Diana's legacy continues to be a mixed one for royal family

TWO decades after the death of Diana, the "People's Princess" continues to capture the popular imagination of many in the United Kingdom and around the world. In part, this is because of the strength of the legacy of her charitable endeavours which have been recognised across much of the globe.

Yet, her tragic and untimely passing on Aug 31, 1997, which led to Queen Elizabeth II facing one of her most turbulent times in office, continues to be problematic for the British royal family. Only last week, for instance, a YouGov poll found that almost a third of the UK public feels the royal family has not shown Princess Diana's memory enough respect.

And this feature of public opinion is particularly troubling for Prince Charles, her ex-husband and heir to the throne, with only a third in the same survey believing that "he has been beneficial for the royal family". This is down by nearly two-thirds compared to four years ago, underlining tha…