We have known Di for around 43 years – pre-Robert in fact by one year.  By our calculations we have spent not days nor weeks nor months but literally years building the closest of friendships.  What started as a casual relationship at a squash club became so much more.
We have spent more time with Di and Robert than any other couple and what terrific times they have been.  We have skied in Europe at Val Thorens, The Three Valleys, La Plagne, Flaine and Hochgurgle and in the US at Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain, Vail/Beaver Creek, Aspen, Snowmass, Steamboat Springs, Winter Park and more, and in Canada at Lake Louise.  We have lived together in mountain chalets and apartments and in condos on the beach and of course our respective holiday homes in Florida and France.  We have shared special birthdays, notably one in New York, and cruised the Caribbean and enjoyed other holidays together too numerous to mention here.
In addition to travelling we have partied through 40 New Years Eves (we think – can’t remember them all!) and many unforgettable visits to the Le Mans 24 hour race and Chasse aux Tressors, both in France.  We have been too close for comfort in camper vans in America and Canada and canal boats in France as well as cabins in cross channel ferries and the infamous Ski Train (thankfully only once).
We remember sitting round a fire pit in New England singing Di’s girl guide songs (her fun side) and the day her namesake Princess Di died when Di took herself off to the front of the boat so we could not see her cry (her soft side).
Lynford particularly remembers nearly decapitating Di in a boating incident in Florida which Robert delights in recounting to this day.  She took it well.
Di was a great cook and hostess and we have her to thank for starting our new years’ eve tradition.
Di’s fear of frogs was legendary.  What she did not know was the lengths we went to to protect her on one occasion.  She was one hour away from visiting us in our home in Florida when we noticed a tiny bright green tree frog no bigger than a thumb nail in our house.  Initially, all attempts to apprehend the poor creature failed until the lounge was virtually emptied of furniture and the offender captured just minutes before Di’s arrival.  She never knew.  The stories and the memories go on and on…..
Although Di did not have children of her own she was very good with other peoples’ children.  Our own children loved her and our grandchildren too and Joan has a vivid memory of Di holding a tiny baby Hannah (now 20) in the palm of her hand.  We still have the photo.
We treasure Di’s love, loyalty and in particular her infectious laughter.  Di was fun with a capital F and we do celebrate her life but there is no changing the fact that we will miss her terribly.  Good friends like that are few and far between.  Robert knows that we will do all that we can to help him through this difficult time.
With lots of love from Lynford and Joan