The day I met Princess Diana
By André Hueber 
I was in Germany when Princess Diana died.
My grandmother told me, I thought she was pulling my leg. I sat glued to CNN all day mesmerized by the tragic news.
I had touched her hand once, way back in March 1983. And now she was dead, it was hard to believe.
I was five years old and Prince Charles and Princess Diana were visiting New Zealand with their new baby, William.
My primary school, Milford, on the North Shore, scored the biggest catch ever.
Situated on the shores of Lake Pupuke, it was the perfect location to build a Waterwise programme, to teach young children from schools around the area how to sail. The royals were there to officially launch it.
Everyone was expected to take flowers for Lady Di. I remember some poor kids needing a wheelbarrow to cart the huge and expensive bouquets their mummies had bought them. Naturally, I forgot. My teacher, Mrs Lindsay, picked some bottle brushes out of the school garden for me and saved the day.
It was raining and the black Bentleys and Rolls Royces drove right up on to the netball courts. A sea of black umbrellas spilled out of the cars, revealing a crowd of black wearing, important-looking people.
I don’t remember Charles, but I remember Diana clearly.
She was wearing a beige raincoat and was still very shy (she hadn’t yet blossomed to the megastar). She said “Thankyou very much,” in a pommy accent, and politely took my bottle brushes from me. I stared, wide eyed and open mouthed.
Mystery still surrounds her death. Mohammed Al Fayed is convinced there was a cover-up. I wouldn’t put it past the Royal family.
Was she pregnant when she died? What actually happened that fateful night in Paris? Questions we may never know the answer to.
I recommend the movie The Queen for an insight to the story surrounding Diana’s death. The Queen couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about.
Diana was the Queen of peoples’ hearts.
*Photo: Princess Diana and Prince Charles officially open the Waterwise programme at Milford Primary School, April 19 1983.