Princess Di was also famous for her charity work, and the exhibit honors this side of her as well, with proceeds going to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. “When she visited hospices, she would befriend the patients and write letters to them,” says Murton. This personal touch helps explain the incredible devotion she inspired during her lifetime and the outpouring of grief at her death in a car crash in 1997. “We have a condolence book where people can share their thoughts,” says John Norman, president of Arts & Exhibitions International, the company that produces the exhibition. “People from Indonesia, Japan and South America have written in these books. When she died, the whole world mourned.”
Since 1998, “Diana: A Celebration” has been visited by more than a million people at the Spencer family’s estate, where it resides during the summer, and the exhibit has traveled to a dozen cities across the globe— proving that Princess Di still has a hold on the world’s imagination. And why shouldn’t she? Everyone loves a good fairytale. “Diana: A Celebration” is at Foxwoods Resort Casino through January 15. 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket, CT, 866-646-0609; foxwoods.com
