Local Brits remember Diana in different ways
DOWNTOWN As thousands of Londoner’s gathered Friday to solemnly mark the 10th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death, British expatriates in Santa Monica spent the day doing what they normally do and weren’t caught up in the mania that still surrounds the tragic figure.
Apparently time does heal all wounds. “Being away from home for so long, you kind of get detached from everything. It’s just not that big of a deal here,” said James Turner, as he drank an English ale while watching a soccer match on the tele at Ye Old King’s Head pub, a popular hangout for bloke’s and birds to gather and chin wag.
“I can’t believe it’s been 10 years,” Turner added.
That was a common response from ex-pats when asked to give their thoughts on Diana’s death. The pain of losing Britain’s greatest ambassador has faded over the years. While most seemed to still carry a bit of sadness with them as they reminisced about where they were on the night when Diana died in a car crash in Paris, it seems there are more pressing things on their minds.
Diana did grace the cover of this week’s British Weekly, a newspaper published in Santa Monica, however, the entire issue was not dedicated to her, as was the case when she died.
“There are more important things going on in the world,” said Editor Neil Fletcher, who said readers are more interested in the story of an 11-year-old boy in Liverpool who was shot and killed by another boy who pulled up beside him on a BMX bike than they are in the furor over Camilla Parker Bowles’ decision to stay away from the memorial.
“I suspect those in West Hollywood will be doing more to remember her than Brits here because she was so loved by the gay community,” Fletcher said.
Theresa Dulley, owner of the Tudor House, which calls itself the “British center of Southern California,” said she wasn’t thinking about Diana until asked by a reporter to comment on the anniversary.
“I was in complete and utter shock,” Dulley said as she recalled the day she learned Diana had died. She was camping in Northern California when the news broke. “She was an adoring, beautiful woman who was sophisticated but also able to connect with everyone she came in contact with. She wasn’t like the rest of the royal family.”
In her shop, where she sells fine British china, chocolates and teas, Dulley has a picture of Diana hanging near the cash register. There is also a picture of Queen Elizabeth, too.
“Americans have a great love of the princess,” Dulley said.“I’ve noticed that people are very fond of her here. I don’t think you will hear anything bad about her.”
Sarah Gaylen, who stopped into the gift shop at the King’s Head, said as an American who grew up reading about Diana in the tabloids that she had mixed feelings about the princess. On one hand she saw her as a true humanitarian who worked tirelessly to help those with AIDs. On the other hand, tabloids often played on her marital struggles, her infidelity and her battle with bulimia, portraying her as a troubled individual.
“You couldn’t help but feel sorry for her,” Gaylen said. “She seemed so together, so strong, and then at other times it seemed like she was barely holding on. It was really strange to see those two sides of her. It still follows her 10 years later.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 1, 2007. Read the original PDF.