The best celebrity quotes about Princess Diana

August 31, 2020

<strong><a href="/tags/0/princess-diana">Princess Diana</a></strong> was beloved the world over by people in every country - including celebrities and stars, too! The People's Princess had many famous friends, and they said plenty of incredible things about her during her life. But when she passed away tragically in 1997, there was an outpouring of love and sadness for her that included celebs sharing how much she'd meant to them. That has continued in the 23 years since her death - in 2017, dozens of celebrity fans (some of whom were very young when she passed away) continued to comment on what she'd meant to them and how she'd changed the world.
<p><strong>Click through the gallery or keep reading (if you're on mobile) to see some of the best things celebs have said about Diana, from her good friend <strong><a href="/tags/0/elton-john">Elton John</a></strong> to <strong><a href="/tags/0/lena-dunham">Lena Dunham</a></strong>.
<p>Photo: © Getty Images

“Diana made time for everyone. I treasure her thoughtful, handwritten notes & memories of a kind, caring woman.”
- <a href="/tags/0/richard-branson"><strong>Richard Branson</a></strong>
<p>Photo: © Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images

“An unbelievable woman who in person had such grace and kindness about her.”
<p>- British interior designer <strong>Kelly Hoppen</strong>
<p>Photo: © Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

“<a href="/tags/0/princess-diana"><strong>Princess Diana</a></strong> was the epitome of compassion, love & kindness. She was so committed to being of service to humanity. She was a jewel.”
<p>- <strong><a href="/tags/0/paula-abdul">Paula Abdul</a></strong>
<p>Photo: © Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

“I was nervous and didn’t know what to wear, but remember as soon as she came into the room and we started talking, it was like talking to a girlfriend. She was a class act and showed us all what a modern day princess should be.”
<p> - <strong><a href="/tags/0/cindy-crawford">Cindy Crawford</a></strong>
<p>Photo: © Instagram/cindycrawford

“To little girls everywhere, <strong><a href="/tags/0/princess-diana">Diana</a></strong> was an object of fascination and not just because she was a princess - she projected a kind of ambition and hunger to be heard, seen and understood in her totality... Her mystique, beauty and longing made her a beautifully complex figure to adore and I wish we could have seen her next phase and heard from her about the pressures and expectations of the rigid role she was assigned. She would have enlightened us.”
<p>- <strong><a href="/tags/0/lena-dunham">Lena Dunham</a></strong>
<p>Photo: © Jayne Fincher/Getty Images

“Tom and I had the privilege to meet <strong><a href="/tags/0/princess-diana">Princess Diana</a></strong> at the <i>Apollo 13</i> screening in London. She could not have been more gracious, charming, funny and kind. I was expecting our second son at the time and she kept asking me if I was comfortable, and if I needed anything.
<p>“She was a gregarious dinner partner, laughing and engaged. I think she felt like a 'normal' person. It was when she got up from the table it became so noticeable that she wasn't 'normal.' The entire restaurant went silent and watched her as she made her way through the tables to go to the ladies room.
<p>“With all the scrutiny, she managed to teach us that it was safe to hold the hand of an HIV/AIDS patient, to treat the homeless with dignity, to be fearless in love of humanity. I often wonder what she would have done with her future had she lived.”
<p> - <strong><a href="/tags/0/rita-wilson">Rita Wilson</a></strong>
<p>Photo: © Tim Graham Picture Library via Getty Images

“Tom and I had the privilege to meet Princess Diana at the Apollo 13 screening in London. She could not have been more gracious, charming, funny and kind. I was expecting our second son at the time and she kept asking me if I was comfortable, and if I needed anything.

“She was a gregarious dinner partner, laughing and engaged. I think she felt like a 'normal' person. It was when she got up from the table it became so noticeable that she wasn't 'normal.' The entire restaurant went silent and watched her as she made her way through the tables to go to the ladies room.

“With all the scrutiny, she managed to teach us that it was safe to hold the hand of an HIV/AIDS patient, to treat the homeless with dignity, to be fearless in love of humanity. I often wonder what she would have done with her future had she lived.”

- Rita Wilson

Photo: © Tim Graham Picture Library via Getty Images

“I was lucky enough to count Princess Di as a friend. I was first introduced to her when she came backstage after a concert I did in London. Then we'd bump into each other at premieres or events where she'd be the guest of honour. We'd fall into conversation then we'd meet for tea… My instinct was to protect her. We talked about everything under the sun. She loved music.”
<p>- <strong><a href="/tags/0/liza-minnelli">Liza Minnelli</a></strong>
<p>Photo: © Tim Graham Picture Library via Getty Images

“I kind of feel guilty because she did really like me as a person, and I tended to shy away from calling her because I thought she must have so many people calling her for all the wrong reasons. I knew she was so suspicious of people by then, so I would almost treat her the way I know some people treat me. I would presume it was an intrusion to call, when actually you know they're lonely and would hear a friendly voice.”
<p> - <strong><a href="/tags/0/george-michael">George Michael</a></strong>
<p>Photo: © Tim Graham/Getty Images

“Whether it was attending a charity event or wearing a designer, she did a world of good.”
<p> - <strong><a href="/tags/0/anna-wintour">Anna Wintour</a></strong> (right)
<p>“I called her [about being the guest of honour at a breast cancer research benefit] and said, ‘Look, can you possibly do this?’ She didn’t say, ‘I’ll think about it’ or ‘I can call you back’ or ‘I’ll ask my committee.’ She just said yes.”
<p>- Former <i>Washington Post</i> publisher <strong>Katherine Graham</strong> (centre)
<p>Photo: © Pool/AFP/Getty Images

“Perhaps that’s why the world fell in love with Diana — she let people see her insecurity and vulnerability. She seemed to wear both on her sleeve. Yes, she was a princess, but somehow, she was like all of us.”
<p> - <strong><a href="/tags/0/katie-couric">Katie Couric</a></strong>
<p>Photo: © Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

“I think what we are really about is what Lady Diana had, real girl power.”
<p> - <strong><a href="/tags/0/spice-girls">Spice Girls</a></strong>'s <strong><a href="/tags/0/geri-horner">Geri Horner</a></strong> in 1997
<p>Photo: © Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

“<a href="/tags/0/princess-diana"><strong>Princess Diana</a></strong> made everybody feel good. You could tell her spirit and her vibe were so right.”
<p> - <strong><a href="/tags/0/puff-daddy">Diddy</a></strong>, pictured above with <strong><a href="/tags/0/prince-william">Prince William</a></strong>, <strong><A href="/tags/0/kanye-west">Kanye West</a></strong> and <strong><a href="/tags/0/prince-harry">Prince Harry</a></strong> at the Concert for Diana in 2007.
<p>Photo: © Carl de Souza/AFP/Getty Images

“The best way to honour someone like [Diana] is to stop the production of landmines. If we're really sorry about the loss, that's what she would have wanted us to do.”
<p>- <strong>Jamiroquai</strong> singer <strong>Jay Kay</strong>
<p>Photo: © Getty Images