Princess Diana's Funeral Part 1: The Anticipation Builds

First of thirty-nine parts of BBC coverage of Princess Diana's Funeral on Saturday, 6 September 1997.

From 9am to 3.30pm that day, I recorded a VHS tape for six hours on long play. Apologies for the quality, the tape deteriorated over the last ten years from repeated viewings.

The tape begins with an introduction from David Dimbleby and reports from Sally Magnusson and Krishnan Guru-Murthy on the anticipation during the wait for the Funeral cortege to emerge from Kensington Palace. Big Ben can be heard chiming nine o'clock at the start of this historic and very sad day.

• Category

  News & Politics

[ravenswing64]

I have just plucked up the courage to watch this, I was underneath Big Ben that day and never saw the coverige. thank you.

[tribecatom]

Be interesting to hear your memories of the day.

[atidgulagula]

she has to be the queen of england and she will always be forever and ever,, even kate middleton coudn't compare with her,, DIANA, THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND

[Armana14]

i was 7 when she died and i remember my mother crying and i knew she loved her for the kind of human being she was but as i grew up i realized that she was loved by all.She was such an inspiration to all young and old alike.I love her a lot.

[synysterrhys]

This is the beauty of the United Kingdom. The world watched. Our princess. Forever, and always.

[DaMakingOv]

Yeah i was 6. i remember i asked my mum 'whats in the box?' an she said 'Diana is' I was so shocked/disturbed. 

[TheBluecow12]

What a shame. about 10 years earlier, she was crying at Grace Kelly's funeral. Now she was the one to be cried at. :( So many great people have died... unfortunately, clearing the way for the immature, little kids that have power over so many things today.

[kerry ashcroft]

i still miss her, and think of her when ever i see her son's an kate on tv. still very sadly missed xxx

[bigdaddy4069]

It's coverage

[TheLilylee]

Who the hell dislikes videos like this? Like, how the did You even end up here?

[neongirluk]

This is a good reminder for those to wear your seatbelt . The only one in the car who did is still alive. It is sad she died but I am sure she would want others to go through what her family did.

[bukster1]

I actually met my wife on the day of this funeral. We met, spent some time together. I dropped her off at her home and went back to mine. We both stayed up to watch the funeral on New Zealand TV at our separate homes. It went until early morning. We should have watched it together, but her family probably wouldn't have liked her to ring a boy she had only met a couple of hours ago into the home to stay until 3 AM.

[Lena Jahn]

sad :(

[Melissa Warren]

31aug1997 day the queen died also the day england died! Diana I was to young to know you but I now know you were the best person/women this world will ever have had. Kate will do a brilliant job but she will never be you. Just your eyes could have changed sumones life! You must be so proud of your sons! :-) The world misses you. Xxxxxxx