As the 22nd anniversary of Princess Diana’s tragic death approaches, the city of Paris is paying homage in a meaningful way.
According to French publisher Le Monde, the city plans to rename the plaza above Pont de l’Alma Road “Place Diana.” If the city council vote goes through, the plaza will become a permanent memorial site of the location where the late princess lost her life in a car wreck alongside her boyfriend and driver on August 31, 1997.
Parisiennes and visitors alike have long paid tribute to Princess Diana at this site, leaving flowers, photos and candles at the plaza adjacent to the crash site at all hours of the day. The location of her passing is already accented by a golden flame-shaped monument, the Flame of Liberty, which is modeled after the Statue of Liberty’s flame. But renaming it after her would further recognize her legacy and philanthropic contributions to the city of Paris.
The plaza is currently named for opera singer Maria Callas. City officials announced today that the city council will vote on June 11 to have it named after Princess Diana. Callas already has a nearby street named after her, so changing the name of the plaza would not erase her legacy.
