London, UK -September 2007 issue

"I could tell that her beauty went deeper than her looks"
Lana Marks, a close friend of Princess Diana

I met Princess Diana through Lucia Fletcha De Lima, the wife of the then Brazilian Ambassador to the U.S. I'm a luxury handbag designer. Lucia asked if I would design a handbag for Princess Diana - something new and timeless.

I spent more than six months creating the handbag. I wanted this bag to be very special. Eventually, I came up with a design. Lucia told me that Princess Diana loved the bag and had described it as, "long and slim, just like me". That was an amazing stamp of approval.

I created more handbags and belts for Princess Diana, and Lucia began asking me questions about how I would handle certain situations, both personal and public. I originate from South Africa and lead an "international life." However, I'm also an old-fashioned family person. I always put my husband and children first, so I guess I have a balanced outlook. Soon Lucia was telling me confidential things about Princess Diana. I didn't repeat anything, I simply gave Lucia my opinion. I think that was a test of my confidentiality.

Early in 1996, Lucia invited my husband and me to be her guests at the Nina Hyde Breast Cancer Gala in Washington. Princess Diana would be there, and later, she asked if I'd consent to being a friend of Princess Diana. My response was that I would be honored, and Lucia said we'd be introduced at the gala.

I remember the evening very clearly. When Diana walked into the room you could hear a pin drop. There was this extraordinary magic about her, something almost indescribable. And I could tell immediately that her beauty went a lot deeper than her looks by how she conducted herself.

Later, Lucia took me to meet Diana. The first thing she said was, "Lana, it's so lovely to meet you finally in person." We began chatting. I told her how beautiful her hair looked, and she said how difficult it had been for the hairdresser to get it right that day. We laughed, and then she revealed how the inside of her gown was very scratchy and that she was having to control herself. We exchanged phone numbers, written on pieces of napkin. The following day, I took a call from her. We spent ages on the phone chatting and she requested the next time I was going to Italy, that I stop off and visit her. Six weeks later, we had our first private lunch at Kensington Palace.

After Lunch, having spent hours chatting about serious stuff, we switched to more light -hearted topics. Then we started laughing, and before long we both had tears streaming down our faces. Diana turned and gave me a big hug. It's a moment that will stay in my mind for as long as I live.

Later, back at my hotel, I opened a package that contained a beautiful framed photograph of Diana, William and Harry, signed, "Dearest Lana, all my love, Diana." It's a gift that I treasure. She was the ultimate friend ... sweet, considerate, thoughtful, kind and funny, and way ahead of anyone else I've met.

The last time we spoke, Diana was on holiday in the South of France, while I was in South Africa attending my father's funeral. He'd died unexpectedly and I was devastated. Diana was her usual caring self and I felt strengthened by hearing her voice. I was back in the U.S. when I heard about her accident.

It took many years before I could accept what happened to Diana. She was extraordinary. She was regal, yet could communicate with anyone. Her legacy is all the people to whom she brought joy and hope, and, of course, William and Harry whom she adored. I'll never forget our time together, and will remain loyal to her memory. That's what true friendship is all about.