Real Mom: Sons' Secret Memoirs of Princess Diana. Princess Diana: a story in pictures Desired heirs William and Harry

Diana, Princess of Wales (photo posted later in the article), - ex-wife Prince Charles and the mother of the second in line heir to the British throne, Prince William. When she seemed to find new love, 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 one youngest daughter 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, a cook, and then as an assistant tutor in kindergarten Young England 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. 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 even though she wasn't 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 american president, becomes the center of attention, especially among Americans. Since the dazzling appearance during her first public outing with her husband, Diana's wardrobe has become a constant center of attention.

Charity

Princess Diana of Wales, whose rise to popularity owes much to her charitable activities, played important role in disseminating information about the plight of people with AIDS. Her speeches on this subject were candid, and she did away with many prejudices. simple gestures, like that how Diana of Wales shook hands with an AIDS patient proved to society that social contacts with patients are 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 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 after the publication of Diana: Her true story» Andrew Morton is done with the fairy 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 it was evident that the Princess of Wales Diana and Charles moved away from each other. 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 viewers about her postpartum depression, about the breakup of her marriage to Prince Charles, about her tense relationship with 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 popular newspapers on her was relentless, and stories of male friends ruined her image. offended 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 bad condition 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.

Celebrity biographies

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01.07.17 10:46

Princess Diana was included in the list of "100 Greatest Britons", taking third place in it. And even now, many years after the death of Princess Diana, her personality is of great interest, and daughter-in-law Kate Middleton is constantly compared to her mother-in-law. The death of Princess Diana and the life of Princess Diana are shrouded in mysteries that are no longer destined to be solved.

Princess Diana - biography

Representative of an ancient aristocratic family

Diana, Princess of Wales, known to everyone as "Lady Diana" or "Lady Dee" for short, was born on July 1, 1961 in Sandringham, Norfolk. Then her name was Diana Frances Spencer. She belonged to noble family: Father John Spencer was Viscount Althorp (and later Earl Spencer) and was distantly related to the Dukes of Marlborough (to whom Winston Churchill belonged). Also in the pedigree of John were the bastards of the king brothers Charles II and James II. Princess Diana's mother's name was Francis Shand Kydd, she could not boast of such ancient noble roots.

An early biography of Princess Diana took place in family nest Sandgringham, she was attended by the same governess who raised Francis. After home schooling (primary school), the future Princess Diana went to Sealfield Private School, and then moved to Riddlesworth Hall Preparatory School. Even then, her father and mother were divorced (divorced in 1969), Diana came under the care of John, like her brother and sisters. The girl was very worried about separation from her mother, and after that she could not establish relations with a strict stepmother.

Newly trained assistant teacher

In 1973, Princess Diana entered an elite women's school in Kent, but did not finish it, showing poor results. Becoming Lady Diana (when John took over the peerage from his deceased father), the 14-year-old girl moved with her family and the newly made pope earl to the Althorp House castle in Noramptonshire.

Another attempt to send Diana away from home was made in 1977, when she moved to Switzerland. But, unable to bear the parting with relatives and homeland, Diana left Rougemont and returned home. The biography of Princess Diana continued in London, where she was presented (on her 18th birthday) with an apartment. Having settled in a new home, Diana invited three friends to be neighbors and got a job in a kindergarten in Pimiliko as an assistant teacher.

Princess Diana's personal life

Meeting on the hunt

In 1981, she was destined to become a princess Welsh Diana, we will talk about this.

Before she left for Switzerland, Diana was introduced to the son of Queen Elizabeth the Second, Prince Charles - he took part in the hunt arranged in Althorp. It happened in the winter of 1977. But serious relationship Princesses Diana and Charles began later, in the summer of 1980.

They went on a weekend together (on the royal yacht Britannia), and then Charles introduced Diana to his parents, Elizabeth II and Philip - this happened in the Scottish castle of the Windsor Balmoral. The girl made a good impression, so the Charles family did not argue with their romance. The couple began dating, and on February 3, 1981, the heir to the throne proposed to Diana at Windsor Castle. She agreed. But the engagement was announced only on February 24. The famous ring of Princess Diana with a large sapphire surrounded by 14 diamonds cost 30 thousand pounds. Later, it passed to Kate Middleton - the eldest son of Princess Diana William gave it to his bride at the betrothal.

The most expensive "wedding of the century"

Princess Diana's wedding took place on July 29, 1981 at St. Paul. The celebration began at 11.20, 3.5 thousand eminent guests were present in the temple, and 750 million viewers watched the “wedding of the century” on TV. Great Britain rejoiced, the queen declared this day a day off. After the wedding, a reception was held for 120 people. The wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles is recognized as the most expensive in the history of the country - 2.859 million pounds was spent on it.

Princess Diana's wedding dress was made of airy taffeta and lace, with very puffy sleeves, by fashion designers David and Elizabeth Emanuel. Then it was estimated at 9 thousand pounds. Hand embroidery, vintage lace, a bold neckline, rhinestones and a long ivory train - all this looked great on a slender bride. For insurance, two copies of Princess Diana's toilet were sewn, but they were not needed. The bride's head was adorned with a tiara.

Desired heirs William and Harry

Honeymoon Princess Diana and Charles cruised the Mediterranean on the Britannia, making stops in Tunisia, Greece, Sardinia and Egypt. Returning to their homeland, the newlyweds went to Balmoral Castle and rested in a hunting lodge.

There is also a biopic "The Queen", about the events after the death of Princess Diana, Elizabeth II is portrayed in it by Helen Mirren.

Childhood

Diana was born in Norfolk on the private estate of the Windsor dynasty, Sandringham. Diana's ancestors on the line of John Spencer's father came from royal families through the illegitimate sons of King Charles II and the illegitimate daughter of James II. Frances Rude, Diana's mother, was also from an aristocratic family. Diana spent her childhood years in her native Sandringham Palace. There, the girl received her primary education at home.


Little Diana. (pinterest.com)

Diana as a child (pinterest.com)


Her governess was Gertrude Allen, who had previously taught and Diana's mother. A little later, the girl entered the private school Sealfield, and then - to the preparatory school Riddlesworth Hall.



Diana is a teenager. (pinterest.com)


Diana's parents divorced in 1969. The girl stayed with her father in her own home. Diana's sisters and brother remained with them. An eight-year-old girl was very worried about the separation of the people closest to her. Soon John Spencer married a second time. The newly-minted stepmother disliked children. To live in own family Diana was getting worse.



Spencer family, 1975. (pinterest.com)


When Diana was 12 years old, she was accepted into a privileged girls' school in Kent. Alas, Diana was unable to study, she was never able to finish school. However, teachers noted her unconditional talent for music and dance.



School years. (pinterest.com)


Diana's grandfather, John's father, died in 1975. John Spencer automatically became the eighth Earl of Spencer, and Diana herself received the title of Lady. At the same time, the whole family moved to the ancient family castle of Althorp House (Nottrogtonshire).

Youth

In 1977, Diana entered a school in Rougemont (Switzerland). Soon the girl began to feel very homesick. As a result, in 1978, she decided to return to her native England.


Young Diana. (pinterest.com)


With a pony. (pinterest.com)


At first, Diana lived in the London apartment of her mother, who then mainly lived in Scotland. Two years later, in honor of her 18th birthday, Diana received an apartment in Earls Court as a gift. There she lived for some time with three friends.

Diana decided to find a job and got a job as an assistant teacher at the Young England kindergarten in central London. Diana adored children, so the work was only a joy to her.

Personal life

Diana met her future husband in the winter of 1977. At that time, Prince Charles came to Olthrop to hunt. Diana at first sight liked a noble young man.

On July 29, 1981, Diana and Charles were married at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Lush Wedding Dress from silk taffeta with huge sleeves, a deep neckline and a long train, decorated with hand embroidery, pearls and rhinestones, has become one of the most famous outfits in history.


Charles and Diana on their wedding day. (pinterest.com)


3.5 thousand guests were invited to the ceremony, and after the wedding process in live followed by 750 million people.



During the honeymoon, 1981. (pinterest.com)


In Scotland, 1981. (pinterest.com)


In 1982, Diana gave birth to a son, William. Two years later, another child appeared in the family - the son of Harry.

Family photo. (pinterest.com)


Diana and Charles with children. (pinterest.com)


Diana with children (pinterest.com)


In the early 1990s, the relationship between Diana and Charles was cold. The discord between the spouses occurred due to the intimate relationship of Charles with Camilla Parker Bowles - married woman with whom the prince met before the wedding.

For some time, Diana herself kept in touch with James Hewitt, her riding instructor. As a result, in 1992, Diana and Charles parted, but they decided not to file a divorce. Queen Elizabeth II insisted on an official break. In 1996, Diana and Charles signed everything Required documents.

In 1997, information appeared in the press that Lady Diana began a stormy romance with Dodi Al-Fayed, a successful film producer and son Egyptian billionaire Mohammed Al Fayed.



Diana and Dodi. (pinterest.com)


However, neither Diana herself nor her close friends confirmed this fact. It is likely that these were rumors.

Social activity

Lady Diana was called the "queen of hearts" - the woman was famous for her tender attitude towards the people, her concern for those who in this life were much less fortunate than herself. So, Diana was quite actively involved in charity work, was an activist in the fight against AIDS, was engaged in peacekeeping activities and opposed the production of anti-personnel mines.



Princess in Moscow, 1995. (pinterest.com)


In 1995, Princess Diana of Wales visited Moscow. She visited the Tushino Children's Hospital and donated expensive equipment. The next day, Diana went to elementary school No. 751, where she opened a branch of the Waverly House foundation for helping children with disabilities.

Death of Princess Diana

On August 31, 1997, in a tunnel under the Alma bridge in Paris, Diana, Dodi Al-Fayed, Trevor Rhys Jones (bodyguard) and Henri Paul (driver) were involved in a car accident.

Dodi and Henri died on the spot. Diana was taken to the Salpêtrière hospital. For two hours, doctors fought for the life of the princess, but her injuries were incompatible with life.

The cause of the accident is still unknown. Trevor was unable to reconstruct the chain of events. Journalists put forward several versions of the disaster: alcohol intoxication Henri Paul, speeding in the hope of breaking away from the paparazzi and the conspiracy theory against Diana.


Diana, Princess of Wales, nee Lady Diana Francis Spencer was born July 1, 1961 in Sandringham, Norfolk.

She was born into the famous, well-born family of Johnny Spencer and Frances Ruth Burke Roche. The family of Diana was very glorious on both sides. Father Viscount Althorpe, a branch of the same Spencer-Churchill family as the Duke of Marlborough, and Winston Churchill. Her paternal ancestors were carriers royal blood through the illegitimate sons of King Charles II and the illegitimate daughter of his brother and successor, King James II. Earls Spencers have long lived in the very center of London, in Spencer House. "In this ancient and well-born blood, pride and honor, mercy and dignity, a sense of duty and the need to follow one's own path were happily combined. Always and everywhere. To have in the chest little heart and the spirit of the king, intertwining in him firmly, inextricably: femininity and lion's courage, wisdom and composure ... "- this is how the biographer wrote about them.

But despite all the innate nobility of the viscount and viscountess of Althorp, their marriage cracked, and they failed to save the family - even the birth of the desired heir to the earl title, Diana's younger brother, Charles Spencer, did not save the situation. By the time Charles was five years old (Diana was then six years old), their mother could no longer live with her father, and the Spencers underwent a shameful and rare “procedure” for those times - they divorced. Mother moved to London, she began a stormy affair with American businessman Peter Shand-Kid, who left his family and three children for her sake. In 1969 they got married.


1963 Two-year-old Diana rests in a chair in her home.


1964 Three-year-old Diana walks around her house with a stroller.


1965



Diana spent her childhood in Sandringham, where she received her primary home education. Her teacher was the governess Gertrude Allen, who taught Diana's mother. Lady Diana, already an adult, bitterly recalled that her mother did not really care about the custody of her babies. The princess said: “My parents were busy settling scores. I often saw my mother crying, and my father did not even try to explain anything to us. We didn't dare ask questions. Nannies replaced one another. Everything seemed so shaky…”

Later, relatives will say that parting with her mother was a huge stress for Diana. But the little girl withstood this situation with truly royal calm and unchildlike stamina, moreover, it was she who most of all helped her younger brother recover from this blow.

1967 Diana plays with her younger brother Charles near their house.


Viscount Spencer did his best to mitigate the consequences of the loss and by all possible ways entertained depressed, bewildered, shocked children: arranged children's parties and balls, invited dance and singing teachers, personally chose the best nannies and servants. But this still did not completely save the kids from mental trauma.

1970 Little sportswoman on holiday in Itchenor, West Sussex.


1970 Diana with her sisters, father and brother.



After the parents divorce, the children stay with their father. Soon a stepmother appeared in the house, who disliked children. Diana began to study worse at school and eventually did not finish it. The only thing she loved was dancing. Diana's education continued at Sealfield, private school near King's Line, then at Riddlesworth Hall Preparatory School. At the age of twelve, she was admitted to a privileged school for girls at West Hill, in Sevenoaks, Kent.


"Lady Diana" (a courtesy title for daughters of high peers) she became in 1975, after the death of her grandfather, when her father inherited the earldom and became the 8th Earl Spencer. During this period, the family moved to the ancient ancestral castle of Althorp House in Nottrogtonshire.

After graduating from youth school in West Heth, Diana lived in Switzerland. Her father sent her to learn to drive household, cooking, sewing, and French and other skills of a well-bred girl. Dee, apparently, did not like the process of learning too much, she was languishing from boredom, besides, she did not like French and wanted to become independent as soon as possible.

Diana in Scotland


In the winter of 1977, shortly before leaving to study in Switzerland, sixteen-year-old Lady Diana meets Prince Charles for the first time when he comes to Althorp to hunt. At that time, impeccably educated, intelligent Charles seemed to the girl just "very funny."

Since Diana strove for independence, Charles Spencer Sr. gave her such an opportunity. When she came of age, her father gave the future princess an apartment in London. Diana did not show aristocratic stiffness and willingly and confidently began her independent, adult life. She worked as a kindergarten teacher and took care of children at home. Interestingly, the hourly rate of the future princess was only one pound.

Diana as a nanny, a year before she marries Prince Charles.


At this time, the heir to the English throne courted Diana's older sister, Sarah Spencer. Diana simply idolized Lady Sarah Spencer - charming, witty, proud, though a little harsh in manners and behavior. Therefore, she was glad to see how the relationship of the eldest of the Spurser sisters with such enviable groom. Charles at that time was passionate about his studies, closed, a little cold, but his high status aroused an exaggerated interest in girls. Among the contenders for the heart of the prince was even the granddaughter of the legendary Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Lady Charlotte. And yet, he clearly singled out the Spencer house for himself.

Cheerful Diana, who knew why the future king of Great Britain was visiting their house, smiled happily at the guest and muttered something embarrassedly in French - she really loved her sister and wished her happiness. Showering Sarah with signs of attention, Charles was also very kind to Diana, he liked the girl, but nothing special came of it. In November 1979, Diana was invited to the royal hunt. At the Earl Spencer's estate, she was to spend the weekend with her family and Prince Charles. Athletic, graceful, Diana carried herself like an Amazon on a horse, and during the fox hunt, despite her simple dress and modest demeanor, she was irresistible.

It was then that the Prince of Wales first realized that Diana was an incredibly "charming, lively and witty girl who is interesting." Sarah Spencer later said that she played "the role of Cupid" at this meeting. For the first time, Charles had a long conversation with Dee and could not help but admit that she was simply lovely. However, at that moment it was all over.

In the summer, in July 1980, Diana learned that Prince Charles had suffered a great misfortune: his uncle, Lord Mountbatten, whom the prince considered one of his closest people, the best adviser and confidant, had died. As Diana later recalled, “I saw the prince sitting alone in a haystack, thoughtful; turned off the path, sat down beside him and simply said that she had seen him in church on funeral service. He seemed so lost, with an incredibly sad look ... This is unfair, - I thought then, - He is so lonely, someone should be there at this moment! In the evening of the same day, Charles frankly and publicly showered Lady Diana Francis with signs of attention befitting the chosen one of the prince. Sarah Spencer was completely forgotten.

At the time of the "acquisition" by Charles of Diana, the prince was 33 years old. He was the most enviable groom in Great Britain and was considered an incredible womanizer, conqueror of girls, although this title should rather be attributed to his title. In particular, since 1972, Charles had an affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles, the wife of an army officer, Andrew Parker-Bowles, by the way, a good "friend" of some members of the royal family. However, Camilla was in no way suitable for the role of the future queen, and Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip broke their heads a lot over how to "slip" a better candidate to their son. But then Diana appeared, and in general, saved the situation. They say that Prince Philip himself proposed to Charles to marry Diana. She was well-born, young, healthy, beautiful and well-bred. What else do you need for a good royal marriage?

In the autumn of 1980, there was a rumor about her affair with the Prince of Wales for the first time. It all started as a reporter specializing in coverage privacy of the royal family, photographed Prince Charles walking along the banks of the River Dee in Balmoral in the company of a young shy girl. The attention of the world press instantly turned to this unknown person, whom everyone will soon begin to call nothing more than "timid Dee." Diana suddenly felt that she was immersed in a certain new life who had previously been completely unfamiliar to her. From now on, as soon as she left the apartment, numerous cameras began to click around. And even the little red car was always followed by the paparazzi wherever she went.


Prince Charles formally proposed to Lady Diana on February 6, 1981, after returning from a three-month voyage on the ship Invincible, which he was supposed to oversee as the future king. The couple met for a romantic candlelight dinner at Buckingham Palace. After dinner, Charles finally asked the girl the most main question, and Diana gave him the most important answer.

Future princess under an umbrella, 1981.

Soon all the rumors and speculation were put to rest. On February 24, the engagement of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer was officially announced. The wedding was scheduled for July 29 and was to be held at St. Paul's Cathedral. The whole of Britain was excited by the news: it lifted the spirit of the nation during a rather grim economic downturn. Apparently, the time for the wedding was chosen very opportunely.

Romantic moments from the life of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.



Meanwhile, preparations for the "wedding of the century" were in full swing throughout the UK.
To sew a romantic Victorian wedding dress, chastely closed, with many frills and frills, was Diana's idea. She entrusts such a responsible task to little-known designers David and Elizabeth Emmanuel and does not lose. The dress becomes legendary.


On July 29, 1981, young Diana Spencer in a chic wedding dress with an almost eight-meter white silk train went to the altar of St. Paul to become one of the members of the British royal family. Seven hundred and fifty million viewers around the world did not tear themselves away from the TV screens, where one of the most beautiful women Europe with one of the richest suitors in Europe. As the Archbishop of Canterbury put it in his speech, “In such magical moments, fairy tales are born.” This day, as journalists rightly noted, began new page in the history of the Windsor family and all of Great Britain.

The wedding was fabulous. And not only because it was the most expensive event of its kind (costs were estimated at 2,859 million pounds sterling). Just a fiance real prince and the bride is fabulously beautiful and charming.


Now they will bring each other an oath of allegiance. Moreover, Diana, who was barely 20, with an unshakable hand, contrary to tradition, crossed out the promise to obey her husband from the text of her oath. Therefore, later journalists will call their marriage "Marriage of equals"









After the wedding, the girlfriends received a souvenir from Diana. For each, a rose filled in plastic from a luxurious bouquet of the bride was prepared.

Honeymoon in Scotland at Balmoral on the River Dee.






The first official trip of Prince Charles and his young wife around the country began with their titular possessions - Wales. In just three days, the prince and princess held eighteen meetings! On the first day, their itinerary included Caernarfon Castle, where Prince Charles, twelve years earlier, had been solemnly conferred the title of Prince of Wales. On the third day of her trip to Wales, Diana received the title "Freedom of the City of Cardiff". In gratitude for the honor done to her, she gave her first public speech, part of which was in the Welsh dialect.

Diana said she was proud to be the princess of such a wonderful country. Diana later admitted what fear and embarrassment she experienced before this visit and her first public speaking, but it was this trip that became a real triumph for Diana and served as a kind of springboard to the future.


Princess Diana dozed off at an event at the Albert and Victoria Museum in 1981. The next day, her pregnancy was officially announced.

On July 21, 1982, at half past five in the morning, Prince William of Wales was born at St. Mary's Hospital in Paddington.

Diana and Charles with their son Prince William. The child was baptized on August 4 and given the name Arthur Philip Louis.



In February 1984, Buckingham Palace officially announced that the Prince and Princess were expecting their second child. The boy, who was born on September 15, 1984, was named Henry Charles Albert David. In the future, he will be known as Prince Harry.


Realizing the inevitability of the press attention that the young princes will experience in the future, Charles and Diana decided to protect them from this as much as possible. In this, the parents succeeded.

When it came to the primary education of her sons, Diana opposed the fact that William and Harry were brought up in the closed world of the royal house and they began to attend preschool classes and a regular school. On vacation, Diana allowed her boys to wear jeans, sweatpants and T-shirts. They ate hamburgers and popcorn, went to the movies and rides, where the princes stood in a general line among their peers. Later, she introduced William and Harry to her work in the field of charity and, when going to meetings with hospital patients or the homeless, she often took the children with her.



Diana was actively involved in charitable and peacemaking activities. During her public appearances, Diana, whenever possible, stopped to talk to people and listen to them. She was completely free to talk with representatives of different social strata, parties, religious movements. With an unerring instinct, she always noticed exactly those who most needed her attention.


Diana used this gift, as well as her growing importance as a global figure, in her philanthropic work. It was this aspect of her life that gradually became her true calling. Diana personally participated in the transfer of donations - to the AIDS Relief Fund, to the Royal Mardsen Foundation, to the leprosy mission, to the children's hospital "Great Ormond Street Hospital", "Centropoint", to the English National Ballet. Her latest mission was to work to rid the world of landmines. Diana traveled to many countries, from Angola to Bosnia, to see firsthand the horrendous consequences of the use of this terrible weapon.


In the early 90s, a blank wall of misunderstanding grew between the most famous spouses in the world. In 1992, the tension in their relationship reached a climax, Diana began to suffer from depression and bouts of bulimia (painful hunger). Soon, Prime Minister John Major announced the decision of the Prince and Princess of Wales to separate and lead a separate life. There was no talk of a divorce then, but the following year the first of those sensational interviews that shocked the British took place - then Prince Charles admitted to the host Jonathan Dimbleby that he was unfaithful to Diana.

In December 1995, Diana appeared on the BBC's Panorama, a popular show that was watched by several million viewers. She talked about the fact that Camilla Parker-Bowles appeared in the prince's life even before their marriage, and continued to be "invisibly present" (or even quite visible!) Throughout it. “There were always three of us in that marriage,” Diana said. - It's too much". The marriage of Charles and Diana ended in divorce on August 28, 1996 at the initiative of Queen Elizabeth II.

Despite this, interest in Diana did not decrease at all, on the contrary, the public showed more and more attention to the proud Lady Di. Reporters were still eager to get into the princess's private life, especially after her romantic relationship with Dodi Al-Fayed, the forty-one-year-old son of Arab millionaire Mohammed Al-Fayed, owner of fashionable hotels, became public in the summer of 1997. In July, they spent holidays in Saint-Tropez with Diana's sons, Princes William and Harry. The boys got along well with the friendly owner of the house.


Later, Diana and Dodi met in London, and then went on a cruise to mediterranean sea on board the luxury yacht "Jonical".

By the end of August, the Jonical approached Portofino in Italy, and then sailed for Sardinia. August 30, Saturday, the couple went to Paris. The next day, Diana was to fly to London to meet her sons on their last day. summer holidays.

On Saturday evening, Diana and Dodi decided to have dinner at the restaurant of the Ritz Hotel, which Dodi owned. In order not to attract the attention of other visitors, they retired to a separate office, where, as it was later reported, they exchanged gifts: Diana gave Dodi cufflinks, and he gave her a diamond ring. At one o'clock in the morning they were going to go to Dodi's apartment on champs elysees. Wanting to avoid the paparazzi crowding the front door, they left the hotel through a service exit. There they boarded a Mercedes S-280, 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 camera at the Ritz Hotel in Paris on August 31, 1997.



The accident occurred in Paris on August 31, 1997 in a tunnel located near the Alma bridge. A black Mercedes-Benz S280 crashed into a convoy separating oncoming traffic lanes, then hit the tunnel wall, flew several meters and stopped.




The injuries sustained by Princess Diana, Dodi al-Fayed and a bodyguard were fatal. True, they managed to take Diana alive to the Pite Salpêtrière hospital, but all attempts to save her life were in vain. She was only 36 years old.
While the doctors were fighting for the life of the favorite of millions of Englishmen, forensics were working to clarify the circumstances of the accident.

The following versions of the reasons for her death gradually emerged:
. the death of the Princess of Wales in a traffic accident is nothing more than an ordinary car accident, a tragic accident;

Henri Paul, the driver of the Mercedes, is to blame for everything - the examination showed that he was in a state of extreme intoxication while driving;

The car accident was provoked by annoying paparazzi, who literally followed Diana's car;

The British royal family was involved in the death of the princess, who never forgave Diana for her divorce from Prince Charles;

The car lost control due to a malfunction brake system;

. "Mercedes" on high speed collided with another car - a white Fiat, after which Diana's driver could not manage to control;

British secret services had a hand in the death of the princess, who intended to disrupt the marriage of the mother of the future British king with a Muslim.

Which version is the most plausible and close to the truth? The answer to this question should have been given by French experts.

The commission, created at the Institute of Criminal Studies of the French Gendarmerie, worked out all the versions of what happened. As a result, several paparazzi were brought to justice. True, no one took the liberty of accusing them of provoking the death of Princess Diana. The accusations related mainly to violations of journalistic ethics and failure to provide timely assistance to the victims. Indeed, photographers first of all sought to capture the dying Diana and only then tried to do something to save her. The assumption about the malfunction of the brake system of the Mercedes was not confirmed either.

Experts, who carefully examined what was left of the car for several months, came to the conclusion that at the time of the disaster, the car's brakes were in working order. The investigation team also denied allegations that a drunk driver was at fault. Of course, the drunken state of Paul Henri played a role in what happened. However, not only (and not so much) it led to the tragedy. During the investigation, it turned out that before crashing into the 13th column of the tunnel, Diana's car collided with a white Fiat-Uno. According to the testimony of one of the witnesses, the latter was driven by a brown-haired man in his forties who fled the scene of the crime. After this collision, the Mercedes lost control, and then what happened was already described above.

The French police literally shook up all the owners of the white "Uno", but they did not find the right car. In 2004, the results of the investigation of the Commission of the Institute of Criminal Studies of the French Gendarmerie were transferred to "more competent authorities", which, apparently, should have decided whether enough facts had been collected and research had been conducted to close this case with good reason. However, the search for the mythical "fiat" continues. Law enforcement agencies in France are still hoping that the driver of the mysterious car will still show up and report the details of the collision, which became the prologue to the tragic disaster. In the Parisian prefecture, a special entrance was even opened for him. But so far no one has responded to the call of the police.

If the collision of the Mercedes with the Fiat really took place, and the mysterious driver exists, then it is unlikely that he will voluntarily take full responsibility for what happened, as well as the full weight of the anger of those who still remember Diana and sincerely mourn for her. It is not known when the investigation into the circumstances of the death will come to an end. people's princess". But whenever this happens, in England, and in many other countries, the life and death of Lady Dee will be discussed for a long time. Moreover, regardless of what the final conclusion of the mentioned “competent authorities” will be.

Probability of killing
The father of Diana's lover, billionaire Mohammed al-Fayed, is sure that the British intelligence services were involved in the death of Diana and his son. It was he who insisted on a state investigation of the car accident, which lasted from 2002 to 2008. According to al-Fayed Sr., the driver, Henri Paul, was sober during the fateful trip. “There is video footage from the Ritz Hotel where Henri Paul walks normally,” he says, “although, in theory, he should have just crawled. Doctors found a wild amount of antidepressant in his system. Most likely, this man was poisoned. Except "Moreover, I have documents that he worked for the British special services. Later they found his secret bank accounts, to which 200 thousand dollars were transferred. The origin of this money is unclear."

And Mohammed, contrary to official reports on the results of the study, claims that Diana died while pregnant:
“At first, the authorities refused to do the test, and when they did it under pressure, many years passed. During this time, traces can simply be lost. But after all, on the eve of the tragedy, Dodi and Diana visited a villa in Paris that I bought for them. They chose a room for their child there, overlooking the garden.”

Paul Burrell, Diana's former butler, also agrees with the version of a conspiracy against Diana and Dodi with the participation of special services and the royal court. He has a letter to Lady Dee in which she wrote 10 months before her death: “My life is in danger. The ex-husband plans to stage an accident. The brakes will fail in my car, there will be a car accident.

“Her death was brilliantly orchestrated,” says Burrell, “it's a signature English style. Our intelligence has always “removed” people not with the help of poison or a sniper, but in such a way that it looks like an accident.”

A similar opinion is shared by the secret services themselves, for example, the infamous former officer of the British counterintelligence service MI6 Richard Tomlinson. He was arrested twice for revealing state secrets in his books on British intelligence, left Britain and now lives in France. Tomlinson openly stated that Diana was killed by MI6 agents under a "mirror" plan of a "random car accident" that was being prepared 15 years ago for Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic.

The only survivor of a car crash in Paris is Dodi and Diana's bodyguard Trevor Rhys-Jones. He, unlike the driver and passengers, survived because he was wearing a seat belt. The shattered bones in his body are held together with 150 titanium plates and he has undergone ten surgeries.

Here is his opinion about the situation before the disaster:
“Henri Paul was not drunk that evening. He did not smell of alcohol, he communicated and walked normally. I didn't drink anything at the table. I don't know where the alcohol came from in his blood after his death. Unfortunately, I cannot explain why I was wearing seat belts in the car, but Diana and Dodi were not. My brain is damaged, I suffer from partial memory loss. My memories end when we left the Ritz Hotel”…

Parting
For the body of Princess Diana, her ex-husband, Prince Charles, flew to Paris. Butler Paul Burrell brought clothes and asked that the rosary, given to her by Mother Teresa, be placed in the hands of the princess.
In London, an oak coffin with the body of a princess stood in the Royal Chapel of St. James's Palace for four nights. People from all over the world gathered at the walls of the palace. They lit candles and laid flowers.


The farewell ceremony with Princess Diana was held at Westminster Abbey.


Princess Diana was buried on September 6 at the Spencer family estate of Althorp in Northamptonshire, on a secluded island in the middle of a lake.

Diana was one of the most popular women of her time in the world. In the UK, she has always been considered the most popular member of the royal family, she was called the "Queen of Hearts" or "Queen of Hearts".
High, high, in heaven, the stars sing her name: "Diana."




Princess Diana (1961-1997) was the first wife of Charles, heir to the British throne. Her family life officially lasted from 1981 to 1996. But the couple have been living separately since 1992. The initiator of the divorce was the Queen of England Elizabeth II. It took place in 1996, and a year later the princess died in a car accident. This woman was very popular all over the world. More than 20 years have passed since her death, but people remember Diana and speak warmly of her. In 2002, the BBC conducted a poll to rank the best Britons. In this list, consisting of 100 eminent surnames, our heroine took 3rd place.

Charles, Diana and their children: younger Harry and older William, 1987

Charles and Diana had 2 sons - Prince William (b. 1982) and Prince Harry (b. 1984). These are adults now. The eldest is married, and his marriage is very successful. He married Catherine Middleton. She was born in 1982, so the spouses are the same age. The wedding ceremony took place on April 29, 2011 at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony was attended by 2000 people. It was not a simple wedding, but a historical event. It is not at all excluded that Catherine will eventually become Queen of England. After the wedding, she received the title of Duchess of Cambridge.

I must say that the children of Princess Diana with early years were uncontrollable. But after the mother and father divorced, the boys became softer and more docile. The death of their mother that followed had a very hard effect on their psyche. However, the father always tried to surround his sons with attention and care.

Left to right: Elizabeth II, Prince William, his wife Catherine Middleton and Prince Harry, 2012

After 8 years, he married Camilla Parker-Bowles. The stepmother's relationship with William and Harry from the first days was established quite friendly. Camilla always tried to be kind and affectionate. As for Katherine, she is remarkable not only for her beauty. This woman is distinguished by sanity and in everything subordinates personal interests to the requirements of the royal court. Elizabeth II loves her very much. At least no less than Diana once loved.

Friendship between William and his future wife started in 2002. But they were friends, then they cooled off towards each other. Only since 2007, their relationship has become stable. On November 16, 2010, the couple announced their engagement. Thus, the eldest of the children of Princess Diana found his other half. Family life young people flows calmly and happily.

A huge event not only for the country, but for the whole world was the birth of a son to this crowned couple. The boy was born on July 22, 2013 at 16:24 local time. He was born at St Mary's Hospital in London, where his father was born 31 years ago. In accordance with ancient custom, the good news in Buckingham Palace delivered a special messenger. But in the 21st century, he no longer rides a hot horse, but drives a car.

The weight of the baby was 3.8 kg. He was given the title of Prince of Cambridge, named George. Full name— George Alexander Louis. Again, in accordance with custom, all children of Great Britain born on the same day as the heir to the throne receive a silver coin. It symbolizes memory and happiness. About historical event informs the city crier, and the sensational news immediately spreads around the world. England strictly honors ancient traditions, which causes great respect among the inhabitants of the planet.

But the crowned couple was not limited to one child. In October 2014, it was officially announced that the second child would be born in April 2015. Catherine Middleton and her husband got it wrong quite a bit. On May 2, 2015, at 8:34 local time, a girl was born. The weight of the newborn was 3.71 kg. The charming baby was named Charlotte. Her full name is Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge. Thus, the heirs of the English crown had a girl.

The third child was born on April 23, 2018. It's a boy named Louis. Full name is Louis Arthur Charles. He was born at St. Mary's Hospital at 11:01 local time. The weight of the newborn was 3.8 kg. His full official title is HRH Prince Louis of Cambridge.

As for younger son Harry, then he's in public life has proven itself since the best side. He good athlete and played for the junior team in the polo championship in distant Australia. He graduated from the military academy, was in Africa. In 2007-2008 he took part in the fighting in Afghanistan. Since September 2012, he again ended up in this country. He fought bravely, flew combat helicopters. In January 2013 he returned to England. But this applies to public affairs, but in his personal life, the prince long time could not decide on the lady of the seat.

From 2004 to 2010, Harry was friends with Chelsea Davey (b. 1985). This is the daughter of a millionaire from Zimbabwe. She looks like a fragile blonde, but she is great with horses. Can ride without a saddle. Easily deals with poisonous snakes - strangles them with his hands. That is, the lady is desperate and is not afraid of the devil or the devil. At the same time, she received an excellent legal education and works in a prestigious law firm.

Cressida Bonas

Everything seemed to be going to the wedding, but then Chelsea changed her mind. The officialdom of the royal court was not to the liking of a woman accustomed to a simpler life. Harry met Cressida Bonas after the breakup. This is a legacy model. Her mother Mary Gay shone on the catwalk in the 70s of the last century and did not get out of nightclubs. She married 4 times, and the apple, as you know, does not fall far from the tree.

This is to the fact that Cressida inherited from her mother all the main character traits. Friends call her "wild thing". Harry's life with her would hardly have been quiet and peaceful. But, fortunately, the children of Princess Diana always had prudence. The relationship between the model and the prince was never serious. In addition to the “wild thing”, the youngest member of the royal family had fallback options until the summer of 2016. This is Melissa Percy and Flea-Brudenell-Bruce.

Harry and Melissa Percy. The girl can't even buy herself shoes, but Harry is a nice guy: money is not the main thing for him

But all these relationships died, as in August 2016, Harry started an affair with American actress and model Meghan Markle. This information was officially confirmed in November of the same year. And on November 27, 2017, the 36-year-old actress and Harry officially announced their engagement. The wedding took place on May 19, 2018 at Windsor Castle in St George's Chapel.

The prince has long dreamed of a family and has said more than once that he wants the same wife as his older brother. Catherine Middleton is the same to him as older sister. She even replaced his mother in some ways. This is ideal for the offspring of the royal family. beautiful appearance, sanity, willingness to subordinate their personal lives to the interests of the reigning dynasty.

Prince Harry with his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

According to Harry himself, he loves to mess around with children and wants his wife to give birth to many children for him. And this desire began to come true on May 6, 2019. Early that morning, Megan gave birth to a boy. He became the 7th pretender to the British throne. They named him Archie Harrison. But it seems that the couple will not be limited to one child. There will be other charming kids in the royal family.

In conclusion, I would like to say that the children of Princess Diana and the grandchildren of Elizabeth II are worthy successors royal dynasty. In this matter, the proud British can be absolutely calm. Over time, the throne will be occupied by self-sufficient and noble people who care about the good of their nation.

The article was written by Vyacheslav Semenyuk