Could it actually be ten years ago that you died? I was in a hotel in France when I turned on the TV very early in the morning. Trying to figure out what had happened with my limited French from the French commentary was very frustrating. Diana has died, will die, might die, could die, should die. In fact, she had died - tragically in a tunnel chased by the paparazzi.

Oh what fun we had when you were alive. I brought a TV into my office the day of the wedding and all of us sat around transfixed by the pageantry. Little did we know, nor did you, that the wedding was a hoax and Charles' love and devotion belonged elsewhere. And then, the famous interview, where, with thick black eyeliner, you came off exactly as you planned, the tragic wife, abandoned by a callous husband and his cruel family. Oh, how we all hated Charles, and the rest of them. And then the mourning that just wouldn't end when you died. The Queen reviled by her usually loyal British subjects. The Queen, for once, not knowing what to do. The sweet young girl with the peaches and cream complexion and shy look, but you made them all sit up and take notice of you in the end.

Today, there will be a memorial service held in London. All members of the Royal Family will be in attendance, except one - Camilla Parker Bowles, Prince Charles' wife. Invited, ostensibly by the two Princes, with a plan for her to sit on the front row with Charles and Diana's two sons, there was such a howl of fury by the British public, that eventually Camilla pulled out and will be 'out of town'.

As Diana explained it during her famous TV interview shortly after the breakup of her marriage, "There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded." Well, Diana, there will be plenty of space today - just Charles and your two sons! Guess you got the last laugh.

Gillian Parrillo
SacWomen