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American Morning

Princess Diana Grew Up to Be Princess

Aired July 02, 2001 - 11:34   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: People in Britain and around the world are remembering Princess Diana, who would have turned 40 yesterday. They've been laying flowers at Kensington Palace and at her childhood home and final resting place Althorp.

To mark the occasion, Althorp has opened its gates for public visits for the next two months.

CNN's Stephen Frazier was there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHARLES EARL SPENCER, DIANA'S BROTHER: On Saturday nights, some people come here, in the summer. This very strange thing happened.

STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Our conversation took place on the banks of this small lake at Althorp. Diana is buried on an island in the center. The Greek temple on the shore is where well-wishers leave flowers. Darrow Spencer predicted the flowers would extend to water's edge -- beyond the fence, the 14,000 acres and this manor house, when where he and Diana grew up.

(on camera): As I walk around here, I'm more and more impressed with the fact that coming from all this comfort and privilege, all this private beauty, that she had developed such an ability to sense that people lived less fortunate lives, and she had become such a champion for them.

SPENCER: I think my family has been quite proud of the fact that we've never lost touch with the people. We've always been quite a liberal family, politically. We've always like to sort of guard the people's rights as generation after generation of political Spencers have done. So she came from a rich heritage where snootiness had no place, you judged people on what they were like, and you did your bit for other people. So it's a heritage that for all the privilege of it, for all the beauty of it, she would never have never lost touch with what we're all about, which is to be open and to accept people for what they are.

FRAZIER (voice-over): Earl Spencer provided CNN home movies of Diana's childhood here, which show a spirited youngster tap dancing, pretending to be a synchronized swimmer, and even riding a camel on the grounds of the estate. They contain no hint she would become the most glamorous woman in the world. (on camera): You mentioned that when people visit, my sense was, that they get quiet once they're here. Are they intimidated by her presence, or do they feel something?

SPENCER: I think that just as in life, they find Diana in death very unintimidating. They seem to take on a great sort of thoughtfulness when they come into this area. They know she's buried on that island. They know that this is a place of reflection, and it sort of has that effect on them, as well as the natural beauty of this particular oval.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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