A decade later, the memory of her remains, but how much else has changed. After the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997, Princes William and Harry (then aged 15 and 12, respectively) marched through central London, their little heads bow ed, toward their mother's funeral. Today, with the sun shining bright on the day of a memorial service marking the 10th anniversary of her death , things couldn't have felt more different.

Loud cheers from the crowd got cheeky smiles and a wave from the same two Princes today as they made their way out of Guards Chapel, near BuckinghamPalace, after the service. Elton John, who sang sad songs at Diana's funeral, strode out to the kind of applause he'd have been more used to on stage. Even Gordon Brown, as fresh a British Prime Minister as Tony Blair was when Diana was killed, got his own big cheer. (The cool Scot responded with a nod.)

This was a day of remembrance , yes, but not really a day of grieving. Unlike the flood of despair that poured forth in 1997, this time around there was barely a tear. Along the pavement towards Guards Chapel, some stared off into the distance , while others warbled to the hymns piped out over loud speakers from inside the service. Done with humming , "The Lord's My Shepherd," Londoner John Santos fondly remembered " an outstanding woman with a common touch ." Showing up today, he said, was simply to make sure that "won't be forgotten."

Harry seconded that. "To us, just two loving children, she was quite simply the best mother in the world," the younger Prince said of his mother with the crowds outside now listening in silence. Losing her, he said, was " indescribably shocking and sad." But his message, met with applause , was clear: "She made us and so many other people happy. May this be the way that she is remembered."

A couple of miles down the road, in the gardens of KensingtonPalace, Diana's old home, those memories were very much alive. If the crowd gathered at the chapel was reserved and respectful, this was the place for Union Jack -covered folding chairs — and a strong sense of many people's still very protective stake in Diana. Here, as one sign pinned to the Palace's thick, black, gilt-edged gates read, was "The People's Memorial." Depending where you looked, amid the pink paper hearts and purple balloons, Diana was "The People's Princess," "The Queen of Hearts" or "England's Rose."

Out of earshot of the royal family, this was also the place to deal in harsher, edgier thoughts. Rosemary, a Londoner in her 50s who decline d to give her last name, insisted that Diana " got a raw deal ." Another woman lamented her " appalling treatment from day one of her marriage." Laminated newspaper stories smear ing Prince Charles were pinned to the gates. One banner, screaming "LONG LIVE THE QUEEN/DIANA FOREVER," was far less polite about Charles and Camilla, Charles' life-long love who is now his wife. The reason a decade hasn't dimmed Diana's memory , said a third woman, "is that she epitomized every facet of human frailty , and reached out in a very hostile world."

But you couldn't help feel life has moved on since 1997. Outside the chapel, jogger s passed one way through the crowds, newspaper sellers another. In the gardens at Kensington, a handful of rugby players from England's national team were even running through drills ahead of next month's World Cup. The Princes, both fans of the game, would surely have smiled at that.

A decade later, the memory of her remains, but how much else has changed.

bow When you bow to someone, you briefly bend your body towards them as a formal way of greeting them or showing respect.

Today, with the sun shining bright on the day of a memorial service marking the 10th anniversary of her death , things couldn't have felt more different.

cheeky (cheekier, cheekiest) ( BrE , especially spoken) rude in an amusing or an annoying way

strode past tense of STRIDE

to walk with long steps in a particular direction

Prime Minister the main minister and leader of the government in some countries 总理 , 首相

This was a day of remembrance , yes, but not really a day of grieving.

this time around there was barely a tear .

some stared off into the distance , while others warbled to the hymns piped out over loud speakers from inside the service.

warble  [ ˈwɔ:bəl ] (humorous) to sing, especially in a high voice that is not very steady

hymn [ him ] a song of praise, especially one praising God and sung by Christians

pipe to speak or sing in a high voice or with a high sound

fondly in a way that shows great affection

an outstanding woman with a common touch

hum to sing a tune with your lips closed

Harry seconded that

second coming after something else

indescribably shocking and sad

But his message, met with applause , was clear: "She made us and so many other people happy. May this be the way that she is remembered."

Union Jack 英国国旗或国徽

gilt-edged gates

gilt [ gilt ] a thin layer of gold, or sth like gold that is used on a surface for decoration

Depending where you looked, amid the pink paper hearts and purple balloons, Diana was "The People's Princess," "The Queen of Hearts" or "England's Rose."

amid in the middle of or during sth, especially sth that causes excitement or fe

earshot

If you are within earshot of someone or something, you are close enough to be able to hear them. If you are out of earshot, you are too far away to hear them.

decline to refuse politely to accept or to do sth

get a raw deal 给予不公平的待遇

lamented (of sb/sth that has died or disappeared) missed very much

lament [ l əˈment ] verb, noun
verb (formal) to feel or express great sadness or disappointment about sb/sth: [VN] In the poem he laments the destruction of the countryside. ◆ She sat alone weeping, lamenting her fate. [also V that, V speech]
noun (formal) a song, poem or other expression of great sadness for sb who has died or for sth that has ended: a nostalgic lament for lost love

appalling  [ əˈpɔ:liŋ ] shocking; extremely bad

appall to shock sb very much

laminated adjective
(of wood, plastic, etc.) made by sticking several thin layers together: laminated glass / timber ◆ a laminated table top
covered with thin transparent plastic for protection: laminated membership cards

smear to damage sb's reputation by saying unpleasant things about them that are not true

n. 污迹；涂片；诽谤 v. 涂抹；弄脏；诽谤

dimmed Diana's memory

epitomize to be a perfect example of sth

facet a particular part or aspect of sth

frailty  [ ˈfreilti ] weakness and poor health

jogger a person who jogs regularly for exercise

a handful of

rugby  [ ˈrʌgbi ] n. 橄榄球 a game played by two teams of 13 or 15 players, using an OVAL ball which may be kicked or carried. Teams try to put the ball over the other team's line