Was it British?

Gavin Weightman finds historical precedents for Britain’s response to the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

From time to time during this century the British public has behaved in a way which has startled those who like to imagine they ‘understand’ the nation in which they live. We expect other nations to indulge in great surges of popular emotion, but not our people who have a world-wide reputation for their reserve and self-control unless they are intoxicated football fans.

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