Diana, Princess of Wales, nee lady Diana Frances Spencer was born on July 1, 1961 in Sandringham, Norfolk.
She was born into the famous, well-born family of Johnny Spencer and Frances Ruth Burke Roche. Diana's family was very glorious on both sides. Father is Viscount Althorp, a branch of the same Spencer-Churchill family as the Duke of Marlborough and Winston Churchill. Her paternal ancestors were carriers of royal blood through illegitimate sons King Charles II and illegitimate daughter his brother and successor, King James II. The Earls Spencer have long lived in the very center of London, in Spencer House. “This ancient and noble blood happily combined pride and honor, mercy and dignity, a sense of duty and the need to follow one’s own path. Always and everywhere. To have in the chest little heart and the spirit of the king, intertwining in him tightly, inextricably: femininity and lion’s courage, wisdom and composure...” - this is what the biographer wrote about them.
But despite all the innate nobility of the Viscount and Viscountess Althorp, their marriage cracked, and they were unable to save the family - even the birth of the desired heir to the earldom, Diana’s younger brother, Charles Spencer, did not save the situation. By the time of Charles's fifth birthday (Diana was then six years old) small years old), their mother could no longer live with their father, and the Spencers performed a shameful and rare “procedure” at that time - they divorced. Her mother moved to London and began a whirlwind romance with American businessman Peter Shand-Kyd, who left his family and three children for her sake. In 1969 they got married. 
1963 Two-year-old Diana relaxes 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 education at home. Her teacher was governess Gertrude Allen, who also taught Diana's mother. Lady Diana, already an adult, recalled with bitterness that her mother did not really care about the care of her children. The princess said: “The parents were busy settling scores. I often saw my mother crying, and my dad didn’t even try to explain anything to us. We didn't dare ask questions. The nannies replaced one another. Everything seemed so unsteady..."
Later, relatives would say that parting with her mother was a huge stress for Diana. But the little girl withstood this situation with truly royal calm and childish fortitude, moreover, it was she who most helped her little brother recover from this blow.
1967 Diana plays with her younger brother Charles near their house.
Viscount Spencer, as far as possible, tried to mitigate the consequences of the loss and in every possible way entertained the depressed, confused, and shocked children: he organized children's parties and balls, invited dancing and singing teachers, and personally selected the best nannies and servants. But this still did not completely save the kids from mental trauma.
1970 A little athlete on holiday in Itchenor, West Sussex. 
1970 Diana with her sisters, father and brother.
After the parents divorce, the children remain to live with their father. Soon a stepmother appeared in the house, who disliked the children. Diana began to do worse at school and ultimately did not graduate. The only activity she loved was dancing. Diana's education continued in Sealfield, at a private school near King's Line, then at preparatory school Riddlesworth Hall. At the age of twelve she was accepted into the exclusive girls' school at West Hill, in Sevenoaks, Kent. 
She became "Lady Diana" (a courtesy title for daughters of high peers) 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 Notthrogtonshire.
After graduating from youth school in West Heth, Diana lived in Switzerland. Her father sent her to learn housekeeping, cooking, sewing, as well as French and other skills of a well-bred girl. Dee, apparently, did not like the learning process very much, she was exhausted from boredom, besides, she did not like French and wanted to become independent as quickly 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 on a hunting trip. At that time, the impeccably brought up, intelligent Charles seemed to the girl only “very funny.”
Since Diana sought independence, Charles Spencer Sr. provided her with this 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 part-time as a kindergarten teacher and babysat 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 was courting older sister Diana, Sarah Spencer. Diana simply idolized Lady Sarah Spencer - charming, witty, proud, although a little harsh in her manners and behavior. Therefore, she was glad to see how the relationship between the eldest of the Spurser sisters and such an enviable groom was developing. Charles at that time was passionate about his studies, reserved, and cold, but he high status aroused exaggerated interest among girls in him. Among the contenders for the prince's heart 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 she came to their house future king Great Britain, during meetings she joyfully smiled at the guest and muttered something embarrassed in French - she really loved her sister and wished her happiness. Having showered Sarah with 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. She was to spend the weekend at Earl Spencer's estate with her family and Prince Charles. Athletic, graceful, Diana rode her horse like an Amazon, and during the fox hunt, despite her simple outfit and modest behavior, she was irresistible.
It was then that the Prince of Wales first realized that Diana was an incredibly “charming, lively and witty girl who was interesting to be with.” Sarah Spencer later said that she played “the role of Cupid” at this meeting. Charles spoke for a long time with Dee for the first time and could not help but admit that she was simply lovely. However, at that moment that 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, his best adviser and confidant, had died. As Diana later recalled, “I saw the prince sitting alone in a haystack, thoughtful; she turned off the path, sat down next to him and simply said that she saw him in the church at the funeral service. He seemed so lost, incredibly looking sad... This is unfair,” I thought then, “He is so lonely, someone should be there at this moment!” That evening, Charles openly and publicly showered Lady Diana Francis with the attentions befitting a prince's chosen one. Sarah Spencer was completely forgotten. 
At the time Charles “found” Diana, the prince was 33 years old. He was the most eligible bachelor in Great Britain and was considered an incredible womanizer, a 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 army officer Andrew Parker-Bowles, by the way, a good “friend” of some members royal family. However, Camilla was in no way suitable for the role of the future queen, and Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip racked their brains a lot about how to “slip” a better candidate for their son. But then Diana appeared and, in general, saved the situation. They say that Prince Philip himself proposed that Charles marry Diana. She was well-born, young, healthy, beautiful and well-mannered. What else is needed for a good royal marriage?
In the fall of 1980, rumors first circulated about her affair with the Prince of Wales. It all started when a reporter specializing in reporting privacy royal family, photographed Prince Charles walking along the shallows 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 would soon begin to call nothing more than “timid Dee.” Diana suddenly felt that she was plunging into a new life that was completely unfamiliar to her before. From now on, as soon as she left the apartment, numerous cameras began to click around her. And even the little red car was always followed by paparazzi wherever she went. 
Prince Charles made Lady Diana official proposal February 6, 1981, after returning from a three-month naval campaign on the ship Invincible, which he was supposed to oversee as the future king. The couple met for a romantic candlelit dinner at Buckingham Palace. After dinner, Charles finally asked the girl the most main question, and Diana gave the most important answer to it.
Future princess under an umbrella, 1981.
Soon all rumors and speculation were put to an end. 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 take place at St. Paul's Cathedral. The whole of Great Britain was excited by the news: it lifted the spirit of the nation during a period of rather gloomy economic recession. Apparently, the timing for the wedding was very opportune.
Romantic moments from the life of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
Meanwhile, across the UK, preparations for the “wedding of the century” were in full swing.
Sew a romantic Wedding Dress Victorian style, chastely closed, with lots of frills and flounces 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, walked to the altar of St. Cathedral. Paul to become one of the members of the British royal family. Seven hundred and fifty million viewers around the world were glued to their television screens as one of the most beautiful women Europe with one of the richest grooms in Europe. As the Archbishop of Canterbury put it in his speech, “It is in such magical moments that fairy tales are born.” This day, as journalists rightly noted, began new page in the history of the Windsor family and the whole 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 groom - a real prince, and the bride is fabulously beautiful and charming. 
Now they will take oaths of allegiance to each other. Moreover, Diana, who had barely turned 20, without flinching, 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 one, a rose was prepared, cast into plastic. luxurious bouquet brides
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 route included Caernarfon Castle, where Prince Charles, twelve years ago, was solemnly given the title Prince of Wales. On the third day of her trip to Wales, Diana received the title of "Freedom of the City of Cardiff". In gratitude for the honor done to her, she spoke her first public speech, part of which was in the Welsh dialect.
Diana said that she was proud to be the princess of such a wonderful country. Diana later admitted what fear and embarrassment she felt before this visit and her first public appearance, but it was this trip that became Diana’s real triumph and served as a springboard of sorts into 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 Padington. 
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. He will henceforth be known as Prince Harry. 
Understanding the inevitability of intrusive press attention that the young princes would experience in the future, Charles and Diana decided to protect them from this as much as possible. The parents succeeded in this.
When it came to the primary education of her sons, Diana opposed William and Harry being raised in the closed world of the royal house and they began to attend preschool classes and regular school. On vacation, Diana allowed her boys to wear jeans, sweatpants and T-shirts. They ate hamburgers and popcorn, went to the cinema and to the attractions, where the princes stood in a general line among their peers. She later introduced William and Harry to her charity work and often took the children with her when she went to meet hospital patients or the homeless. 
Diana was actively involved in charitable and peacekeeping activities. During her public appearances, Diana, whenever possible, stopped to talk to people and listen to them. She could talk completely freely with representatives of different social strata, parties, and religious movements. With an unerring instinct, she always noticed those who most needed her attention. 
Diana used this gift, as well as her growing importance as a global figure, in her charitable 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 Foundation, the Royal Mardsen Foundation, the Leprosy Mission, the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, Centropoint, and the English National Ballet. Her final mission was to rid the world of anti-personnel mines. Diana traveled to many countries, from Angola to Bosnia, to see firsthand the monstrous 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 its 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 separate lives. There was no talk of divorce at that time, but the following year the first of those sensational interviews that shocked the British took place - then Prince Charles admitted to host Jonathan Dimbleby that he had been unfaithful to Diana.
In December 1995, Diana appeared on the BBC's Panorama, a popular show watched by several million viewers. She said that Camilla Parker-Bowles appeared in the prince’s life even before their marriage, and continued to be “invisibly present” (or even quite visibly!) 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 continued to seek insight into the princess's personal life, especially after her romantic relationship with Dodi Al-Fayed, the forty-one-year-old son of Arab millionaire Mohammed Al-Fayed, the owner of fashionable hotels, became public in the summer of 1997. In July, they spent the 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 around Mediterranean Sea on board the luxury yacht Jonikal. 
Towards the end of August the Jonical approached Portofino in Italy and then sailed for Sardinia. On August 30, Saturday, the couple in love went to Paris. The next day Diana was due to fly to London to meet her sons on the last day of their 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 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 prepared to go to Dodi's apartment on the Champs-Elysees. Wanting to avoid the paparazzi crowding the front entrance, they left the hotel through the service exit. There they got into 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 Pont Alma. The black Mercedes-Benz S280 crashed into a column dividing oncoming lanes, then hit the tunnel wall, flew several meters and stopped. 
The injuries suffered by Princess Diana, Dodi al-Fayed and the bodyguard were fatal. True, Diana managed to be taken alive to the Pite Salpêtrière hospital, but all attempts to save her life were in vain. She was only 36 years old.
While doctors fought for the life of the favorite of millions of Englishmen, criminologists worked 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 as a result of a road 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 - an examination showed that he was heavily intoxicated while driving;
The car accident was provoked by annoying paparazzi who were literally on the heels of 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 of the brake system;
. The Mercedes at high speed collided with another car - a white Fiat, after which Diana's driver was unable to control the car;
The English 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 to a Muslim.
Which version is the most plausible and closest to the truth? French experts were supposed to answer this question.
A commission created at the Institute of Criminal Research of the French Gendarmerie worked out all versions of what happened. As a result, several paparazzi were brought to justice. True, no one took it upon themselves to accuse them of provoking the death of Princess Diana. The charges related mainly to violations of journalistic ethics and failure to provide timely assistance to victims. Indeed, photographers first of all sought to capture the dying Diana and only then tried to do anything to save her. The assumption that the Mercedes brake system was faulty was also not confirmed.
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 refuted claims that a drunk driver was to blame. Of course, Paul Henri's drunken state played a role in what happened. However, not only (and not so much) this led to 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 what was already described above.
The French police literally shook up all the owners of white Unos, but they never found the car they needed. In 2004, the results of the investigation by the commission of the Institute of Criminal Research of the French Gendarmerie were transferred to “more competent authorities”, which, apparently, were supposed to decide whether enough facts had been collected and research had been conducted to justifiably close the case. At the same time, the search for the mythical “Fiat” continues. Law enforcement France still hopes that the driver of the mysterious car will show up and provide details of the collision, which became the prologue to the tragic accident. In the Parisian prefecture they even opened a special entrance for him. But so far no one has responded to the police call.
If the collision of the Mercedes with the Fiat really took place, and the mysterious driver exists, then he is unlikely to voluntarily take full responsibility for what happened, as well as the full brunt of the anger of those who still remember Diana and sincerely mourn her death. her. It is unknown when the investigation into the circumstances of the death of the “People’s Princess” will be completed. But whenever this happens, in England, and in many other countries, the life and death of Lady Di will be discussed for a long time. Moreover, regardless of what the final conclusion of the mentioned “competent authorities” will be.
Probability of murder
The father of Diana's lover, billionaire Mohammed al-Fayed, is sure that Diana and his son were involved in the death British intelligence services. It was he who insisted on a state investigation into the car accident, which lasted from 2002 to 2008. According to al-Fayed Sr., the driver Henri Paul was sober during the fatal trip. “There are recordings from video cameras of the Ritz Hotel, where Henri Paul’s gait is normal,” he says, “although, in theory, he should have just been crawling. Doctors found a wild amount of an antidepressant in his body. Most likely, this man was poisoned. In addition "In addition, I have documents that he worked for the British intelligence 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 about 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 on the eve of the tragedy, Dodi and Diana visited the villa in Paris that I bought for them. They chose a room there for their child, 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 the intelligence services and the royal court. He has a letter from Lady Di in which she wrote 10 months before her death: “My life is in danger. The ex-husband plans to organize an accident. My car's brakes will fail and there will be a car accident."
“Her death was brilliantly orchestrated,” says Burrell, “in trademark English style. Our intelligence always “removed” people not with the help of poison or a sniper, but in such a way that it looked like an accident.”
A similar opinion is shared by intelligence officers themselves, for example, the notorious former officer of the British counterintelligence service MI6, Richard Tomlison. He was arrested twice for disclosing state secrets in his books about British intelligence, left Britain and now lives in France. Tomlison openly stated that Diana was killed by MI6 agents in a “mirror” “accidental car accident” plan that was prepared for Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic 15 years ago.
The only survivor of the car accident in Paris is Dodie and Diana's bodyguard Trevor Rhys-Jones. He, unlike the driver and passengers, survived because he was wearing a seat belt. The crushed 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 alcohol ended up in his blood after his death. Unfortunately, I cannot explain why I was buckled up in the car, but Diana and Dodi were not. I am brain damaged and suffer from partial memory loss. My memories end at the moment when we left the Ritz Hotel.”
Parting
Her ex-husband, Prince Charles, flew to Paris to pick up Princess Diana's body. Butler Paul Burrell brought clothes and asked that the rosary given to her by Mother Teresa be placed in the princess's hands.
In London, the oak coffin containing the princess's body 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 for Princess Diana took place 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 Great Britain, she has always been considered the most popular member of the royal family; she was called the “Queen of Hearts” or the “Queen of Hearts.”
High, high in the heavens, the stars sing her name: “Diana.” 
, “queen of hearts”, “queen of hearts” from the English Queen of Hearts. She certainly deserved the love of not only the British, but the whole world. Her sad story captured many hearts. You can think about Diana, in general, in any way you like, she can be deified, she can be demoted from her pedestal to just another popular, but empty person. But Diana undoubtedly took her place in the history of both her country and this world, and, undoubtedly, among the positive characters. No wonder she is one of the three most famous Englishmen in the world. Queen of Hearts. We can argue about a lot of things, but Diana was actually a good mother, and she was really involved in charity work with all her heart, she knew how to help others. It’s a pity that I was never able to help myself, to deal with my destiny. And be colder, as people should be.
Princess Diana - biography.
Diana was born on 1 July 1961 in Sandringham, Norfolk. Her father John Spencer is Viscount Althorp. Diana also had royal blood in her veins through the illegitimate sons of King Charles II and the illegitimate daughter of his brother and successor, King James II. Lady Diana will become only in 1975 after the death of her grandfather, it is from this time that Diana's father will receive the title of count, and Diana will become a lady.
Princess Diana spent her childhood in Sandringham, where she received her primary education at home. Then I studied at school. But at the age of nine, Diana is sent to Riddlesworth Hall School, a boarding school. However, for rich children to study in closed schools this type was quite in the order of things. Diana was not particularly successful in her studies, although she was hardworking. She was also very kind to her classmates. Like everyone else, I dreamed of holidays that I could finally spend at home. She spent her holidays alternately with her mother and father, who by that time were already divorced. At age 12, Diana is transferred to West Hill Girls' School in Sevenoaks, Kent. Her sisters, Sarah and Jenny, were already studying there. Jenny was quite happy with this school, but Sarah rebelled against the strict rules more than once. Sarah, by the way, was a fairly good athlete and loved tennis. Diana studied ballet and danced step, but unlike her sister and mother, she played tennis at a fairly low level.
Diana never passed the final exams at West Hill; she failed in all subjects.
In 1976, Diana's father remarried Raine, who had previously been the wife of the Earl of Dartmouth, he married her literally two months after her divorce. John Spencer's daughters disliked him new wife, who was also quite power-hungry and tried in every possible way to command the house. Following their older sister Sarah, they began to sing along to themselves, “Raine, Raine, get out.”
In 1977, the future Princess went to study in Switzerland. In the same year, she first saw Charles, who came to Althorp to hunt. The Elpin Wiedemanet Institute in Switzerland was quite expensive private school, preparing girls for entry into society. They also took a two-year secretarial course and learned to cook. The main emphasis was on studying French. Speaking any language other than French was strictly prohibited. The rules themselves that reigned at the Institute were also very strict. Diana didn't like it there. She mainly communicated with Sophie Kimbell, also English, and, of course, in English. She ends up flying home to Chelsea, her mother's apartment in London.
In general, Diana never received any education. The only thing she could count on, if she were not an aristocrat, was unemployment benefits.
In London, Diana soon buys her own apartment, thanks to her share in the family finances and an inheritance from her American great-grandmother Frances Wark. Her friends live in Diana's apartment - first Sophie Kimbell, whom she met while studying at a Swiss institute, then Caroline Pravd, Diana's friend from West Hill School, who was then studying at the Royal College of Music. Then they are joined by two more of Diana's friends - Anne Bolton, who worked as a secretary, since her friends still had to think about money, and Virginia Pitman, who usually cooked for everyone, and Diana washed the dishes.
Diana also went to work. At one time she worked as a cleaner, then as a visiting nurse, by the way, back at West Hill School, the girls had responsibilities to take care of one of the elderly, participate in charity orphanage. Diana also worked as a nanny. Among her employers, for example, were Patrick and Mary Robinson, who remembered Diana as an “exceptionally intelligent and excellent nanny with children.”
Lady Di and Prince Charles.
Diana had a dream of becoming a ballet teacher, but the moment to realize this dream was missed, and now Diana dreamed of becoming a ballet teacher. By the way, she always loved children and knew how to find a common language with them. And she even managed to work for some time at Mrs. Vakani’s dance school. But Diana did not pay enough attention to this work, because, according to Mrs. Vakani, “She loved social life very much.” Diana then worked as a kindergarten teacher. And a prince appeared in her life, Prince Charles, and she did everything to conquer him.
Wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles.
On July 29, 1981, their wedding took place. Diana's sons Charles and Harry were born in 1982 and 1984. But their marriage did not become successful and happy. Charles still loved Camilla Parker Bowles. And Diana, realizing that her ideal dreams of an ideal family will never come true, starts an affair with her riding instructor, James Hewitt. Since 1992, Charles and Diana lived separately, but divorced only in 1996 at the insistence of the Queen, who was no longer able to tolerate all these scandals. After all, for the Queen, Diana has become a constant source of scandals, a woman who cannot behave with dignity, having taken such a position high position, a woman who did not put up with her husband’s behavior, with his infidelities, but she should have. The Queen did not like Diana, who spoiled the reputation of her son and the royal family. But Diana was loved by the people, ordinary Englishmen loved her. Diana eclipsed Charles in everything.
In raising her sons, Diana, firstly, tried to protect them from excessive press attention, but at the same time teach them to behave with dignity in public. She also gave them the opportunity to feel like quite ordinary children: this is how they received education at school, and not at home; on vacation, Diana allowed them to wear sweatpants, jeans and T-shirts, they went to the movies, ate hamburgers and popcorn, and how everyone stood in line for the rides. Diana actively participated in charity work and soon began taking her sons with her, for example, when visiting hospitals. And, of course, William and Harry loved their mother very much.
After her divorce from Charles, Diana dated film producer Dodi al-Fayed, son Egyptian billionaire Mohamed al-Fayed. It is with him that she will go to her last way through the Paris tunnel. They left the hotel, got into the car... An accident occurred in the tunnel in front of the Alma bridge on the Seine embankment. Dodi al-Fayed and the driver died on the spot. Diana is in the hospital in two hours. The only survivor of this accident was Diana's bodyguard, who was seriously injured, and later stated that he did not remember any details about this accident.
Diana's death was not without conspiracy theories and a search for those to blame. According to the official version, the culprit was the driver, whose blood had a significantly higher amount of alcohol and who was driving at too high a speed. Perhaps they were trying to hide from the paparazzi.
Diana's death was a tragedy not only for the British, but also for many people around the world.
Princess Diana was buried at the Spencer family estate of Althorp, on a secluded island in the middle of the lake.
“Style icon”, “people's princess” ─ Diana has many unofficial titles. But perhaps the only one she truly valued was the title of mother. You can judge what kind of mother she was from these photos and from the words of her sons. In photographs and quotes we tell how William and Harry remembered her.
Princess Diana with her sons on a picnic in Windsor Great Park, June 1, 1991The queen of people's hearts, an unhappy wife, a naive aristocrat - the world is still wondering what Lady Di really was like. Only William and Harry retain the most unconditional memory of the Princess of Wales. After all, for these two there was no other Diana other than Diana the mother.
“She was an obnoxious parent,” Prince Harry recalled with a smile in an interview for the HBO documentary Diana Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy. Together with his older brother William, they look at their childhood photographs, where their mother is still alive and they are all infinitely happy. They were not interested in their parents' infidelities, camera flashes and gossip in newspapers. They were kids and they just wanted to enjoy the moment with mom and dad.
“She always exuded special energy and warmth”
It is not surprising that she was not a strict mother, preferring to pamper and amuse her children rather than educate them. The latter was always done by nannies. Although, I think, Diana herself wouldn’t mind having her own teacher.
“Our mother was an absolute child. When, for example, someone asks me to talk about her character, I immediately begin to hear her laugh in my head. Crazy laughter, laughter of absolute happiness.
One of her mottos was: “Shawl as much as you want, the main thing is don’t get caught.” She herself was an obnoxious parent: for example, she came to our football games and hid candy in our socks. That’s how we left the football field – with kilograms of sweets.”
Diana very quickly realized that in her fairy tale, although she had a prince, she did not have love (read: Camilla Parker Bowles: the story of Diana and Charles through her eyes). It seemed that only her own children truly loved her, and, more importantly, this love, unlike public adoration, could be felt with all one’s being. And only such feelings can be responded to with full dedication.
“She lived for us. There was always a childishness and fun in her, which became even more evident when we spent time together.”
“It was such love that even when mom was standing in the other corner of the room, you could feel it.”
“We felt like we were incredibly loved. And I’m grateful that 20 years later we still feel that love.”
It seemed that Diana did everything so that only cheerful laughter could come from the lips of her sons. From the very first day at Kensington Palace, she felt like a prisoner of royal protocol, and she did not want that for her children.
“She was spontaneous. She liked to laugh and have fun. She understood that real life was seething behind the walls of the palace, and she wanted to show it to us.”
“Mum always appreciated the moments when she could be just a mother, and not the Princess of Wales. She made the decision that no matter what - neither the difficulties of our growing up, nor the public attention, we will have a normal life. And even if that meant taking us out to eat burgers, watch a movie, or drive us out of town in his old BMW while listening to Enya songs... God, it was wonderful.”
“She had a very cheeky sense of humor and loved being naughty.”
Once, for example, Diana specially invited Kensington Palace models Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington to introduce William to them.
“They were waiting for me at the top of the stairs. I was 12 or 13 at the time, and of course I had all the posters of them. I turned all red and didn’t even know what to say, and I think I stumbled several times while walking up to them. A very funny memory."
Diana and Charles tried to maintain appearances for a very long time ideal family, however, even if you are a skilled actor, you will not be able to portray for long what does not exist and has never existed. In 1992, the prince and princess separated, and four years later they officially divorced. Diana could not take her children with her - the Crown had more rights to them. Meetings with the boys became less frequent, jealousy towards their nanny grew stronger, and shared memories became fewer and fewer. It is not surprising that the princess tried to make every day she spent with the children special.
But even fun dates could not keep the relationship between mother and sons the same as before. The boys grew up, communication with their parents no longer played the same role for them as it had several years ago. William and Harry could easily chat with their mother for a few minutes and then hang up and run off carefree about their business. They had one of these hasty conversations in August 1997. This was their last conversation.
“She called from Paris. I don't remember what I said then. But I remember that later I regretted all my life how little we talked to her. If I had known that this was our last conversation, I would have told her something special.”
“It seems like we were in too much of a hurry to say goodbye properly. And if I had known then what would happen, I would not have been so inattentive to this conversation.”
Their mother died on August 31, 1997. The whole world grieved with William and Harry at that time, but it seems that no one’s sympathy could help them survive the loss.
“I think she would have been proud of how Harry and I got through everything that happened to us when she was gone. This thought gives me strength.”
“There is not a single day that we do not dream of having her with us. And we still wonder what kind of mother she would be now, what kind of mother public role I would perform it and change how many things.”
“She was our mother and remains so. And of course, as her son, I will say that she was the best mother in the world."
“The time spent with her, all my feelings for her, her love for me as a son are the most precious memories.”
“When I put George and Charlotte to bed, I tell them about her, trying to explain to them that they should have had two grandmothers. They should know about her, that she once lived.
But she would be a terrible grandmother. Just terrible. She would love children too much. She would come to them during bath time, splash water and blow bubbles, and then just run away.”
“That’s the kind of mom she was.”
The beautiful Princess Diana, who passed away so suddenly and tragically... People still remember and love her. The biography of Princess Diana sheds light on why she became an ideal for many people. Her story is an illustration of a person’s encounter with such powerful force, like royalty, duty, monarchy.
In the list of one hundred great Britons, Princess Diana surpassed Darwin, Newton and even Shakespeare, taking third place after Churchill and Brunel. Who is she? And why is Princess Diana's death still controversial? What difficulties did the wife of the heir to the throne of Great Britain encounter? How did she manage to earn such respect from citizens as to surpass Shakespeare himself?
Aristocracy
The Princess of Wales (nee Diana Spencer) was married to Prince Charles, the son of the Queen of Great Britain, for fifteen years. Her birthday is July 1, 1961. On this day, in the county of Norfolk, a girl was born into the family of Viscount Althorp. unusual fate. She was the third daughter in the family (her older sisters were Jane and Sarah).
Later, Diana's parents had a son, Charles. Three years after her birth at Charles's baptism, fate had already crossed the little Spencers with Queen of England: She became Diana's brother's godmother.
Life at Sandrigham Castle, where Diana spent her childhood, would seem like paradise to most people: six servants, garages, a swimming pool, a tennis court, many bedrooms. An ordinary aristocratic family. The girl was also raised in full accordance with traditions.
Perhaps the kindness and generosity of the adult Diana is a positive consequence of such upbringing and, of course, the result of the influence of her paternal grandmother, whom the future princess loved very much. She helped those in need and did charity work. When the princess was still just Diana, her biography had already added a sad page: her parents’ divorce hit the girl at the age of six. The children remained to live with their father.
Since childhood, Diana preferred dancing (she studied ballet at the boarding school) and swimming, and she was successful in drawing. Diana had difficulty in exact sciences, but liked history and literature. Her achievements in ballet aroused the admiration of others.
London and adult life
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After graduating from school, Diana decided to live an independent life in London. She worked in low-paid jobs: as a nanny, as a waitress. At the same time, she learned to drive, and subsequently to cook. The girl did not abuse alcohol and did not smoke, did not like noisy entertainment, spent free time in solitude.
Then Diana competed for a position as a ballet teacher for primary school students, but a lower leg injury soon put an end to this activity. Then she went to work as a kindergarten teacher, and also worked as a housekeeper for her sister.
Life in London was distinguished by both the girl’s great employment and pleasant, easy and cheerful entertainment. She had her own apartment, which her parents gave her. She lived there with her friends, they often had tea parties, played pranks like children, and played pranks on their friends. For example, once a “cocktail” of flour and eggs was smeared on the car of a young man who did not arrive at the appointed time.
Dating and marriage
“You shouldn’t expect much from life, it leads to disappointment. Accept her for who she is, life is much easier this way.”
Initially, the one who, more than thirty years later, would set a record for waiting for the British crown, entered Diana’s life as a friend of her sister Sarah. The story of young Spencer and the thirty-year-old heir to the throne did not begin immediately.
Perhaps the prince himself would have preferred to remain free, but the situation obliged. And he decided to choose his wife for purely rational reasons, knowing about the impossibility of divorce, but at the same time wanting to keep his lifestyle unchanged.
From mid-1980, the prince began to show increased attention to Diana. And after him, reporters began to pay increased attention to her, and the boundaries of private life disappeared. Even then, Diana saw how close the Parker-Bowles family was to Charles.
Six months later, on February 6, 1981, the prince proposed to Diana. Diana began to immerse herself in the life of the royal court, which meant she had a need to look impeccable, and besides, she was now one of those who personified the monarchy. Then Princess Diana's style began to take shape. She realized that her outfit should always satisfy the tastes of the most picky and be impeccable in any conditions.
In Buckingham Palace she was deprived of everything: independence, privacy, the possibility of self-realization, sincerity - in fact, the status of the prince's bride deprived her of freedom. Noisy gatherings with friends, spontaneity, a lot of communication and work - now all this is a thing of the past.
More and more hints about the prince’s close relationship with Camilla Parker-Bowles added fuel to the fire. Andrew Morton, in his book about Diana, said that right on the eve of the wedding, she wanted to break off the engagement because of the discovery of a bracelet that was bought by the prince as a gift to Camilla.
On July 29, 1981, Diana became a princess. Her husband, even during the honeymoon, gave cause for concern. Princess Diana discovered photographs of Camilla, and then cufflinks, according to Charles, given to the one he once loved.
The story of Princess Diana was turning into a tragedy. She developed bulimia nervosa. Her married life was not all smooth sailing: her husband’s attitude left much to be desired, and the inability to have a heart-to-heart talk with anyone made the situation hopeless. But these are the rules of the court, where duty is above all, and feelings must be kept in check. She had no one to turn to, she was left alone and faced with the need to live up to the image of a beautiful princess and an exemplary wife in a love triangle situation.
Gradual disappearance of illusions
“Don’t try to look serious – it won’t help anyway”
Princess Diana's children were to be raised in the traditions of the English court - under the supervision of nannies and governesses. But their mother insisted that her sons not be cut off from her and from a normal lifestyle. Princess Diana had a surprisingly strong position on children and their upbringing. She breastfed them herself and actively participated in the process of their development and education.
As Diana herself later said, the Queen said almost directly in conversations with her that perhaps Diana’s problems were not a consequence of an unsuccessful marriage, but bad marriage- the result of the girl’s mental problems. Depression, deliberate self-harm, bulimia nervosa - could these all be symptoms of the same disorder?
Diana became pregnant again. The husband wanted a girl, but on September 15, 1984, “Princess Diana’s daughter” turned out to be a boy. Diana hid the ultrasound results until the birth of the child.
Did Princess Diana have any lovers? It is noteworthy that the press and society looked at any friendly relationship between the princess, and even just an acquaintance, as a reason for censure, but no one seemed to notice the obvious connection between Prince Charles and Camilla.
Complete break
“There are more important problems than ballet. For example, people dying on the street"
The fairy tale of Princess Diana and Prince Charles ended before it began, but their tragedy lasted ten years. Her husband was not interested in Diana’s inner life, her experiences and fears; she could not count on his support.
When Princess Diana found herself, she began to pay a lot of attention to people who were not lucky in life. She visited hospitals for the seriously ill, homeless shelters, and an AIDS department. Count Spencer, Diana's brother, in a conversation with biographer Morton, spoke of the princess as a strong-willed, purposeful and firm person who knows what she lives for, namely, to be a conduit for good, using her high position.
Later, when William suffered a head injury, the whole world could see the indifference of his father, who went first to Covent Garden and then on an expedition related to environmental problems. How this resonated with the behavior of the mother, who was ready to help many people!
Does the Lord protect the righteous?
“I want to be with those who suffer, wherever I see them, and help them.”
The scandal, apparently, was inevitable. At the end of August 1996, the ill-fated prince and princess received their freedom. After the divorce, Diana retained the title of Princess of Wales and received large compensation (17 million pounds and 400 thousand every year).
The princess died as a result of an accident at the age of 36: on August 31, 1997, a car accident occurred in a tunnel. In the car was not only Princess Diana, but also Dodi al-Fayed, the son of an influential billionaire. Subsequently, Mohammed Fayed spent a lot of effort to shed light on the death of Princess Diana and his son. Many still believe that the tragedy was planned by the royal court to stop the princess's "indecent" behavior.
A short biography of Diana seems to be a story not about the princess, but about an ordinary woman, whose life was far from easy. There is no doubt that Diana had a big, generous soul, and this woman deserves the most of blessed memory. After a difficult day, Diana always told herself that she did everything she could. It seems the same can be said about her earthly life. Author: Ekaterina Volkova
One of the most famous women XX century, former wife of Prince Charles and mother of the second in line heir to the British throne, Prince William. Full name Princess Diana - Diana Francis Spencer, however she was known as princess Diana or lady di. Diana was called the “Queen of Hearts,” and her successes in social and charitable activities resounded throughout the world.
The Princess of Wales tragically died along with her friend Dodi Fayed in August 1997.
Princess Diana. Biography
Diana Frances Spencer born at Park House, near Sandringham, Norfolk. She was youngest daughter Viscount and Viscountess Elthrop: Earl Spencer and Mrs. Shand-Kydd.
Diana's father was royal equerry to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. At the age of six, the princess experienced a family tragedy - her parents divorced. The girl was sent to boarding school, then to West Heath School in Kent. She excelled in sports, especially swimming, but found it difficult to study. After leaving school, Diana worked with children, first as a nanny, then as an assistant teacher at the Young England kindergarten in Knightsbridge.
Princess Diana. Personal life
On February 24, 1981, it became known that Princess Diana was engaged to Prince of Wales. They didn't seem like a very compatible couple, given their 13-year age difference. The wedding in St. Paul's Cathedral was watched by television viewers around the world and 600,000 people along the route from Buckingham Palace to the cathedral. Diana became the first Englishwoman in the last 300 years to marry the heir to the throne. At that time she was 20 years old.
Diana always dreamed of big family and a year after marriage gave birth to a son, Prince William. This happened on June 21, 1982. And two years later, on September 15, 1984, she had a son, Henry, better known as Harry. William became the first male heir to be raised in kindergarten. The princess tried to give her children a normal education and upbringing, refused private teachers, and her children went to school along with ordinary children.
In 1987 it became known that one of the most famous couples Princess Diana And Prince of Wales fell apart. Further, many contradictory facts about their family life appeared in the press. Andrew Morton published the book “Diana: Her true story", based on interviews with close friends of the princess. It talked about Diana's repeated suicide attempts, the coldness of her relationship with her husband, her struggle with bulimia and suspicions about her husband's infidelities. The suspicions were not unfounded. The prince later confirmed that he had an affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, a woman he dated before his marriage. Diana, in turn, told the world about postpartum depression, tense relationships with royal family in general and that her husband did not want to be king. It was kind of a battle ex-spouses in the media. Diana of Wales accepted the divorce only after insistence from the queen. She called the day of her divorce, August 28, 1996, the saddest day of her life.
In the summer of 1997, Lady Di made a new friend Dodi Fayed, son of millionaire Mohammed Al-Fayed. On August 30, 1997, the couple returned from a vacation on the Mediterranean to Paris. That evening, they were riding in a limousine and were followed by photographers on motorcycles who were trying to take pictures of the couple in love. This chase led to a car accident in underground tunnel, in which they died princess Diana And Dodi Fayed.
Many films have been made about the life and last days of Princess Diana. documentaries: Diana: The Last Days of a Princess (Richard Dale), The Queen » (Stephen Frears) "She didn't become queen" ( Ekaterina Galperina).
Princess Diana. Charity
Princess Diana's popularity is largely due to her social and charitable activities, active participation in the performance of official duties of the royal family and love for the people. She actively supported charitable societies and often appeared at their meetings and visited orphanages, hospitals and schools.
One of the most important aspects of its activities is disseminating information about the situation of people with AIDS. Once Diana publicly shook hands with a sick person, thereby emphasizing safety social contacts with them.
Abroad, the Princess of Wales often spoke about the plight of the disadvantaged and marginalized. In 1989, in Indonesia, she publicly shook hands with lepers to dispel myths about this disease.
Lady Di called "Queen of Hearts". In June 1997, after breaking up with her husband, Diana visited Mother Teresa, who was in poor health. And then she auctioned off 79 of her world-famous outfits, in which she appeared on magazine covers. The auction raised £3.5 million for charity.
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