Chapter 25 1. The Princess Without Gloves

In October 1981, Charles and Diana went to Wales for a three-day visit, which was Diana's first royal mission as Princess of Wales. The first time she showed extraordinary talent and extraordinary. In the face of the thousands of people who poured out to welcome her in the streets, Diana behaved so devotedly and naturally, as if she had been used to it for 20 years. What surprised Charles was not only the popularity of his new wife, but also the way she shook hands and talked so affectionately without wearing white gloves. Long white gloves are almost the hallmark of Buckingham Palace women.In all public places, they will wear long white gloves, whether it is winter or summer.White gloves are noble, reserved, and a symbol of distance.

But Diana didn't care about that, she frankly held countless pairs of enthusiastic hands, longing hands, and showed a charming smile.She is the daughter of a commoner, and she doesn't want to put another layer of gloves on the real life she lost.She held those hands calmly, warm, wet, cold, dry, soft, and strong. The people were fascinated by it, and the fairy tale princess came to them with a smile, talking and touching, and a momentary smile seemed to heal all the vicissitudes in their hearts. That was their princess—a commoner princess without gloves. After 10 years of rough marriage, Diana was reborn and devoted herself to charity with double enthusiasm.She finally understands that as a princess, her value is not only in her beautiful appearance, she can also use her status as a princess to comfort those distressed and unfortunate people with her natural love.

In the 1988 Swiss avalanche accident, while trying to comfort her friends, she also experienced spiritual growth. In June 1990, the Crown Prince injured his right arm while playing polo in Chironcester and was sent to a local hospital.After weeks of treatment and rest, with no improvement, doctors advised him to undergo a second surgery.Friends of the Crown Prince recommended Nottingham University Hospital to him.During her visit to Charles, Diana further discovered her worth. After visiting her husband, she always spent some time with other patients, especially Dean Woodward, who was injured in a car accident and was unconscious.Out of natural sympathy, she used to silently guard his bedside for a long time.Diana visited him at his home after he was released from hospital.

For Diana, this is very natural.After the press bought the news from Dean's family, they made a big splash as usual.Diana was amazed at the efficiency of the press. Away from the cameras, smiling dignitaries and curious public, Diana was able to reveal her true feelings more naturally. Three days ago, there was a tragedy in Bowderton Village. The hostess Freda Hickling suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and was dying.In the intensive care area, Diana discovered from behind the curtain that Freda was on assisted breathing apparatus, and her husband Peter anxiously held his wife's hand and sat beside her.

After learning from the doctor that Freda was in the last moment of her life, Diana quietly asked Peter for permission to guard the patient with him.Quietly she also put a hand on the hand that Peter was holding on his wife.About two hours later, the patient passed away quietly.Diana then walked into a room with Peter, his stepson Neil, and Neil's fiancée Hugh.Xio just fainted from the scene of the rescue, and didn't recognize Diana, but only vaguely felt that she looked like someone who had appeared on TV. "Just call me Diana," said the princess.To ease their grief over the loss of a loved one, Diana chatted with them about everyday matters.She talked with Hugh about daily life, the size of the hospital, the crown prince's injuries, etc. She also asked about Neil's forestry business.

Diana even asked the bodyguard to find a bottle of gin to reassure Peter.Peter later recalled: "Even though we didn't know each other, she was able to find ways to cheer us up. It showed that she was very good at dealing with people and problems. It took a lot of work for Neil to deal with it calmly. The death of his biological mother. By the time we left the hospital, he and Diana were like old friends. He went up and kissed her on the cheek as we parted." Neil agrees with his stepfather: "She's a very sweet, understanding person who can be trusted. She understands what death is, what grief is."

As Neil and Peter prepare for the funeral, they receive an unexpected letter of condolence from Kensington Palace.In the letter, written on special letterhead, Diana wrote: Dear Peter: I've been thinking about you and Neil these days.But it's hard for me to imagine the magnitude of the pain and loss you have to go through. You were so strong in the hospital that Saturday.But I have been worried about how you will face it after you return home and feel sad. I want you to know that I am thinking of you and praying for you.What happened to you has been on my mind for days.I wish I could give you some comfort.

Enclosed is my love and heartfelt sympathy! diana This incident became another growth ladder in Diana's life.For a long time, she thought she was worthless, useless to the world other than looking good.And now she knows she can be of help to others.When people got great encouragement and comfort from her help, Diana also saw a new Diana smiling at her. She has discovered her self-worth.She regained her confidence and bravely took on some challenging hard work.Her interest turned to health careers, such as caring for AIDS patients. She is no longer an idol in the royal family of Windsor with the title of "Her Royal Highness Princess of Wales", but a life with flesh and blood, thoughts and feelings. She is no longer a useless person who doesn't understand anything except dressing, eating and fashionable life taste A human being, but a useful person who grows from his own painful experience and brings joy to other suffering beings.

As her interests changed, she spent less time in some other departments.At one of the ballet executive committee meetings, the ballet board blamed the emeritus director for spending less time on ballet.Diana replied calmly and firmly: "There are things in life that are more important than ballet. People are dying in the streets." In January 1992, in the cold winter of London, she and the Roman Catholic Cardinal of England and Wales, Basil Hume, visited homeless shelters seven times in disguise.Basil Hume is a patron of the Foundation for the Homeless.Accompanied by the cardinal, she visited an asylum on the south bank of the Thames one weekend.There are some homeless teenagers there, many of whom have been sheltered because of alcoholism and drug abuse.They were surprised by the Princess of Wales' visit on such a cold weekend night, and some asked provocative questions.

When Diana was talking with them, a drunkard bumped in, after a moment of stupor, muttered "Hello, beauty!" which made the cardinal extremely embarrassed.Someone told him to shut up, but the drunkard didn't want to listen to anyone's dissuasion. Instead, he added: "I don't know who she is, but she's a pretty girl!" Diana didn't take it to heart, she still chatted and joked with those young people.These people, despite their rude and ill-bred manners, gave her a feeling of being more at home than with the royals and courtiers.They are sincere and have not been bound by rules and regulations.

Her interests changed.When she was the princess of England, she, like all royal family members, loved to watch the annual spectacle of knights in costumes and those magnificent and beautiful horses marching.But when she was Diana herself, she found how boring those scenes were. During the Royal Ascot Jockey Club in 1991, she only showed up on 2 out of 5 days, and the rest of the time was used to participate in other charity activities."I don't like the grand spectacle anymore because I feel awkward. I'd rather do something real," she told a friend. She put aside her identity and devoted herself to charity without any scruples.A few years ago, she always felt guilty about all the praise she received, when she was just a fashion star.But today, every friendly word and every friendly gesture will give her great satisfaction.While saving others, she also saved herself.Every time I do something for others, my life is enriched and enriched. Deep in her heart is an innate desire to help and devotion to those who are sick and dying.Diana has discussed her inner feelings with some religious leaders, including the Archbishop of Canterbury and other priests.She said: "Where there is pain, that is where I want to go and where I will do my best." Visiting patients in the hospital is not a kind of official duty for her, but a kind of satisfaction. One day in July 1991, Barbara Bush, then wife of the President of the United States, and Diana visited the AIDS ward of a hospital. When chatting with a patient who was too sick to get up, Diana gave him a deep hug, and the patient couldn't help shedding tears. The wife of the president and other people present were deeply moved. AIDS is still terminally ill, and its patients will encounter a lot of discrimination in real life.All people who are close to AIDS patients, in addition to overcoming their own fear of the disease, have to face the guidance of bystanders and the mistrust and rejection of AIDS patients.Caring for AIDS patients is a courageous job.In addition, the necessary contact skills are also a key point besides compassion. It's not that Diana didn't think about it.But she couldn't restrain her sincerity and sympathy, and she always wanted to do something for these people in the corner of society.She expects to solve various problems caused by AIDS with her own efforts.Love, compassion, and courage are the sources of strength for Diana to work hard. She deeply understands that once she puts her passion into a really difficult cause, she will have nothing but rain or shine.Anyone can do ordinary charitable work, but to really help people's souls, make some practical efforts to improve the situation of others, and touch the problems that others try to avoid, they must have a sincere and persistent humanitarian spirit. Even self-sacrifice. Caring for AIDS patients is only one aspect of her work. In fact, she has devoted her deep sympathy and love to drug addicts, leprosy patients, homeless people, and abused children who are sinking into suffering. .She does so much work for AIDS patients because she finds that so little is being done for AIDS patients. She is indeed suitable for this job, because she not only has the courage to devote herself, but also has the kind heart to care about others.Her love can always gently touch the patient's suffering, even if it is a little uneasiness. For this point, her younger brother Charlie has a deep understanding. He once asked an American friend of his, who is a terminal AIDS patient, to be the godfather of his newborn daughter Katie.He was exhausted from the long flight from New York to London and made even more squirm by the royal presence. Diana sensed his mood at once, and she approached him, chatting with him in a truly Christian way.She asks about his health, convincing him that he can see it through.Her concern is undoubtedly a great spiritual force to him. The road she chose is not smooth, and there are many people who are dying and suffering.All she has to do is to soothe the souls of the battered through heart-to-heart communication.She knew them, because she herself had lived through a long period of dark days, through the worst of times.The spiritual power that once supported her is now pushing her forward, allowing her to communicate with the suffering people on the same platform. "To save others, you must first suffer yourself." Mother Teresa's words, she understood more and more deeply.Having experienced the pain in her life, she has been reborn as a beautiful phoenix, bringing hope to everyone who is going through suffering.