Prince Charles to Queen Elizabeth: How Princess Diana’s death changed the lives of these eight individuals

Princess Diana’s demise affected the world unlike any other. On August 31, 1997, she passed away following a tragic car accident, which also killed Henri Paul, the driver, and Dodi Al Fayet, who was her partner at the time.

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According to Queen’s biographer, Ingrid Seward, tells PEOPLE “Diana was the first person to rattle the cage of the monarchy within living memory. I don’t think Diana went out intentionally to change the family. She did it because that was the way she was.” She was also the first royal bride to have a job and monthly salary before her engagement.

It’s not surprising that 25-years-later, her death is still mourned by millions around the world. However, the echoes of her passing still impact those who knew her intimately the most.

Queen Elizabeth

Following Diana’s death, the Queen faced backlash for her silence. On September 5, in a televised speech, she address the nation as both “your Queen” and “a grandmother.”

Usually known to not show emotions, the Queen has expressed warmth in recent years. She was a part of comedy skits at the 2012 Olympics with James Bond, as well as was seen on screen with Paddington Bear for her Platinum Jubilee.

“The Queen can now see Diana’s legacy is a huge force for good,” says Seward.

Prince Charles

While Prince Charles has many achievements, including being the longest-serving Prince of Wales, Andrew Morton, Diana’s biographer, says his marriage with Diana will always plague him.

“Just as Henry VIII is remembered for his six wives, Prince Charles is remembered for his first wife,” Morton says. “It will always haunt him. His life has been defined by his marriage.”

Prince William

At that time, William was just 15 but it left a mark on him. Over the years, he has supported his mother’s cause and carries her legacy—he has a more hands-on approach as a dad to Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4. His recent decision to move his family from London to the countryside of Windsor reflects Diana’s wishes for him to have as normal an upbringing as possible.

“William is the living example of his mother,” says Diana’s former bodyguard Ken Wharfe.

Prince Harry

While he was just 12 then, Prince Harry was criticized for walking behind his mother’s casket during her funeral

“I don’t think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances,” he said in 2017.

Harry, now 37, has called himself “my mother’s son,” keeping her presence close through his charitable causes and his own family.

“Harry has made it perfectly clear that every decision he has made he refers upstairs to his mother,” says Morton. “His decision to go to America—he felt she was watching over him and giving him the thumbs-up.”

Charles Spencer

Princess Diana’s brother criticized the royal family as well as the media for how they treated her. To this very day, he continues to defend her. Spencer, 58, recently called for a police investigation into the methods used by BBC journalist Martin Bashir to secure the infamous Panorama interview with Diana.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

During the time of Diana’s death, Camilla and Prince Charles were having an affair. As a result, she was largely blamed for the Princess. It was in 2005 that Charles and Camilla married, and “Queen Elizabeth announced her desire for Camilla to be known as “Queen Consort” when Prince Charles takes the throne.

“Her life has turned around perhaps more than anybody else’s,” says Morton. “Diana’s death has put her right in the constitutional centre of Britain.”

Sarah Ferguson

Ferguson, also known as Fergie, was often pitted against her sister-in-law. The Duchess of York told PEOPLE, “We were positioned as saint and sinner.”

When Diana died, the already fractured royal family broke apart, even more, leaving Sarah outside the orbit. “She taught me so much of public life,” said Fergie. “She was so brave.”

Hasnat Khan

The Pakistan-born heart surgeon, Khan and Princess Diana had an affair in 1995 until shortly before her death. However, he wasn’t comfortable with the spotlight that came with dating the royal.

Khan, 64, spoke to the Daily Mail in 2021 against Bashir for the methods he used to secure his Panorama interview. “One of her most attractive qualities was her vulnerability,” he said. “I later realized that Martin picked on those vulnerabilities and exploited them.”