Diana still a star in memorial fountain, playground, cafe

LONDON – Forget about other British celebrities. Eight years after her death, Princess Diana is still a star.

Her name is on a playground, a cafe, a museum and a walkway.

She’s in a gallery at Kensington Palace, where her slim, spangled evening gowns glitter more brightly than the queen’s dumpy frocks.

And she’s still the talk of the town because of the controversial Diana Memorial Fountain in London’s Hyde Park.

The fountain is supposed to invoke sweet memories. Instead, it has been a loud reminder of a different sort – expensive, troublesome and very high-maintenance.

The $6.6-million memorial is a strange-looking thing. A circle of granite with water flowing around it in two directions, the fountain was dedicated last July as an interactive place families could enjoy.

But drains clogged. Grassy paths turned to mud. A few people fell on the slippery granite. Critics said the memorial looked like a storm drain, which is unkind but not entirely inaccurate.

After months of repairs, it has reopened. The circle now is squared by a fence. A big sign requests decorum – and no dogs, balls or swimming.

Inspirational? Debatable. It’s not the Lincoln Memorial.

To better understand Diana, walk 10 minutes through Hyde Park and take the tour of Kensington Palace. She lived there for 15 lonely years as wife of Prince Charles, biting her nails, raising her children and making foolish choices.

Kensington Palace has fabulous views. Nice hardwood floors. It even has a secret garden that blooms in wisteria and watery pale yellow iris.

The tour shows Queen Victoria’s bedroom and the grand state apartments that King George I enjoyed. One gallery has Queen Elizabeth II’s gowns and astonishing feathered hats. Finally, you come to Diana’s dresses, each one accompanied by a photograph of the princess smiling, smiling, always smiling.

Since her death in a car crash in 1997, Diana tributes have multiplied.

Near Kensington Palace is the Diana Memorial Playground. And the Diana Cafe. And a seven-mile Diana Memorial Walkway.

If you have time, you can even travel north of London to Althorp, site of Diana’s grave and a Diana museum that includes her 1981 bridal gown.

Is it all too much? I stand in Hyde Park and remember the young woman who was as magnetic as a burning bush and as flawed as any of us, too alive to need a memorial anything.

But, there you are. She’s gone. She’s part of British tourism now.