What family is Diana in England from. People's Princess Diana - Lady Di. The gradual disappearance of illusions

Diana, Princess of Wales (photo posted later in the article) is the former wife of Prince Charles and the mother of the second in line heir to the British throne, Prince William. When she seemed to have found a new love, she tragically died along with her new friend.

Diana, Princess of Wales: biography

Diana Francis Spencer was born on 07/01/1961 at Park House, near Sandringham, Norfolk. She was the youngest daughter of Viscount and Viscountess Eltrop, the now deceased Earl Spencer, and Mrs. Shand-Kydd. She had two older sisters, Jane and Sarah, and a younger brother, Charles.

The cause of Diana's self-doubt is to be found in her upbringing, despite her privileged position. The family lived on the Queen's estate at Sandringham, where the father rented Park House. He was the royal equerry to the king and the young queen, Elizabeth II.

The Queen was the chief guest at Diana's parents' wedding in 1954. The ceremony then held in Westminster Abbey became one of the social events of the year.

But Diana was only six when her parents divorced. She will always remember the sound of her mother leaving on the gravel road. The children became pawns in a bitter custody dispute.

Lady Diana was sent to a boarding school, and ended up at West Heath School in Here she excelled in sports (her height, equal to 178 cm, contributed to this), especially in swimming, but failed all the exams. Nevertheless, later on she fondly remembered her school days and supported her school.

After completing her studies, she worked in London as a nanny, cook and then assistant teacher at Young England Nursery in Knightsbridge.

Her father moved to Altrop near Northampton and became the 8th Earl Spencer. Her parents divorced, and a new Countess Spencer, daughter of the writer Barbara Cartland, appeared. But soon Diana became a family celebrity.

Engagement

Rumors spread that her friendship with the Prince of Wales had developed into something more serious. The press and television besieged Diana at every turn. But her days at work were numbered. The palace tried in vain to cool the speculation. And on February 24, 1981, the engagement became official.

Wedding

The wedding took place at St. Paul's Cathedral on a perfect July day. Millions of television viewers around the world were mesmerized by the event, and another 600,000 people gathered along the route from Buckingham Palace to the cathedral. Diana became the first Englishwoman in over 300 years to marry the heir to the throne.

She was only 20. Under the gaze of her mother, leaning on her father's hand, Diana of Wales (photo posted in the article) prepared to take a wedding vow. She only showed nervousness once when she tried to put her husband's many names in the correct order.

Welcome newbie. It was a moment of special satisfaction for the Queen Mother, who herself came from a simple family and also made this journey 60 years ago.

Popularity

After the wedding, the Princess of Wales Diana immediately began to take an active part in the performance of official duties of the royal family. She soon began making visits to schools and hospitals.

The public noted her love for the people: it seemed that she sincerely rejoiced at her stay among ordinary people, although she herself was no longer like that.

Diana brought her own fresh style to the mix that was the House of the Windsors. There was nothing new about the idea of ​​royal visits, but she added a spontaneity to it that charmed almost everyone.

During her first official trip to the United States, she provoked almost hysteria. There was something special about someone other than the American president becoming the center of attention, especially for Americans. Since the dazzling appearance during her first public outing with her husband, Diana's wardrobe has become a constant center of attention.

Charity

Diana, Princess of Wales, whose rise in popularity owes much to her philanthropic work, has been instrumental in spreading awareness of the plight of people with AIDS. Her speeches on this subject were candid, and she did away with many prejudices. Simple gestures, such as Diana of Wales shaking hands with an AIDS patient, proved to society that social contact with the sick is safe.

Her patronage was not limited to boardrooms. She occasionally dropped in for tea at the charities she supported. Abroad, Princess Diana of Wales spoke of the plight of the underprivileged and outcast. During her visit to Indonesia in 1989, she publicly shook hands with lepers, dispelling widespread myths about the disease.

Family life

Diana always dreamed of a big family. A year after her marriage, on June 21, 1982, she gave birth to a son, Prince William. In 1984, on September 15, he had a brother, Henry, although he was better known simply as Harry. Diana was in favor of raising her children as conventionally as royal circumstances would allow.

William became the first male heir to be brought up in kindergarten. Private teachers did not teach their sons, the boys went to school with others. The mother insisted that the education they receive be as ordinary as possible, surrounded them with love and provided entertainment during the holidays.

But by the time Prince Harry was born, the marriage had become a façade. In 1987, when Harry went to kindergarten, the couple's separate life became public. The press has a holiday.

During an official visit to India in 1992, Diana sat alone at the Taj Mahal, the great monument of love. It was a graphic public announcement that while the couple had formally stayed together, they had in fact broken up.

Revealing book

Four months later, the publication of Diana: Her True Story by Andrew Morton did away with the tale. The book, based on interviews with some of the princess's closest friends, and with her own tacit consent, confirmed that the relationship with her husband was cold and distant.

The author recounted the princess's half-hearted suicide attempts during the first years of her marriage, her struggle with bulimia, and her obsession with believing Charles was still in love with the woman he dated years before, Camilla Parker-Bowles. The prince later confirmed that he and Camilla did indeed have an affair.

During a state visit to South Korea, Princess Diana of Wales and Charles were seen growing apart. Shortly thereafter, in December 1992, the divorce was officially announced.

Divorce

Diana continued her charitable work after the spat. She spoke about social issues, and sometimes, as in the case of bulimia, her donations were based on personal suffering.

Wherever she went, on public or private business, often with her children to whom she devoted herself, the media was present to document the event. It became something of a PR battle with her ex-husband. Since her divorce, Diana, Princess of Wales has shown her skill in using the media to present herself in a favorable light.

She later spoke about what she thought her ex-husband's camp had done to make life difficult for her.

On 11/20/1995, she gave an unprecedented and surprisingly open interview to the BBC. She spoke to millions of television viewers about her postpartum depression, the breakdown of her marriage to Prince Charles, her tense relationship with the royal family in general, and, most shockingly, she claimed that her husband did not want to be king.

She also predicted that she would never become a queen and that instead she would like to become a queen in people's hearts.

Diana, Princess of Wales and her lovers

The pressure of the popular newspapers on her was relentless, and stories of male friends shattered her image as a resentful wife. One of these friends, Army officer James Hewitt, became the source of a book about their relationship, to her dismay.

Diana of Wales accepted the divorce only after insistence from the queen. When it came to its logical conclusion on August 28, 1996, she said that it was the saddest day of her life.

Diana, now officially the Princess of Wales, abandoned most of her charitable work and began to look for a new field of activity for herself. She had a clear idea that the role of "queen of hearts" should remain with her, and she illustrated this with visits abroad. In June 1997, Diana visited who was in poor health.

In June, she auctioned off 79 dresses and ball gowns that have appeared on the covers of magazines around the world. The auction raised £3.5m for charity and also symbolized a break with the past.

Tragic death

In the summer of 1997, Diana of Wales was spotted with Dodi Fayed, the son of millionaire Mohammed Al Fayed. Photos of the princess with Dodi on a yacht in the Mediterranean appeared in all the tabloids and magazines in the world.

The couple returned to Paris on Saturday 30 August after another holiday in Sardinia. After dinner at the Ritz that same evening, they drove out in a limousine and were chased by motorcycle photographers who wanted to take more pictures of the couple in love. The chase led to tragedy in an underground tunnel.

Princess Diana of Wales was a breath of fresh air and brought glamor to the Windsor household. But she became a sad figure for many when the truth about her failed marriage was revealed.

Critics accuse her of depriving the monarchy of the mystical veneer so essential to its survival.

But by the strength of her character in difficult personal circumstances, and by her relentless support for the sick and destitute, Diana of Wales earned her respect. She remained a figure of public admiration and love to the end.

Diana Frances Spencer

Diana Spencer

The fate of Diana Spencer, or, as the people affectionately called her, Lady Dee, has always been under the close attention of reporters. The future princess was born on July 1, 1961 in the family of Viscount Althorpsky, Earl Spencer. The Spencer family by that time already numbered four centuries. Diana's mother, nee Lady Farm, belonged to an ancient Irish family, and Lady Dee's paternal ancestors were ambassadors and prime ministers.

Diana was brought up, as it should be for a girl from an aristocratic family, that is, away from her parents. In addition to Diana, the family had three more children, so the mother believed that she did not have enough strength to raise all four, and shifted this burden onto the shoulders of numerous governesses and bonnes.

When Diana was 7 years old, her parents divorced, which negatively affected the children. At that time, Diana and her younger brother were the only children in the school from an incomplete family. Mother soon moved to London, where she met the American millionaire Peter Shand-Kid. Their whirlwind romance ended in marriage in 1969, for which Peter left his family and three children.

Diana was not distinguished by brilliant intellectual data, but she danced beautifully and even won the school dance competition in 1976. Her dream of becoming a ballerina never came true: with a height of 178 cm, they were not accepted into a ballet school. Already married to Charles of Wales, at one of the receptions, to the amazement of those present, she brilliantly performed rock and roll with John Travolta.

After graduating from a prestigious school in West Het, Diana studied housekeeping and cooking in Switzerland for two years. However, even her aristocratic background did not help her learn French.

Diana met Prince Charles when she was 16 years old. At that time, the prince paid more attention to the eldest of the Spencer sisters, Sarah, but he was always extremely kind to the cheerful and resourceful Diana. This youthful friendship later developed into a deeper relationship. A gift for Diana's 16th birthday was an apartment in London, which she was incredibly happy about. Diana made a living by being a kindergarten teacher. She also washed and ironed clothes for young people she knew or cleaned their apartments.

Once she told her regular mistress that she was invited to the royal hunt. The answer was the words that perhaps someday Diana would become Queen of England. However, the girl then did not suspect that her dream would soon come true.

Meanwhile, Prince Charles was making brilliant progress in the love field. Not a single girl could resist his loud title. However, his most significant affection was Camilla Parker-Bowles, an affair with which had lasted for several years, which upset Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip a lot.

According to rumors, Prince Philip himself invited Charles to marry Diana: she was young, beautiful and, importantly for the queen, of noble birth. This wedding was somewhat reminiscent of buying a new thoroughbred horse for the royal stable. But for Diana, this moment was the happiest in her life. The luxurious wedding ceremony took place on July 29, 1981 at St. Paul's Cathedral. Millions of television viewers watched with delight as the richest groom in England takes the most beautiful woman as his wife. As the Archbishop of Canterbury remarked, “on such magical nights, fairy tales are born.”

Charles of Wales

However, the affairs of the young couple did not work out already during the marriage ceremony. From excitement, Diana said the name of her father instead of her husband’s name, and Charles got confused and instead of the traditional phrase “I promise to share with you everything that belongs to me,” he said: “I promise to share with you everything that belongs to you.” Some newspapermen subsequently presented these reservations as prophecies.

Between 1982 and 1984, the couple had two sons. It was probably the most successful time in their family life. Prince Charles was so fond of messing around with children that sometimes he even refused to go for walks. Unfortunately, he did not interrupt his romance with Camilla Parker-Bowles for a minute, which brought unbearable pangs of jealousy to young Diana.

Princess Diana was very attractive, which could not be said about Charles. Against the background of her brilliant beauty, he always looked unenviable, all attention was paid to his wife, which made Prince Charles feel extremely uncomfortable: he was not used to being content with a second role. Once, during the couple's trip to Australia, he sadly joked: "I'm here, obviously, to hold bouquets."

The lack of attention from her husband did its job. In 1989, Diana was fascinated by car dealer James Ghibli. It should be said that Diana, disappointed in her dream, was easy prey. By this point, she had already given up trying to melt the ice in Charles's heart. However, after some time, Lady Di realized that she could not marry a car dealer: the harsh reality that would have awaited her in the event of such a marriage was below her dignity.

The next beautiful and passionate novel of Diana was literally put on public display. She never hid her feelings for the riding instructor, Major James Hewitt. Their connection lasted until 1994 and, perhaps, would have ended with Diana's consent to marriage, but money for James turned out to be more important than love. In the same year, he published a book of memoirs in which he spared no words to describe his relationship with Diana in all colors. With the royalties received from the book, he bought a house in the countryside and opened an equestrian school.

By 1987, Charles and Diana could no longer hide their mutual dislike. At official receptions, they tried to maintain the appearance of warm marital relations, but they did not always succeed. In cases with kisses, it came to the point of absurdity. For example, at one reception, Diana involuntarily wiped her lips, at another she turned away, and Charles kissed her somewhere on the ear.

In 1989, Diana's worldview changed radically: she finally recovered from bulimia, sorted out her relationship with Camilla, and became interested in yoga. After such changes, Diana became more acutely aware of the disharmony and falseness that was present in their relationship with her husband. Once suppressed self-esteem resulted in a violent protest. She declared war on the Windsors and, as far as we can judge now, she won it, even if at the cost of her life.

Since 1992, it has become officially known that Diana and Charles live separately. Charles wanted a divorce, as they say, without publicity. According to English law, spouses who have lived 5 years apart are considered divorced. Everyone watched with interest how this story would end. Some believed that Charles would do everything possible to save his marriage to Diana, otherwise he would never become king. However, the performance of the princess in one of the most popular BBC programs in December 1995 put an end to all rumors and speculation. In this interview, Diana admitted in front of millions of viewers that she was aware of the prince's connection with Camilla Parker-Bowles from the very beginning. “There were always three of us in that marriage,” she said. - It's too much".

In 1994, Diana's heart seemed to warm in the arms of millionaire art dealer Oliver Hoare. However, this novel was complicated by the fact that Oliver often gave reasons for jealousy. So Lady Di, who naturally didn't want to share him with anyone else, pestered Oliver with anonymous calls, causing him to turn his back on her.

Oliver Hoare was replaced by Will Carling, the captain of the British national team, who came from a working class background. But this connection was short-lived. All the love affairs of Diana became public, bringing suffering to loved ones.

After the official break with Charles, Diana was tired of the arrogant aristocratic society, and she consciously began to look for men of humble origin. All subsequent lovers of Diana never rose to the highest rung of British society.

After the divorce, Diana's fortune totaled $ 23 million. She retained the title of princess, equal rights with Prince Charles to raise children, a residence in Kensington and offices in St. James's Palace. The only thing she lost was the right to become queen and be called Her Royal Majesty, however, this did not upset Diana at all. Lady Dee's popularity peaked after the divorce, and Charles was treated as the man who had betrayed Britain's most charming woman.

In August 1995, one of the ubiquitous paparazzi contrived to take pictures of Diana in the arms of her new lover, Dodi Al-Fayed. Members of this family still cannot obtain English citizenship, despite the fact that they are among the richest people in the world. The father of the deceased Dodi, Egyptian billionaire Mohammed Al-Fayed, is the owner of the Harrods supermarket empire, including the world-famous London department store. However, the money did not help the Al-Fayed family to acquire English passports.

Glory to Dodi as a famous Don Juan thundered for a long time. First he conquered Brooke Shields, Julia Roberts, Daryl Hannah, then switched to Joan Whalley, Winston Churchill's granddaughter. Dodi's last victory was Lady Di, for whom he left the fashion model Kelly Fisher. The contempt that English society showed towards Dodi is quite understandable: the distance between the brilliant princess and Dodi's "money bag" was too great. In secular clubs, incredible stories were composed, which, in turn, were overgrown with rumors and spread throughout the country. Americans experienced similar disgust when Jacqueline Kennedy married the Greek billionaire Aristotle Onassis. No matter what people say, Diana herself chose her own path and, despite all the dirty gossip spread in the press, she remained a popular favorite.

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On July 20, 1981, an extraordinary event took place in the UK. For the first time in 300 years, a commoner has intermarried with a member of the royal family. Her name was Diana Spencer, his was Prince Charles. They saw each other 13 times before the 33-year-old prince proposed to Diana. The difference between them was also equal to thirteen - the girl was twenty, and in response to a request to marry him, Diana enthusiastically said "yes", confessing her love to the groom now. Charles restrainedly retorted - they say that we know about love. With such a muddy dialogue, the story of this couple began.

Lady Diana leaving the gardens of Buckingham Palace after announcing her engagement to Prince Charles in 1981

Diana invested in their relationship with all possible force - for example, she seriously lost weight for the wedding after Charles remarked that she was "overweight". And if in February 1981, when the first time the tailors took measurements for a wedding dress, measurements of her waist showed 73 centimeters, then after almost six months - already 60. "Not long left, and it would be time already! Six months of engagement - this is definitely worth avoiding The whole family is exhausted," the princess reported in a letter to the nanny Mary Clark at five minutes to five, concealing her own efforts and sacrifices. To lose weight, Diana caused herself to vomit and was often in a state close to fainting.

Strictly speaking, Diana Spencer was not a commoner. She was born July 1, 1961 in Sandringham, Norfolk to John Spencer. Her father was Viscount Althorp, a branch of the same Spencer-Churchill family as the Duke of Marlborough and Winston Churchill. Diana's paternal ancestors were carriers of royal blood through the illegitimate sons of King Charles II and the illegitimate daughter of his brother and successor, King James II.

The future princess with her parents, sister and brother in 1970

Diana spent her childhood in Sandringham, where she received her primary home education. She later studied at Sealfield, at a private school, and later at Riddlesworth Hall Preparatory School. When Diana was 8 years old, her parents divorced. She stayed with her father, along with her sisters and brother. The divorce had a strong influence on the girl, and soon a stepmother appeared in the house, who disliked the children.

In 1975, following the death of her grandfather, Diana's father became the 8th Earl Spencer and she received the courtesy title of "lady" reserved for daughters of high peers. At the age of 12, the future princess was accepted into a privileged school for girls in West Hill, in Sevenoaks, Kent. She turned out to be a bad student and could not finish it. At the same time, her musical and dancing abilities were beyond doubt.

In 1977, the girl attended school for some time in the Swiss city of Rougemont. But she began to miss home and returned to England ahead of schedule. In the winter of 1977, before leaving for training, she first met her future husband, Prince Charles, when he came to Althorp to hunt.

In 1978 Diana moved to London. As a gift for her 18th birthday, she received her own £100,000 apartment in Earls Court, where she lived with three friends. During this period, Diana began working as an assistant teacher at Young England Nursery School in Pimiliko.

Diana as a nanny in 1980, a year before she would marry Prince Charles

After the wedding, she believed that she was incredibly lucky, and not only because she had a life ahead of her in the status of a royal person. Diana dreamed of a real, happy family. The one that she herself was deprived of. In addition, she, apparently, really was in love with the prince.

Unlike her, Charles approached the choice of a wife much more pragmatically. Circumstances forced him to marry. The father was worried that his son would be considered a homosexual - how else to explain the bachelor life of the heir. Mother, Queen Elizabeth, also believed that the time had already come. Actually, she was more involved in choosing a wife for her son. An innocent young lady, a good pedigree, a meek character, a desire to "work as a mother" - Diana perfectly matched the requirements. The same could not be said about Charles' girlfriend, Camilla Parker-Bowles. First, she was not innocent. Secondly, she was married, bearing the surname Shend. And the most unpleasant - it was distinguished by a tough character, suggesting disobedience. In general, the decision was made - Diana. Not only Elizabeth gave her consent, but also Camilla. And Charles went to propose.

Next - six months that have passed from the engagement to the wedding in London's St. Paul's Cathedral. Charles' indifference. Bouquets of flowers sent by messenger, without postcards and cards - a formal expression of feelings. Forgetfulness of the groom - he promised, but did not call. And, of course, persistent rumors about him and Camille. Diana refused to believe that her future husband's affair with a married woman was still in full swing.

July 29, 1981 in London was hot in every sense. Onlookers crowded around the cathedral, feminists handed out badges that read "Don't do it, Di". Then there was the ceremony itself, which was watched by 700 million people around the world. There was a surprise that indicated that "timid Dee", yesterday's kindergarten teacher, always blushing from the attention of reporters, is not as simple as thought. From her wedding vow, the content of which has not changed for hundreds of years, the passage about obedience to her husband was excluded. Excluded at her own insistence, for the first time in the history of the throne.

As a result, the marriage of Charles and Diana was called a union of equals. Unheard of. “When she married Charles, I remember writing to her that this is the only person in the country with whom she could never divorce. Unfortunately, she could,” Diana’s nanny Mary Clark later recalled.

Family life began - and Diana's battle for the perfect marriage. First of all, she tried to win her husband back from her rival. And due to her youth and inexperience, she did not always behave wisely. She cried, threatened, persuaded, lured Charles. She cut veins, chest, stomach. "I was unhappy, and it was clear to everyone except Charles. Trying to cut my veins with a knife, I badly injured my arms and chest. But even this did not impress Charles," she later said. Having tried all possible options, the young wife asked her mother-in-law for help. And then a defeat awaited her: Elizabeth, without changing her face, listened to her daughter-in-law and declared that nothing could be done, Charles could not be corrected.

Meanwhile, the husband himself almost openly met with Camilla, and saw his wife from time to time. And certainly did not seek to find a common language with her and build a full-fledged family. “There were three of us in the marriage, and it was crowded for everyone,” Diana admits after the divorce. The children, the sons William and Harry, saved, all her love went to them.

This nervous ambiguity lasted until the early 90s. The new decade brought mutual cooling. They portrayed husband and wife, only going out into the world. They saw each other there. So another five years passed, and in 1995, the grown-up Diana decided to change her life. She needs a divorce. Just like that, she would not have received it - although the whole court knew about Charles's relationship with Camilla, this could not be a good reason. Publicity was required.
Towards the end of the year, Diana appeared in one of the BBC programs, where she said that there were really three of them in marriage. There was a terrible scandal, what happened was what Diana was waiting for: Elizabeth demanded a divorce. And Charles agreed.

Retaining the title of Princess of Wales, Diana started from scratch. Public life - charity, support of various funds, the fight against cancer, AIDS, anti-personnel mines, hunger, meetings with politicians, ordinary people, the Pope and Mother Teresa (the latter became her spiritual mentor). On June 15-16, 1995, the princess made a short visit to Moscow. She visited the Tushino Children's Hospital, which she had previously provided charitable assistance to (the princess donated medical equipment to the hospital), and Elementary School No. 751, where she solemnly opened a branch of the Waverly House fund for helping children with disabilities. She spent about 40 minutes in the Tushino hospital, and about 2 hours at school No. 751.

Diana in Moscow, 1995

Her personal life ceased to be personal, turning into a not too long series that unfolded on the pages of tabloids. The first and one of the most high-profile novels of Diana happened while still married. She was briefly on close terms with her riding instructor, James Hewitt. This relationship gave her self-confidence, the affair gradually ceased to be a secret for the royal court and allowed Diana to behave more boldly with Camilla and her entourage. When their relationship ended, Diana informed James that she was simply looking for solace on the side. Hewitt was depressed, then he lost his job - he was fired from the army for redundancy. He was silent for a long time, but in the end he nevertheless contributed his share to the general chorus of memories of Diana. However, he did not say a single bad word about her.

After a divorce in 1996, Diana began an affair with Pakistani doctor Hasnat Khan. The couple tried not to advertise their relationship, although they were constantly seen together. They broke up a year later, Khan believed that a possible marriage would make his life unbearable due to strong cultural differences, as well as Diana's desire for independence and love of high society. Diana was crushed.

A few months later, she began dating the son of billionaire Mohammed Al-Fayed Dodi. They had known each other before, but their romance at first was only a consolation for her. However, Diana gradually began to be imbued with the strength and charm of Dodi, brought her children to his villa in Saint-Tropez, and later, a month before her death, in a note addressed to him, she thanked him for the joy brought into her life.

At the end of August 1997, Dodi and Diana traveled on a yacht along the coast of Italy. On August 30, the couple flew to Paris, from there the next day the Princess of Wales planned to go home to her children. On the last day of summer, Dodi was choosing a ring, obviously an engagement ring, and, apparently, for Diana. They then had dinner together at the Ritz Hotel. We went down to the car, sat down, accompanied by bodyguard Trevor-Reese Jones and driver Henri Paul.

Last photo. The night before the fatal accident, Princess Diana and Dodi al-Fayed were filmed on a security camera at the Ritz Hotel in Paris on August 31, 1997.

A few minutes later, a terrible accident occurred in the tunnel in front of the Alma bridge on the Seine embankment - a Mercedes S280 crashed into a wall. Dodi and the driver died on the spot, Diana, taken from the scene to the Salpêtrière hospital, died two hours later.

The cause of the accident is not entirely clear, there are a number of versions (alcohol intoxication of the driver, the need to escape at speed from the persecution of the paparazzi, as well as various conspiracy theories). The only surviving passenger of the Mercedes S280 car, bodyguard Trevor Rhys Jones, who was seriously injured (his face had to be restored by surgeons), does not remember anything. It is also noted that passengers, including Diana, were not wearing seat belts, which also played a role in their deaths.

Tens of thousands of mourners left flowers and photos of Princess Diana outside Kensington Palace

Thus ended the life of a brilliant princess who gave a lot of time and energy to charity and became extremely popular thanks to romantic relationships with very different men. And then began the legend of a beautiful woman who sought happiness for herself and for others.

Diana Spencer is the most famous and most mysterious woman in Great Britain, who went down in history as the Princess of Wales, the wife of Prince Charles. Why is she famous? What is the secret of her death? And why is the investigation into the tragic end of Diana's life still going on? Look for answers to these questions in the article.

First years of life

Diana Spencer has ancient aristocratic roots. Even during the reign of Charles I, her paternal ancestors were awarded the title of count. Her maternal grandmother was once a lady-in-waiting to the Queen Mother herself.

The girl was born in the family castle of Sandrigem on July 1, 1961. It should be noted that this castle is one of the residences of the king, it was here that most often rested on Christmas.

As befits aristocrats, the Spencer family used the services of numerous servants. In addition to Diana, the family had 3 more children, and all of them were brought up in strictness. Witnesses said: the upbringing was such that there was no warm and close relationship between parents and children. The traditions of the aristocracy forbade not only kisses between relatives, but also hugs. A cold distance was observed in everything.

Unfortunately, at the age of 6, the life of our heroine was overshadowed by the divorce of her parents. Diana, like all the children of her family, stayed with her father.

The mother of the family, having left for London, did not stay long alone and got married.

Gertrude Allen was engaged in the upbringing of Diana, it was she who gave the girl the first knowledge. A succession of educational institutions followed: Sealfield Private Schools and Riddlesworth Hall, West Hill's elite girls' school.

Diana's friends noted that she was not a diligent student, she did not like to study, but the girl was very loved and respected - she had a cheerful and kind character.

Diana Spencer's height was 178 cm. This became an obstacle to the realization of her most cherished dream. Diana was very fond of dancing and dreamed of becoming a ballerina.

First meeting with Prince Charles

After the death of Diana's grandfather, her father - John Spencer - inherited the title of earl. The family moved to their family estate - the castle of Althorp House. The Spencer estates were famous for their excellent hunting grounds, where representatives of the royal family often hunted.

In 1977, Prince Charles came here to hunt. The young people met. However, the shy 16-year-old Diana made absolutely no impression on him.

Diana Spencer also thought at that moment only about studying in Switzerland.

After studying and returning to London, the girl received an apartment as a gift from her father. Independent life began. Diana, despite the wealth of her family, got a job in a kindergarten. She wanted to provide for herself.

Diana and Prince

It was at this time, 2 years after the first meeting, that Diana and Charles met again. The romance between young people developed rapidly.

At first they had a great time on the Britannia yacht, and over time, Diana Spencer (see photo in the article) was invited to Balmoral, the royal residence. At Balmoral, Charles introduced the girl to his parents. The couple soon got married.

Everything is not what it seemed at the beginning

Here we should make some digression. At the time of his acquaintance with Diana, Charles led a wild life. His relationship with a married woman, Camille Parker, worried his parents very much. Therefore, when Diana appeared on the horizon, her candidacy for the role of the wife of her son leading a vicious lifestyle began to be considered immediately.

Charles was not at all going to part with Camilla, so Diana's candidacy for the role of his future wife was approved not only by the prince's parents, but also by his beloved woman.

Diana Spencer, whose biography received a new round, agreed to marriage, knowing full well that her future husband had a mistress.

Payback for a mistake

Diana loved her husband, she probably hoped that everything would work out and they could live happily. Yet these hopes were not justified. Jealousy, unsuccessful attempts to save the family, tears and pain - this is the atmosphere in which the young wife had to live.

Diana's unhappy existence was brightened up only by children. She found solace in her sons, William and Harry.

Over time, the situation in the family only began to heat up, because Charles stopped hiding his love affair with Camilla. This, of course, had a negative effect on Diana, every day it became more and more difficult for her to control herself.

The mother-in-law supported her son, and this did not affect the relationship between her and Diana in the best way. The mother-in-law was also annoyed by the fact that the daughter-in-law was becoming more and more popular with ordinary people every day.

Lady Dee - this is how the subjects of the British crown began to call Diana. She was considered a princess "from the people", because she often took part in charity events, helped those in need both in word and deed.

The decisive step that led to divorce

Tired of dealing with the current situation, Diana spoke about her personal life to the public. The whole world learned about how the life of the royal family goes. This step angered the queen very much: with Diana, they became irreconcilable enemies.

Lady Di decided at all costs to dissolve the marriage. The Queen Mother believed that a true aristocrat should humble herself and live for the sake of her children, because a conflict in the royal family, and even more so a divorce, is a terrible scandal and complications.

However, she had already made her decision, she began to act. The once-prudent, crystalline princess has been caught hooking up with her riding instructor.

This led to the fact that the couple broke up, officially the marriage was annulled after 4 years. The queen had to accept the situation.

freedom

The prospect of being a queen for Diana was lost, but this did not upset her. She became free, which meant that she could be a beloved and happy woman. Moreover, she retained the title of Princess of Wales, and she had the right to raise her children.

It seemed like life was getting better. At first, Diana found solace in fleeting, meaningless novels. This went on until fate threw her a meeting with the son of a famous Egyptian billionaire, Dodi al-Fayed.

After 2 months of dating this couple, significant pictures began to appear in the press. Rumors spread that the couple was already engaged. Diana's happiness was so close...

End of story

On August 31, 1997, terrible news spread around the world: Dodi al-Fayed and Princess Diana died in a car accident.

It all happened at the moment when the couple, trying to hide from annoying photographers chasing sensational shots, drove into the tunnel at very high speed. The car crashed into a support in front of the bridge on the Seine embankment.

The tragedy of this situation is also that Diana Spencer died for about an hour under the wreckage of a car, and the paparazzi took care of sensational pictures at that time. Dodi died instantly.

The true causes of the death of a couple in love are still unknown. Among the most popular versions of Diana's death, the following are noted: an escape from annoying paparazzi, a drunk driver at the wheel, the intervention of British intelligence agents. What is it: an accident or a well-planned operation? We will probably never know this.

Lady Dee's funeral

The whole country wept when Diana Spencer died. The funeral of the princess was a tragedy for England. Mourning people filled up the gates of Buckingham and Kensington Palaces with wreaths and flowers.

The organizers of the funeral ceremony put out 5 books in which everyone could write their condolences to the royal family, in a few days their number increased to 43.


More than a million people stood with their heads bowed along the route of the funeral procession. The funeral liturgy was very touching.

The grave of Diana Spencer is located on a small island in the middle of a quiet lake, which is located in her family estate Althorp House.

On July 1, Princess Diana would have celebrated her 57th birthday. Despite the fact that she has not been with us for more than 20 years, she will forever remain the queen of hearts for fans. We decided to recall the life story of this legendary woman, the secrets of style, as well as the mistakes she made. Perhaps, without making them, her fairy tale would not have had such a sad ending.



Favorite of millions: biography of Princess Diana

On July 1, 1961, 3rd child was born in the family of John Spencer. The girl was named Diana and it is worth saying that she became a real disappointment for her father, since he wanted a son. Despite this, since childhood, the baby was loved and spoiled by everyone: from relatives to servants.




Unfortunately, Diana Spencer could not enjoy the family idyll for a long time. The girl's mother cheated on her father and Princess Diana's parents divorced. Relations with the new wife of her father did not work out, and all her childhood she was in two houses: with her mother in Scotland and with her father in England, but nowhere did she feel really needed.

The girl was not very enthusiastic about her studies and the teachers said that she was not very capable. Science for her was in second place. Ballet is her main childhood dream. However, high growth did not allow her to become a ballerina. The girl's nature was very addicting and she quickly found herself a new hobby - social activities.

Prince Charles appeared in the life of Diana Spencer when she was 16 years old. Then he had an affair with the girl's sister Sarah. One day, the beloved gave a careless interview and after that the relationship ended. Prince Charles was not bored for long and immediately began to look closely at Sarah's younger sister. Previously, he saw in her only a little girl, but now she has become perfection for him. This relationship had a happy ending.


Young people almost never parted, and soon the girl was introduced to the royal family. In order to marry, Prince Charles needed to get permission from his mother. Queen Elizabeth believed that the girl was ideal for her already elderly son. At that time he was over 30 and there was no time to look for the best candidate, so the queen did not hesitate and gave her consent.


It is worth noting that Diana was a better fit for the role of Charles's wife than her sister. Attractive appearance, good origin, correct manners, modesty and innocence: the future princess had all this, which cannot be said about Sarah. But not everything was so smooth. Queen Elizabeth was afraid that her son's beloved was not at all adapted to royal life. However, years will pass and she will prove that this is not at all the case.


On July 29, Princess Diana and Prince Charles got married. The wedding ceremony was a real event. The broadcast was watched by hundreds of thousands of people. Everything was like in a fairy tale, but something happened that became a sensation for everyone. The word "obey" was removed from marriage vows. It was a real shock, because even Elizabeth II swore that she would listen to her husband in everything.




A year later, the couple had their first child, Prince William. A few years later, Princess Diana of Wales gave birth to her second son, Harry. A little later, the woman will realize that this was her happiest time.



It didn't take long for the princess to show everyone her domineering nature. For example, she flatly refused to help in the selection of nannies and independently chose names for children. She planned her schedule so that she would pick up the children from school herself. A loving mother who does not have a soul in her firstborn: this is how Lady Di can be characterized.



You should not think that the Princess of Wales devoted absolutely all her time to her family. She did not forget about royal duties. One of her main activities was charity. She took care of orphanages, hospitals and hospitals. The British media wrote that she was an example for many, because no one had ever done it with such awe and love.




Unfortunately, happiness in the family did not last long. Prince Charles has been in love with a married woman for many years. Camilla Parker Bowles was his mistress. After that, the offended wife had an affair with a riding instructor.

A little later, records of telephone conversations, where the spouses exchanged courtesies with their lovers, got into the network. This could not continue for long and they divorced. Left alone, the woman did not give up her business, but with great enthusiasm began to engage in charity work.


Princess Diana died on August 31, 1997. Then she met with Dodi al Fayed, who was the son of an Egyptian multi-billionaire. There were rumors that they planned to get married soon.


On that fateful day, Princess Diana and Dodi al Fayed were together. They tried to hide from the paparazzi and got into an accident. Beloved died on the spot, and the woman died a few hours later, as she was taken to the hospital. How Princess Diana died is still a mystery. There are rumors that the accident was staged. After the incident, the police investigated for a long time how Princess Diana died and, according to the official version, the cause of death is an accident. Only a bodyguard remained alive, who does not remember the events of that night.


Many years have passed, but the cause of Princess Diana's death raises many doubts. When the royal family found out about the incident, Elizabeth II refused to declare national mourning, but this caused anger among the people. A huge number of people came to the funeral of Princess Diana.



The tomb of Princess Diana is located in Eltrop.


People still come to the scene of the accident in which the woman got. Cops and detectives are still trying to figure out the true cause of death.

Princess Diana's children honor her memory. Prince Harry at the wedding with Meghan Markle himself collected a bouquet of flowers that his mother loved so much. Princess Diana's ring is now worn by Prince Harry's wife.


Lady Di: what were her main mistakes

Princess Diana made several fatal mistakes in her life. Perhaps if she had looked at some things differently, then the ending of her story would have been different. Currently, more than one documentary film about Princess Diana has been shot, which shows her life as it really was.


Underestimated the opponent

At the time of his marriage, Prince Harry's father had been having an affair with Camilla Parker Bowles for 9 years. Diana knew about this, but despite this, she accepted the offer. It remains a mystery how she was going to outshine her rival.


After the death of Lady Dee, a fragment of a letter appeared on the network that she wrote to her lady-in-waiting. It said that the honeymoon was not at all the way she imagined it, but was a great opportunity to sleep.


Gave controversial interviews

In 1995, a woman gave the most scandalous interview to the BBC channel. In it, she frankly shared everything that happened in 15 years of marriage, about her suicide attempts and betrayals. After that, the public learned that Princess Diana's husband had been cheating on her for many years. The interview was discussed for a very long time. Perhaps it influenced the "accident" with Lady Dee.


Loved the attention to her person

Princess Diana was accused of the fact that at the beginning of her marriage to Prince Charles, she loved to “inflate an elephant out of a molehill” and thereby stir up the interest of the press. For example, she once performed almost naked on the Covent Garden stage. The second escapade was a dance with John Travolta at a reception at the White House. Lady Di in all interviews denied that she was playing to the public and loves increased attention, but in fact she was flattered by it.



Princess Diana's style: what to learn from her

Princess Diana's style was sometimes imperfect and changed over the years. Currently, her outfits are sold at auctions for a lot of money and exhibited in the most famous museums in the world. Let's take a look at what was the style of Princess Diana and what can we learn from her?


First miss - wedding dress

The wedding dress of Princess Diana was discussed for more than one month after the celebration. Fashion critics compared the bride to a meringue cake. The woman herself took part in the development of the outfit. The dress consisted of lace, silk taffeta, a belt with diamonds and a thousand pearls.


The choice of fabric was a real failure. The designers and the bride herself did not think about the fact that they still need to get to the place of the wedding. As a result, at the altar, the bride was in a rumpled dress.


Work on bugs

After a failed bridal look, Princess Diana decided she needed some help with styling. She approached Anna Harvey, who was working as an editor for Vogue UK at the time. Over time, the princess' outfits have become an example for many. Her main rule was to buy clothes only from domestic designers.


On the example of Princess Diana, you can learn:

  • work with proportions;


  • select and combine accessories (two watches on one hand, a bracelet with balls, rings on the little finger, a necklace with a letter, a pearl necklace on the back);

  • wear clutches;


  • use blue eyeliner;


  • wear low heels and clothes in the same color;

  • be an individual
  • dress simply and tastefully;


  • comply with the dress code.


The death of Princess Diana was and remains even today a real tragedy for all fans. Although the woman lived a short life, thanks to her, Prince Harry of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge William were born. Prince William and Kate Middleton are raising wonderful three children, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have recently become husband and wife. By the way, there are rumors that Meghan Markle is pregnant. True or not, time will tell.