'The world needed someone like Princess Diana'

University of Johannesburg anthropologist, Hemali Joshi says even 20 years after her death, she is still revered by many people.

"She made us think about what royalty stands for and stood for in the past. She was a symbol that was almost heroic. She connected people to what is good."

"She stood for hope and good. She was royalty but connected with society. Almost like when you think of fairy tales and Robin Hood. It's that connection between society and royalty - which is not often spoken about, but she bridged that gap by being a symbol for society," says Joshi.

Diana was killed in a car accident along with her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul, who was trying to evade paparazzi photographers.

"Diana was a princess and role model who always wanted to do good.  Society needed someone good to turn to, to believe, to give hope. She believed in values that really underpinned religious ideologies; showing how one can be the ideal person."

"People feel so strong towards Diana because of communitas - a collective emotion that society shares. We are reminded by her death because she died young and the fact that society thinks it wasn't her time. But also death and the way she was taken," says Joshi.