DATE: Wednesday, September 3, 1997          TAG: 9709030064

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JOHN-HENRY DOUCETTE, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   65 lines

PORTSMOUTH WOMAN COLVECTS ALL THINGS DI

GLORIA D. Volkstorf remembers seeing a beautiful doll in the newspaper.

It was the Franklin Mint version of Princess Diana - porcelain perfection, stature and smooth craftsmanship.

In the mid-1980s, Volkstorf began collecting items connected to Diana, the princess who seemed too beautiful to be real - the woman who died in a car accident in Paris over the weekend. The collection, housed in her Churchland home, has become so large that she can't display everything. Many of the items are packed away for safekeeping.

The Portsmouth woman lives with her estranged husband, John Volkstorf at his place in Chesapeake. They have separate apartments, but both have recently had operations so they are helping each other recover.

Gloria's fascination began when Lady Diana was introduced to the world as the future wife of Prince Charles.

``I thought she would be the future Queen of England,'' Volkstorf said. ``I thought it would be nice to have a collection.''

So she started one. There are tiny doll-sized gowns befitting a princess, clippings from slick magazines, sheets of harsh newspaper print and a video of the wedding.

There is a letter responding to one Gloria sent. She included a photo of herself and told Diana she was a wonderful mother with children who seemed well-behaved. A lady-in-waiting responded.

``Thank you for the photograph and best wishes to you in the future.''

Gloria understands why some Americans are heartbroken over Diana. She was a woman who died while her own fame apparently pursued her.

``The photographers have the blood on their hands,'' Gloria said. ``It was a nightmare everywhere she went.''

A nightmare for Diana, who lived a much different life from people such as John and Gloria Volkstorf.

``They said they weren't going to give her a royal burial,'' Gloria said, shaking her head.

``She's the mother of the future king of England! Do you know what a royal funeral is? It'll have the coaches and things.

``She was the most beloved princess in the royal family,'' she said.

``She would shake hands with anybody,'' John Volkstorf agreed. ``Even if the person had AIDS. She shook hands with them. She wasn't afraid of AIDS. She had a lot of programs, and President Clinton said we should carry out her programs.''

``The English are caring people,'' Gloria said. ``They were proud of her beauty and the way she dressed.''

``They said she was the most beautiful and desirable woman in the world,'' John said. ``And she was.''

``And her husband cheated on her!'' Gloria said. ``How many times did they say she was on the cover of People magazine?''

``I don't know,'' John answered. ``Fifty or 60 times.''

``They said,'' Gloria said, ``that if Princess Di wore a certain suit or dress it would sell out. Or hairstyles and designs.''

She and John were together when they learned of the death. The news came, and Gloria was shocked.

``Because she was so young and pretty,'' Gloria said, describing her disbelief. ``I thought she was so beautiful.''

The collection is still at her Portsmouth apartment. When her granddaughter is old enough ``The Princess Collection'' will go to her. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot

Gloria Volkstorf...

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