Princess Diana Charity Work

It's been 17 years since her tragic death and still the charity work of Princess Diana continues to impact the lives of millions of people around the world. The Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, established in 1997 to oversee Diana's vision of nurturing and aiding the underprivileged, does much more than just provide grant money. They roll up their sleeves and fight, right alongside those in need.

Princess Diana was passionate about her charity work, considering it much more than just one of her royal duties. In thousands of photographs you'll see her dressed in protective gear as she helps scan fields for hidden land mines and helping with medical treatment for underprivileged children in Africa.

But she will always be remembered for her groundbreaking stance on the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients. She understood from the very beginning that what they needed most was to be treated with care and compassion and the pictures of her hugging them and caring for their personal needs went a long way toward advancing their cause.

Perhaps her most lasting legacy though is the sense of charity and humanitarianism she instilled in her children. With Prince William lending his name and title to support UNICEF and Prince Harry doing likewise to support Sentebale, a charity to aid Lesotho victims of AIDS, Princess Diana's charity work will continue on for generations to come, a lasting memorial Diana, Princess of Wales.

Beginning in 2007, The Prince of Wales Humanitarian Fund has focused their attention of four main objectives:

Promoting a ban on land mines: The Fund not only worked to promote a global ban on cluster munitions, but also aids in rehabilitating survivors and assists in clearing contaminated areas. In 2008,n94 countries signed a global ban at the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Oslo.

Promoting penal reform: The Fund also addresses the need for alternative reform methods. Because of economic and educational vulnerabilities, many women and children are imprisoned for non-violent crimes, when alternative solutions would help rehabilitate and reform, offering these minor offenders a brighter future.

Promoting safe asylum for refugees: The Prince of Wales Humanitarian Fund works to increase awareness of the need to protect the rights and basic human dignities of refugees and asylum seekers arriving in the UK. Children, especially, need special care and consideration and the hope is to bring hope and long-term solutions for those seeking refuge.

Promoting palliative care: Most famous for their work with HIV/AIDS patients, the Fund also assists those with cancer and other debilitating illnesses. They provide funding to develop education and training for patients, their families and the communities in which they live, and research and evaluation in the hopes of providing better universal care, treatment and cures.