Ironic in light of her name, she was remembered in a eulogy as “the most hunted person of the modern age”

Thursday’s Jeopardy clue challenged contestants to reflect on one of the most public figures of the 20th century. The Final Jeopardy category was 20th Century Figures, and the clue read: “Ironic in light of her name, she was remembered in a eulogy as ‘the most hunted person of the modern age.’”

Who is Princess Diana?

This haunting phrase was spoken by Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, during her funeral in 1997. In his eulogy, he pointed out the bitter irony that Diana—named for the Roman goddess of the hunt—had herself become the prey. The line has endured as one of the most quoted descriptions of her life, reflecting how deeply her story resonated with the public, and how tragically it ended.

The Tragic Symbolism of Her Name

Diana Frances Spencer was born into British nobility and married Prince Charles at the age of 20, instantly becoming Princess of Wales. From that moment, she lived under the microscope. The connection to the mythological Diana, goddess of the hunt, took on a dark twist as media pursuit of the princess became a defining feature of her life—and ultimately, her death. Earl Spencer’s choice of words underscored the surreal truth: the woman bearing the name of a huntress became a perpetual target.

The line “most hunted person of the modern age” wasn’t metaphorical. From her engagement through to the tragic car crash in a Paris tunnel, Diana was followed, photographed, and scrutinized. Her every move was front-page news. By 1997, this endless attention had morphed into a dangerous obsession, with paparazzi pursuing the car that ultimately crashed, killing Diana, Dodi Fayed, and their driver.

Public Fascination and Personal Pain

Diana’s image was carefully curated in the early years of royal life, but behind the scenes, she suffered. Her struggles with bulimia, depression, and marital unhappiness were kept hidden until she chose to speak out. The 1992 book Diana: Her True Story and later the 1995 BBC Panorama interview pulled back the curtain, exposing a deeply unhappy existence beneath the royal glamour.

Diana’s story became more than a personal tragedy. She symbolized the price of fame and the vulnerability behind celebrity personas. Her openness about her struggles made her relatable, especially to those dealing with mental health issues, and helped destigmatize those conversations. But her efforts to reclaim her voice also made her even more of a target—by tabloids, by the royal institution, and by a public that couldn’t look away.

A Legacy Larger Than Life

Even in death, Diana’s story continues to be told and retold—on screen, in books, and in public discourse. Productions like The Crown, documentaries such as Diana: In Her Own Words, and the 2021 biopic Spencer have all revisited her life. These portrayals keep her legacy in the spotlight, but they also raise questions about how much attention is too much, and whether revisiting her pain becomes its own form of exploitation.

Yet Diana’s impact on humanitarian causes, from HIV/AIDS awareness to landmine eradication, continues to be celebrated. She reshaped the role of royalty by leading with empathy, physical presence, and emotional vulnerability. That balance of strength and fragility is what made her beloved—and what has turned her into a lasting symbol of both compassion and victimhood.

The Enduring Irony of the People’s Princess

Earl Spencer’s remark about his sister being “the most hunted person of the modern age” captured the essence of her life in a single sentence. The media’s pursuit never ceased, and the public’s fascination has only grown. The tragic irony of her name serves as a reminder of how a woman who wanted to be understood and loved instead became a figure pursued to the brink—both figuratively and literally.

Thursday’s Jeopardy clue did more than test knowledge. It prompted reflection on the nature of fame, the cost of public adoration, and the unresolved legacy of a woman whose story is still being written, nearly three decades after her death.