The People’s Princess reaches her hands out to AIDS

With such a delay in action and only an increase in the number of infected, celebrities, both those with and without AIDS, took it upon themselves to advocate during the AIDS crisis. Princess Diana of Wales was one of many who advocated for change, leading her to play a prominent role in the AIDS movement, particularly in fighting the stigma behind it.

Princess Diana was no stranger to philanthropy and charity; however, her visitation to the HIV/AIDS hospitals and clinics took many by surprise as it was still highly believed that the disease was spread through contact. By shaking hands with a patient and kissing their cheek when some parents would not even visit their children without being gloved and masked, the Princess challenged the misconception that the disease could be contracted through touch.

Diana’s first visit to a HIV/AIDS unit was in 1987 at the Middlesex hospital, the first HIV/AIDS unit in the United Kingdom which she personally opened; however, her advocacy did not stop there. The princess continued to visit AIDS patients throughout the world including New York, Toronto, and Brazil, in order to spread both awareness and compassion. She continued to advocate for the cause by speaking out in support of those suffering from the disease, urging others to show them sympathy.

Princess Diana truly lived up to her role as the people’s princess by caring about those many treated poorly or did not blink an eye at. Those impacted by the AIDS epidemic suffered immensely at the hands of the disease as well as society, but Princess Diana fought and advocated for them, leading to advancement in treatment for the disease and society.

The People’s Princess reaches her hands out to AIDS

Sources

How Princess Diana Helped Dispel Misconceptions around HIV/AIDS | Canadian Living. https://www.canadianliving.com/life-and-relationships/community-and-current-events/article/how-princess-diana-helped-dispel-misconceptions-around-hiv-aids. Accessed 25 Mar. 2022.

Praderio, Caroline. “This One Photo Shows Exactly What Made Princess Diana a Royal Icon.” Insider, https://www.insider.com/photo-princess-diana-shaking-hand-aids-patient-1987-2017-8. Accessed 25 Mar. 2022.

The Crown: True Story of Princess Diana’s Visits to AIDS Wards. https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a34732735/princess-diana-aids-activism-the-crown/. Accessed 25 Mar. 2022.

Article by Alyssa Iovacchini, Graphic by Emily Myers