it quoted saying “She’s iconic”. Since then it has been used in comment sections and videos on TikTok and Instagram to address people the creators admire.

For some, this comparison is thought to be disrespectful, especially as a lot of the individuals young people look up to today are social media influencers or television personalities who tend to appear superficial or insincere, whereas Princess Diana represented regality and poise. However, in reality, this term is not necessarily a direct comparison between the two and instead a reference to the affection that people hold separately for both of these individuals.

So, the revival of ‘The People’s Princess’ is really a nod to Diana and almost passes the torch to the public figures of today and new idols that the younger generation can look up to. So, through all the important work that she did during her life she has left behind a long-lasting legacy that those young and old search for in others, even now.