Diana, Princess of Wales

Princess Diana, whose full name is Diana Frances Spencer, was a member of the British royal family, the first wife of the current King of Great Britain, King Charles III, and the mother of William, Prince of Wales, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. We will tell you more about her life, her charitable work, and the accident that took her life in 1997.

Biography

Early years

Diana was born on 1 July 1961 in Sandringham, a private estate belonging to members of the Windsor Dynasty, located in Norfolk County, England. She grew up in Park House on the royal estate of Sandringham. The Spencer family were tenants, and Elizabeth II was the owner.

When Diana was seven years old, her parents divorced, which made her withdrawn and insecure.

As a young girl, she enjoyed swimming, dancing, spending time with animals, and hunting with her younger brother Charles. She also had two sisters, Jane and Sarah.

Lady Dee grew up to be a well-rounded person. In addition to the hobbies mentioned above, she also enjoyed:

• tennis;
• playing the piano;
• skiing.

She loved going for walks in the fresh air, especially in the garden of her estate, but her main passion was ballet.

Note: She was awarded the title of ‘Lady’ long before her marriage, after her grandfather died in 1975. Immediately after that, Diana's father became the eighth Earl Spencer.

Education

Diana's biography contains many interesting facts. Most Britons know it by heart. But some details are still unknown to the general public. Lady Dee was an amazing person, which is why she was so loved by the people of Great Britain.

Diana was initially educated at home. At the age of nine, she became a pupil at Riddlesworth, a boarding school for girls. Three years later, she enrolled at West Heath Boarding School for Girls.

The future princess was not particularly successful in her studies: she failed her final exams twice and eventually left school without a certificate.

At the age of sixteen, Diana went to Rougemont, a town in Switzerland, to continue her education, but she began to miss home and decided to return. After arriving back in her homeland, she went to live with her mother.

In 1978, Diana worked as a nanny for Philippa and Jemery Whitaker in Hampshire for three months. She also taught dance to young people and worked as an assistant in a nursery.

Formally, the future princess did not belong to the British aristocracy, but she grew up surrounded by members of London's high society. Elizabeth II baptised her brother and was friends with Diana's grandmother. The girl's father served as a groom for Her Majesty for some time.

Parents

Princess Diana's parents were John Spencer and Frances Shand Kidd. They were married in 1954 and divorced 15 years later.

Brothers and sisters

The Princess of Wales had two older sisters, a younger brother and an older brother, John, who died within hours of his birth in 1960.

Her older sisters are Lady Sarah McCorkell (born in 1955) and Lady Jane Fellowes (born in 1957).

Her younger brother is Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer (born in 1964).

After Diana's death, her sisters Sarah and Jane have tried to stay out of the public eye, while her brother Charles has been actively protecting the memory and legacy of the Princess of Wales.

Meeting and marriage to Charles, Prince of Wales

Diana met Charles, who was Prince of Wales at the time, in late autumn 1977. There was a 12-year age difference between them. Initially, Charles was interested in his future wife's sister Sarah.

Diana and Charles met again in the summer of 1980 during a weekend away in the countryside. It was then that the future monarch of Great Britain began to consider her as a potential bride. Their relationship developed after Diana received an invitation from the prince to take a trip on the royal yacht Britannia. After that, the girl visited Balmoral Castle, the residence of the royal family.

Charles continued his courtship in London. The Duke of Edinburgh and Elizabeth II approved Diana as a candidate for their son's wife. They were not even embarrassed by the fact that she did not have royal blood in her veins. Diana charmed everyone she met.

The couple got engaged on 6 February 1981. The ceremony took place at Windsor Castle and was kept secret for about two and a half weeks. Charles gave Diana a ring made of 18-carat white gold, decorated with a 12-carat oval-shaped sapphire and framed by 14 diamonds.

Wedding

When Diana and Charles got married, she was only 20 years old. By that time, they had officially dated for 13 months. The wedding took place on 29 July 1981 and was recognised as the wedding of the century. Hundreds of thousands of spectators from different countries watched the ceremony.

Lady Dee was considered a representative of the aristocracy, but in fact she became the first wife of the heir to the English throne who was not of royal blood in the last 300 years. She was also the first member of the British royal family to work before her engagement.

The couple were married in Saint Paul's Cathedral. In accordance with the canons of the Anglican Church, Diana was supposed to promise to obey her husband, but she omitted these words from her vows. Later, Catherine Elizabeth Middleton followed her example when she married Diana's eldest son.

600,000 people gathered in the central streets of London to watch the ceremony. Diana and Charles' wedding was broadcast on television. The wedding was attended by 3,500 guests.

The number of viewers who watched the broadcast worldwide was 750 million.

For the ceremony, Diana chose a dress decorated with 10,000 pearls and a 7.62-metre-long train. The bride's airy veil was made from 137 metres of tulle.

Children

Diana and Charles resided at Kensington Palace and Highgrove House near the small town of Tetbury. On 5 November 1981, it was announced that the princess was pregnant. In early 1982, Diana fell down a flight of stairs, sustaining injuries, but the baby was saved.

Later, the princess admitted that the fall was not accidental but intentional, as she felt very ‘lost.’ Prince William was born on 21 June. After giving birth, Diana suffered from depression. Despite criticism from journalists, she took her son on her first trip to Australia and New Zealand. The public responded positively to this gesture. Diana and Charles' second child, Harry, was born on 15 September 1984. During the princess's second pregnancy, the couple grew very close, but after the birth, this bond disappeared. Charles was disappointed, as he had hoped for a daughter. Diana, on the other hand, said that she knew during her pregnancy that she was expecting another boy, but did not tell her husband. She chose her sons' names herself, found a nanny, rejecting the candidate suggested by the royal family, planned the children's schedule, and took them to school herself.

The princess tried to tailor her life to the needs of her children. Diana said that Harry was just as much of a little rascal as she was, and she called her eldest son ‘little wise old man.’ The relationship between her and William was very trusting when he entered his teenage years.

Grandchildren

Princess Diana's grandchildren are Prince George (born 22 July 2013), Princess Charlotte (born 2 May 2015) and Prince Louis (born 23 April 2018). They are the children of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Another grandson, Archie Harrison (born 6 May 2019), is the son of Prince Harry, Diana's youngest son. He also has a daughter, Lilibet Sussex (born 4 June 2021).

 Marital problems and separation

In 1992, it was officially announced that Diana and Charles were separating. The reason for this situation lay in the twelve-year age difference between them and their incompatibility, including their temperaments.

Diana was a cheerful person, despite suffering from depression, while Charles was introverted. Despite their years of marriage, they were unable to find common ground and proved incompatible. Even at the beginning, their union could hardly be called happy.

In the mid-1980s, Charles resumed his romantic relationship with Camilla Parker-Bowles, which caused his then-lawful wife great emotional pain. It was this woman whom the current monarch of Great Britain married a few years after the death of his first wife. Camilla Parker-Bowles never enjoyed the same love from the British people as Diana did. During her lifetime, the Princess of Wales was adored by literally every English person.

Divorce

Diana and Charles officially divorced in August 1996, after the princess gave a candid interview to the BBC a year earlier. Elizabeth II supported this decision. After the divorce, the royal family did not turn their backs on Diana, which shows that they valued her greatly.

Did Princess Diana cheat on Charles lll?

It is not known for certain whether Diana cheated on Charles; it remains an open secret. In the 1990s, the British media wrote about the alleged infidelities of the Princess of Wales.

What did princess Diana do for charity?

Throughout her short life, Diana was actively involved in charity work. Most Britons associate her name with this, rather than with scandals.

One of the incidents that marred the princess's life was related to the publication in the press of a photo in which she was sunbathing topless on the balcony of a villa in Spain — she was photographed by paparazzi.

As for her charitable activities, Diana provided financial support to hospitals, homeless shelters, leprosariums and orphanages. Her help also took the form of personal involvement.

The princess opened a ward for HIV and AIDS patients at London's Middlesex Hospital.

She even once took the hand of one such patient without wearing gloves. At that time, it was believed that the disease could be transmitted even through a handshake.

Diana participated in a mission to combat leprosy. She visited countries where the disease is extremely widespread: India, Zimbabwe, and Nepal.

She was also a patron of the Centrepoint charity, which supported homeless young people and provided housing for the poor in the UK.

She opened a ward for children with cancer at the Royal Marsden Hospital. Thanks to the princess's assistance, over £1 million was raised.

Princess Diana's fashion

The style of the Princess of Wales was distinctive and recognisable, combining elements of everyday and evening wear with accessories and jewellery.

In her everyday life, she wore cycling shorts, pairing them with oversized sweatshirts, trainers and high socks.

She liked jeans with a shirt. The princess started the trend of pairing denim with a top, for example, with a white shirt.

The princess could often be seen in cowboy boots, which she wore with jeans and wide-leg trousers in light colours, complementing the look with a jacket and a cap.

Another of Diana's signature features was turn-down collars.

The princess liked dresses and blouses with stand-up collars, which she combined with high-waisted jeans and trousers.

Stand-up collars. The princess preferred dresses and blouses with stand-up collars, which she combined with high-waisted trousers or jeans.

For evening outings, Diana chose dresses with open shoulders and used a belt to accentuate her waistline.

She liked both monochrome looks and prints, such as polka dots with large, colourful flowers.

Princess Diana was an extremely popular figure, and many brands dreamed of collaborating with her. Most valuable princess Diana stamps: Catherine Walker, Christina Stambolian, Versace, Dior (the princess became a fan of the Chouchou handbag model). The princess's outfits were each more elegant than the last, such as the black dress and Chanel bag paired with a sapphire ring, which harmonised perfectly.

What perfumes did Princess Diana use?

The Princess of Wales preferred French perfume brands. Her butler, Paul Burrell, said that the British royal family member's collection included several dozen different fragrances. Among her favourites were:

Diorissimo by Christian Dior – a floral mix with notes of lily of the valley at the heart of the composition, as well as rosemary, lilies, ylang-ylang, amaryllis and lilac.

Quelques Fleurs by Houbigant – the perfume the princess wore on her wedding day.

Bluebell by Penhaligon's. A fragrance of forest flowers with notes of clover, lily of the valley, jasmine, cinnamon and cloves.

24 Faubourg by Hermes – a floral mix that Diana used for several years.

Mitsouko by Guerlain. A citrus-floral combination with spices, developed by Jacques Guerlain in 1919. It contains ylang-ylang, lilac and rose.

Diana's collection also included L'Air du Temps by Nina Ricci and others.

The last years of his life

Diana spent the last years of her life in an apartment in the northern part of Kensington Palace after divorcing Charles in 1996. She had permission to use a study at St. James's Palace.

During this period of her life, the princess remained a full member of the royal family, attending various events as part of it, including the 50th anniversary of Victory Day in Europe and Victory Day over Japan.

She was involved in charity work and promoted philanthropic initiatives. She helped organisations whose mission was to combat homelessness and diseases such as AIDS and cancer.

One of the last initiatives implemented with Diana's active support was a programme to prevent deaths from anti-personnel mines.

How did Princess Diana die?

On the night of 30 to 31 August 1997, in Paris, the Alma Bridge in a car tunnel in Paris, France, a car carrying the princess, her boyfriend Dodi Al-Fayed, driver Henri Paul and bodyguard Trevor Rhys-Jones crashed into a wall. Only the latter survived. The tragedy occurred around midnight: the Mercedes-Benz W140 lost control, veered off the road and collided with the 13th pillar.

According to one version, the princess's driver, Henri Paul, was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. He wanted to escape from the paparazzi who were chasing Diana and drove too fast.

A police investigation concluded that the accident was caused by the driver's carelessness and the recklessness of the passengers, who were not wearing seat belts.

When the emergency services arrived at the scene of the accident, the princess was still alive. Her last words were:

My God, what happened?’

She uttered them immediately after being pulled out of the damaged car. These words were heard by firefighter Xavier Gourmelon.

The princess was taken to the Pithier-Salpetriere hospital while still alive, but she died at 4:00 a.m., despite prolonged attempts by the resuscitation team to revive her. Even internal heart massage did not help. Diana's cause of death was chest injuries and concussion sustained in the accident. The internal injuries were too severe and incompatible with life.

The fact that Diana died came as a shock to the entire British people. Despite her divorce from Charles and the beginning of a new romantic relationship with Dodi Al-Fayed, the British loved her very much. The reason for this attitude towards the princess is simple: she was a very kind-hearted and sincere person who tried to help everyone she could.

Three million people attended Diana's funeral to see her off on her final journey. The funeral ceremony took place on 6 September 1997 at Westminster Abbey in London.

The princess was buried on the grounds of Althorp Island (Northamptonshire), in Althorp Park, on the Spencer family estate. It is not open to the public, but there is a memorial near the lake, not far from where Diana was laid to rest, which can be visited.

Princess Diana funeral

The coffin containing Diana's body, covered with the royal standard with an ermine border, was transported from the Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris to London on 31 August 1997. The funeral took place on the same day. It was a private ceremony attended by Diana's ex-husband, sons, mother, brothers and sisters, one close friend and a priest. Diana's body was dressed in a black wool cocktail dress with long sleeves by Catherine Walker and black shoes. A rosary (a gift from Mother Teresa) and a photograph of her sons, found in her handbag, were placed in her hands. The grave is located on a lake island in Allthorp Park, the Spencer family estate. Before the burial, the ground was consecrated by the Bishop of Peterborough.

Princess Diana Memorial Fountain

The Diana Memorial Fountain is a unique piece of landscape architecture created as a tribute to one of the members of the British royal family. The memorial reflects the best qualities of the princess's character as she presented herself to the world.

The fountain appeared some time after her tragic death in 1997. Construction work began in the autumn of 2003, and the official opening ceremony took place on 6 July 2004 in the presence of members of the royal family, including Elizabeth II, Diana's former husband and children.

The memorial was designed by American landscape architect Katherine Gustafson. It took over 500 blocks of light-coloured granite, known for its exceptional durability, to create. The fountain is surrounded by a green lawn where locals like to relax.

Where is the Princess Diana memorial garden?

The garden is located in the ‘Sunken Garden’ and can be admired from a public footpath. Admission is free. It is decorated with snow-white flowers, including tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and forget-me-nots. The composition also includes decorative grasses, daisies and other vegetation associated with Diana's life and everyday activities.

Princess Diana Memorial Playground

Playground playground located in the north-western part of Kensington Gardens in London, in the Kensington and Chelsea district.

The playground was opened on 30 June 2000, with the future Prime Minister Gordon Brown (then Chancellor of the Exchequer) and Diana's brother Earl Spencer and his family in attendance. However, members of the royal family ignored this event.The cost of developing the playground was £1.7 million.

The five most famous holders of the title of Princess of Wales

Let's list the most famous holders of the title of Princess of Wales:

• Joan of Kent (1326 or 1327–1385) – Princess of Wales from 1361 until the death of her husband in 1376.
• Anne Neville (1456–1485) held the title of Princess of Wales from 1470 until the death of her first husband in 1471.
• Catherine of Aragon (1501–1509), Princess of Wales, daughter of the King of Spain, married Arthur, son and heir of King Henry VII, at the very young age of eleven.
• Alexandra of Denmark (1863-1901) — Princess of Wales, wife of King Edward VII, an extremely popular figure among the people, actively involved in charitable activities.
• Mary of Teck (1901-1910), Princess of Wales, grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II, originally held the title of Duchess of York, then became Queen Consort, supporting her husband and country during the First World War.

Many years have passed since Diana's death, but the British continue to remember and love her.

For them, she remains a model of virtue. This amazing woman passed away very early, but managed to help many people. She never found happiness in marriage, but was able to enjoy the joys of motherhood. Currently, her eldest son William is first in line to the British throne.