If you’ve donated to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, it’s now time to put your money to another purpose. That’s because, after being set up in 1997, and after receiving more than £100million in donations that were distributed to 350 causes, the fund is finally closing.
End of a Fund
While some believed that the fund would continue forever, the spokesman for the organization explained that it was “never intended to last forever.” They plan to work on spending the remaining £13million before they close at the end of 2012.
Fund Criticism
The fund has come under attack at times, as people have accused it as not having Diana’s most important issues at its forefront. The fund president, Diana’s elder sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale, has certainly worked to fulfill Diana’s interests.
Controversy
In another controversy, the fund fought and lost a legal battle to try to stop Franklin Mint from making Diana dolls. They ended up having to pay£1million in legal costs and £13.5million to American charities, all part of their settlement out of court.
As a fund spokesman explained their current plans: ‘It will close its doors by December 31, 2012. Until then, it is continuing to work with its partners to ensure that it leaves a lasting legacy of social change.’