Last night as I sat listening to Matt Lauer’s Dateline conversation with Diana’s sons, Princes William and Harry, I was impressed with their desire to celebrate Diana’s life and energy. They want to focus on what she brought to the world—not on any image that the press has given of her.

I remember the moment I found out…wow, almost tens years ago now…about Diana’s accident and death in August 1997. My own son had only been a few weeks old when Diana died and I recall feeling shock, disbelief, horror, and sadness. It was that sudden, unexpected loss that had ripped at my heart (just like when my sister, Cindy, died eight years earlier) – it didn’t matter that I hadn’t known Diana personally because I had cherished her, as did so many people around the world.

Lauer asked Princes William and Harry if they thought they would ever see a day when they won’t wonder what happened (in the tunnel) the day their mother died. Basically their answer was, “No.” And I understand that. I know I will always wonder, just as I will always wonder what really happened to my sister, Cindy James.

Thankfully the brothers had each other to rely on to deal with Diana’s death. And I understand that too. I know I could never have dealt with Cindy’s tragedy if I hadn’t had my sister, Marlene, beside me.

Thanks, Marlene, for all your support and love!

Melanie Hack
Author of Who Killed My Sister, My Friend
The unsolved mystery of the death of Cindy James