Remember Diana and Princess of Wales 15 years after her death

Diana, Princess of Wales, was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and member of the British Royal Family. Wikipedia

Born: July 1, 1961, Sandringham Died: August 31, 1997, Paris Buried: Althorp Spouse: Charles, Prince of Wales (m. 1981–1996) Siblings: Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer,Lady Sarah McCorquodale, Jane Fellowes, Baroness Fellowes Children: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge,Prince Harry of Wales

Whether you admired her or reviled her (or at least the prurient media coverage she seemed to invite),Diana, Princess of Wales is one of those pop culture icons whose senseless death made you stop in your tracks.

It was 15 years ago that Diana and billionaire boyfriend Dodi Fayed died in a car wreck after their drunk security driver plowed into a tunnel column in Paris while attempting to elude paparazzi. She left behind two sons,Prince William, then 15, and Prince Harry, 12, and millions around the world who mourned her — for her grace, or for her vulnerability, or for the purpose she found at the end of her life in helping those injured by landmines.

Diana's life (and her death) continues to be plumbed by biographers and filmmakers, most recently in "The Queen," which earned Helen Mirren an Oscar for her portrayal ofQueen Elizabeth II in the wake of the crash. Naomi Watts is currently filming "Diana," a biopic that focuses on the last few years of life, including her relationship with heart surgean surgeonHasnet Khan, to be played by "Lost"'s Naveen Andrews.

Meanwhile, a documentary financed by the Fayed family, "Unlawful Killing," which alleges that the accident was an elaborate cover-up, was shelved last month after filmmakers could not get insurance to fend off the inevitable libel lawsuits.

The Guardian's Michael White has an interesting take on Diana's legacy: "She forced (the royal family) to raise their game, she enlivened their Hanoverian gene pool."