Twenty years ago today the Burton and South Derbyshire area was stunned at the death of Princess Diana - along with the rest of the world.

The princess, who had been married to Prince Charles and was the mother of William and Harry, was adored by millions. Wherever she went there was a media frenzy and the crowds would turn out in their droves just to catch a glimpse of her.

Diana had visited this area in 1991 having gone to Swadlincote where she toured the town including visiting local firm Mason Cash. And the people of Swadlincote were there in their thousands to cheer and wave to her.

Princess Diana , when she last visited Swadlincote in 1991
Princess Diana, when she visited Swadlincote in 1991

The public loved her because despite being a royal there was nothing stuffy about Diana. She was warm and engaging, and had time for the people she met. She was down to earth and with her naturally stunningly beautiful looks, she was adored the world over.

She led the way when it came to changing people's attitudes towards Aids victims and those with HIV. In an era when people were afraid and unsure about how HIV was caught, she did not think twice about shaking hands with a sufferer.

What she did that day at a hospice in Canada did so much towards changing people's attitudes to victims of this terrible disease. She was quoted at the time as saying "HIV does not make people dangerous to know. You can shake their hands and give them a hug. Heaven knows they need it".

The princess also did much to help the plight of the homeless and further the cause of getting land mines removed including in places like Angola, where after years of fighting people, including young children, were still losing limbs after trading on mines.

And her caring legacy lives on today, in the compassion she passed on to her son's William and Harry.