Thousands of Olympic fans have been paying their tributes to Princess Diana at the spot where she died in a Paris road crash 27 years ago this month.
With the games bringing sports lovers to the French capital from across the world, many have also used the opportunity to remember the late Princess.
France‘s Flame of Liberty has become the unofficial memorial to Diana, as it is positioned above the tunnel where she died on August 31, 1997.
Olympic fans diverted from the sports arenas to take time to visit the memorial at Pont de l’Alma which is a short walk from the Eiffel Tower where beach volleyball is taking place.
Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris 27 years ago. Olympic fans have been paying their respects at the site of the crash
From left to right, Luca Antoniutti, Arya Kahramaner, Marcela Antoniutti, Carla de Castro Ferreira and Luiz Antoniutti at the Princess Diana Memorial
A woman poses by the Flame of Liberty which has become the unofficial memorial to Diana
An Olympic fan leaves a message in tribute to the late princess who tragically died nearly three decades ago
The Flame of Liberty at Pont de l’Alma in Paris is positioned above the tunnel where Diana died on August 31, 1997
Some bowed their heads and clasped their hands in prayer in memory of Diana who died along with partner Dodi Fayed and the Mercedes-Benz driver Henri Paul when it crashed inside the tunnel.
Among those remembering Diana was Brazilian Luiz Antoniutti who with his wife, daughter and son visited the memorial and said a short prayer for her.
His son Luca, 26, who was with his girlfrfiend, said: ‘If I have a daughter, I will name her Diana.
‘I know all about the name Diana in Roman mythology and the strength of that figure. But Princess Diana was one of the strongest Dianas the world has ever had.’
Luca, an architect from near Sao Paulo, added: ‘Diana died maybe a year or so before I was born. But I know what a good person she was. She was incredibly strong and inspired many young people like me and we talk a lot about her.
His father said: ‘Diana was a sweet girl who cared for others, particularly children. She had a beautiful heart
Some bowed their heads and clasped their hands in prayer in memory of Diana who died along with partner Dodi Fayed and the Mercedes-Benz driver Henri Paul
Kathy Rapley, 43, and her wife Neysha, 33, travelled to Paris from Aberdeen for the Olympics and took a detour to remember Diana at the spot where she died
‘In Brazil we do not have a monarchy, but many millions of people in my country loved Diana. We saw how she treated everyone as an equal and we respected her for that very much.
‘I have brought my family and my son’s girlfriend to Paris for the Olympics to see the tennis, football and athletics, but we could not leave France without respecting Diana’s memory.’
Emma Stones, 40, from Leeds visited the memorial with husband Lee and said it was one of her priorities to pay her respects.
‘I suppose this place where our Princess died is not only historical like the terrible attack on Twin Towers in New York, but also a place for us to remember the amazing woman we so tragically lost. I am sad though that this memorial doesn’t actually mention her.’
Lee added: ‘Emma and me have come here for the Olympics, but seeing this memorial and remembering Diana was always on our list.
‘I can still remember the day Diana died and with a lot of sadness.
‘Emma’s mother Christine was a big Diana fan and used to buy the magazines when she was on the cover and they would study every detail and just loved her so much.
‘She was such an inspiration and a strong woman despite all that she went through.’
Kathy Rapley, 43, and her wife Neysha, 33, travelled to Paris from Aberdeen for the Olympics and took a detour to remember Diana at the spot where she died.
Kathy, 43, a teacher, said: ‘Diana was a wonderful humanitarian and she would speak up for people from all sorts of different backgrounds.
‘She would treat chief executives from major corporations and the homeless out on the streets the same with her kind nature.’
The Flame of Liberty was presented by the USA to France eight years before Diana’s death as a thank you, for French expertise in the restoration of the Statue of Liberty in New York
A woman takes a selfie by the Flame of Liberty. Although not officially designated as a memorial to Diana, its proximity to the scene of the tragedy has made it a natural home for mourners to pay their respects
Augustus Dhana, 63, a doctor from Accra in Ghana, said: ‘This is my first visit to Paris and I came for the Olympics, but I could not leave after the Olympics without paying my respects to this beautiful woman Princess Diana.
‘My family and I have always been fascinated with her, particularly the way that she loved everybody the same. She did a lot of great work for Africa with humanitarian causes.
‘I will always regret that we missed so much of her life. She would have been so powerful in pushing for more medical help, education and clean water for poorer people.
‘I have my seven-year-old daughter with me and we stood here for about 30 minutes and I told her all about Diana and now when she gets back to school in Accra she will tell all her friends too. We must not forget Diana.’
Although not officially designated as a memorial to Diana, its proximity to the scene of the tragedy has made it a natural home for mourners to pay their respects.
The Flame of Liberty was presented by the USA to France eight years before Diana’s death as a thank you, for French expertise in the restoration of the Statue of Liberty in New York.
