Princess Diana

Who Was Princess Diana?

Diana, Princess of Wales, was the first wife of Prince Charles, the heir apparent to the British throne, and the mother of Princes William and Harry. Born Diana Frances Spencer on July 1, 1961, she became Lady Diana Spencer in 1975 when her father inherited the title of Earl Spencer. Diana married Prince Charles on July 29, 1981, in a highly publicized ceremony watched by millions around the world. Their marriage, however, was marked by significant personal and media struggles, leading to their divorce in 1996. Tragically, Diana died in a car accident in Paris on August 31, 1997, at the age of 36. She remains a beloved figure, remembered as the “People’s Princess” for her empathy, widespread popularity, and humanitarian efforts.

Early Life and Family

Diana was born at Park House, near Sandringham, in Norfolk, England. She was the youngest daughter of Edward John Spencer, Viscount Althorp, and Frances Ruth Burke Roche, later known as the Honorable Frances Shand Kydd. Diana had two older sisters, Jane Fellowes and Sarah McCorquodale, and a younger brother, Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer. Tragically, her brother John died in infancy a year before Diana was born. Both of Diana’s grandmothers, Cynthia Spencer and Ruth Roche, were ladies-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

Diana’s childhood was profoundly impacted by her parents’ divorce. Her father won custody of the children, and Diana later described her early years as “very unhappy” and “very unstable.” The tension surrounding her parents’ marriage, especially the pressure to produce a male heir, played a role in the dissolution of their relationship. Diana’s father remarried Raine, Countess of Dartmouth, but their relationship was strained. Diana’s personal life during this period was marked by feelings of isolation and instability, which she later openly discussed.

Diana was educated at home before attending Riddlesworth Hall School and West Heath School. Known for her shyness, she was interested in music and dancing. After finishing school at the Institut Alpin Videmanette in Switzerland, she moved to London where she worked with children, eventually becoming an assistant at Young England Kindergarten.

Relationship with Prince Charles

Diana first met Prince Charles in 1977, when he was dating her older sister, Sarah. Despite being 13 years her senior, Charles’s interest in Diana deepened when they reconnected in 1980 at a mutual friend’s home. The media quickly took notice of their developing relationship, intrigued by the contrast between Charles’s reserved, garden-loving personality and Diana’s youthful interest in fashion and popular culture.

Diana was introduced to Charles’s family at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, where she was well-received by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Their relationship progressed rapidly, and in February 1981, after dating for just a few months, Charles proposed to Diana at Windsor Castle. Initially stunned, Diana thought his proposal was a joke, but accepted soon after. Charles presented her with an 18-karat white gold ring, featuring a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds, made by the crown jeweler Garrard. The ring was reportedly inspired by a brooch created by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria in 1840.

The couple’s engagement was widely covered by the media, and during a televised interview, Diana responded affirmatively when asked if they were “in love.” However, Charles’s response, “Whatever ‘in love’ means,” raised eyebrows, suggesting that the concept of love was open to interpretation.

Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ Royal Wedding

Diana Spencer became Diana, Princess of Wales, when she married Prince Charles on July 29, 1981. Their grand wedding took place at St. Paul’s Cathedral in front of 2,650 guests. The couple arrived separately and departed together in a carriage procession through the streets of London.

Diana’s wedding dress was a masterpiece, crafted by designers David and Elizabeth Emanuel. The gown, made from silk and antique lace, was adorned with 10,000 pearls and featured an 18th-century Spencer family tiara. The dress’s voluminous design and 25-foot veil made it difficult for Diana to fit into the carriage, and it took her an astonishing three and a half minutes to walk down the aisle.

The wedding was broadcast live around the world, attracting nearly one billion viewers from 74 countries, earning the event the title of the “wedding of the century.” Diana also made headlines by omitting the word “obey” from her wedding vows, a decision that attracted media attention and some criticism at the time.

While their wedding was a fairy-tale moment, Diana soon found the realities of royal life overwhelming. The intense media scrutiny and the pressures of royal duties led her to develop personal interests and a deep commitment to charity, including support for the homeless, HIV/AIDS awareness, and children’s welfare.

Sons

Diana and Charles had two children together: Prince William Arthur Philip Louis, born on June 21, 1982, and Prince Henry Charles Albert David (commonly known as Prince Harry), born on September 15, 1984. During her pregnancy with William, Diana struggled emotionally and even attempted to harm herself, feeling despondent in her marriage to Charles. Despite this, the baby was unharmed.

Diana also faced postpartum depression following William’s birth, and the constant media attention proved difficult. In 1983, Diana broke royal tradition by taking her 9-month-old son on a six-week tour of Australia and New Zealand, a decision that was met with both criticism and praise, as her natural maternal instincts were admired by the public.

Diana’s relationship with Charles was notably strained during her second pregnancy. When she learned that she was expecting a boy, she kept the information from Charles, hoping it would strengthen their bond. However, upon Harry’s birth, Charles’ less-than-enthusiastic response—”Oh God, it’s a boy”—left Diana deeply hurt, marking a turning point in their relationship.

Divorce from Prince Charles

As the years passed, Diana and Charles grew increasingly distant, with both parties reportedly engaging in extramarital affairs. Diana had a well-known relationship with Major James Hewitt between 1986 and 1991, while Charles rekindled his relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles. By the early 1990s, their marriage was marked by public tension, and they became known in the media as “The Glums.”

Their separation was publicly announced in December 1992, followed by a 1995 BBC interview in which Diana famously stated, “There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded,” referring to Charles’ ongoing relationship with Camilla. Shortly afterward, Queen Elizabeth II advised both Diana and Charles to formalize their divorce, which was finalized in August 1996.

Despite retaining the title of Princess of Wales, Diana was stripped of the style “Her Royal Highness,” a decision that greatly impacted her position within the royal family. While she continued to reside at Kensington Palace, she no longer had the financial support of Charles and was forced to live a more independent lifestyle.

Post-Divorce Life

After the divorce, Diana focused on her sons and continued her charitable work, particularly raising awareness about landmines and advocating for humanitarian causes. Her popularity remained high, though she also endured several romantic relationships, including with heart surgeon Hasnat Khan and, in 1997, Egyptian film producer Dodi Fayed.

Diana’s relationship with Fayed was controversial, and some members of the royal family, as well as former Prime Minister Tony Blair, reportedly disapproved of it.

Death

Tragically, Diana’s life was cut short on August 31, 1997, when she and Dodi Fayed were involved in a fatal car crash in Paris, allegedly while attempting to evade the paparazzi. Both Fayed and the driver died instantly, and although Diana initially survived, she succumbed to her injuries a few hours later at a Paris hospital, leaving the world in shock.

A global outpouring of grief followed her untimely death, with millions mourning her loss. Queen Elizabeth II, who had been criticized for her delayed response, delivered a heartfelt televised address on September 5, 1997, praising Diana’s legacy and the emotional response to her passing.

An investigation into the crash determined that the driver was at fault for speeding while under the influence of alcohol and antidepressants. Although initial speculation linked the paparazzi to the crash, the official report cleared them of any wrongdoing.

Funeral, Gravesite, and Legacy

Diana’s funeral, held on September 6, 1997, was watched by an estimated 2.5 billion people worldwide. The procession, which began at Kensington Palace, featured her coffin resting on a gun carriage drawn by six black horses. Her sons, William and Harry, joined the procession for the final stretch, walking in honor of their mother. The ceremony at Westminster Abbey included a moving eulogy from her brother, Earl Charles Spencer, and a tribute from Elton John, who re-wrote the lyrics to his song “Candle in the Wind” in Diana’s honor.

Diana was laid to rest on an island at her family’s Althorp estate. In the years following her death, the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund was established to continue her charitable work. Though the fund no longer actively raises money, any new donations are shared between the charities supported by her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.

Diana’s influence endures in the form of her sons’ public service and in their daughters’ names—Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, born in 2015, and Princess Lilibet Diana, born in 2021. Through these gestures, Diana’s legacy continues to be honored by her family and by those whose lives she touched.

Portrayals in Pop Culture

Princess Diana has been depicted by a wide range of actors across film, television, and other forms of media. Notable portrayals include Serena Scott Thomas in Diana: Her True Story (1993), Genevieve O’Reilly in Diana: Last Days of a Princess (2007), Naomi Watts in Diana (2013), and Kristen Stewart in Spencer (2021). Stewart’s portrayal earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

In the Netflix series The Crown, Diana has been portrayed by Emma Corrin and Elizabeth Debicki across different seasons. Corrin’s performance garnered widespread acclaim, earning a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series (Drama). Debicki also received notable recognition, securing Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for her portrayal of the princess.