20 Years Ago Today, The World Lost Princess Diana

Shortly after midnight on August 31, 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales died in a car crash trying to avoid the paparazzi. As the world learned the news, it seemed impossible to believe.

She was riding in the backseat of with Dodi Fayad who she was romantically involved with after her divorce from Prince Charles. In an effort to avoid pursuit on motorcycles by paparazzi desperate for a photo of the couple, the driver lost control and crashed into a pillar in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris at 65 miles per hour. The impact killed Fayad and the driver instantly, with Diana succumbing to internal injuries several hours later.

I remember a young Brian Williams announcing her death on a new 24-hour news channel called MSNBC.

Every newspaper in the world had the headline as her death was felt deeply across the globe. It's hard to believe it's been 20 years. Do you remember where you were when you heard the news and how you felt? Tell us in the comments below or on our Facebook page.