Diana Princess of Wales Early life Diana

Diana, Princess of Wales

Early life Diana was born at 7: 45 p. m. on 1 July 1961, in Park House, Sandringham, Norfolk. She was the fourth of five children of Viscount and Viscountess Althorp. The Spencers have been closely allied with the Royal Family for several generations. Diana grew up in Park House, which was situated near to the Sandringham estate. Diana became known as Lady Diana when her father inherited the title of Earl Spencer on 9 June 1975. Lady Dartmouth, unpopular with Diana, married Lord Spencer at Caxton Hall, London on 14 July 1976. Diana was often noted for her shyness while growing up, but she did take an interest in both music and dancing. She also had a great interest in children.

Education and career In 1968, Diana was sent to Riddlesworth Hall School, an all-girls boarding school. While she was young, she attended a local public school. She did not shine academically, and was moved to West Heath Girls' School (later reorganised as The New School at West Heath) in Sevenoaks, Kent, where she was regarded as a poor student, having attempted and failed all of her Olevels twice. However, she showed a particular talent for music as an accomplished pianist. Her outstanding community spirit was recognised with an award from West Heath. Her first job, at the age of 17, was as a nanny for Alexandra, the daughter of Major Jeremy Whitaker and his wife Philippa.

Diana moved to London in 1978 and lived in her mother's flat, as her mother then spent most of the year in Scotland. Soon afterwards, an apartment was purchased for £ 100, 000 as an 18 th birthday present, at Coleherne Court in Earls Court. She then found employment as a playgroup (preschool) assistant, did some cleaning work for her sister Sarah and several of her friends, and acted as a hostess at parties. Diana also spent time working as a nanny for the Robertsons, an American family living in London.

Marriage to the Prince of Wales The Prince of Wales had known Lady Diana since November 1977 when he and Lady Sarah were dating, but he first took a serious interest in her as a potential bride during the summer of 1980, when they were guests at a country weekend, where she watched him play polo. Lady Diana was well received by the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. The couple subsequently courted in London.

The Prince and Princess of Wales

Charity work and patronage From the mid-1980 s, the Princess of Wales became increasingly associated with numerous charities. As Princess of Wales, she was expected to make regular public appearances at hospitals, schools and other facilities, in the 20 th century model of royal patronage. The Princess developed an intense interest in serious illnesses and health-related matters outside the purview of traditional royal involvement, including AIDS and leprosy.

From 1989, she was president of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. In the same year, Diana became president of the British marital advice organisations, which she ended in 1996. From 1991, she was patron of Headway, the brain injury association, which she also ended in 1996. From 1984 to 1996, she was president of Barnardo's, a charity founded by Dr Thomas John Barnado in 1866 to care for vulnerable children and young people. Her patronages also included British Red Cross Youth, Relate marriage counselors and the British Deaf Association, for which she learned sign language.

Visit to Moscow In June 1995, the Princess made a brief visit to Moscow, where she visited a children’s hospital that she had previously supported through her charity work. Diana presented the hospital with medical equipment. During her time in the Russian capital, she was awarded the international Leonardo prize, which is given to the most distinguished patrons and people in the arts, medicine and sports.

Death On 31 August 1997, Diana was fatally injured in a car crash in the Pont de l'Alma road tunnel in Paris, which also caused the deaths of her companion Dodi Fayed and the driver, Henri Paul, acting security manager of the Hôtel Ritz Paris. Millions of people watched her funeral.

The Flame of Liberty in Paris, which has become an unofficial memorial to Diana

Conspiracy theories in inquest The initial French judicial investigation concluded the accident was caused by Henri Paul's drunken loss of control. In February 1998, Mohamed Al. Fayed, owner of the Paris Ritz, for whom Paul had worked, publicly maintained that the crash had been planned. An inquest in London starting in 2004 and continued in 2007– 2008 attributed the accident to grossly negligent driving by Henri Paul and to the pursuing paparazzi. On 7 April 2008, the jury returned a verdict of 'unlawful killing‘.

Titles and styles 1 July 1961 – 9 June 1975: The Honourable Diana Frances Spencer 9 June 1975 – 29 July 1981: Lady Diana Frances Spencer 29 July 1981 – 28 August 1996: Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales in Scotland: 29 July 1981 – 28 August 1996: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Rothesay 28 August 1996 – 31 August 1997: Diana, Princess of Wales.

Information resources: "The Life of Diana, Princess of Wales 1961– 1997". BBC. ^ Jump up to: "Diana, Princess of Wales – Marriage and family". Royal. Retrieved 23 May 2012. ^ Jump up to: "Princess Diana Biography". The Biography Channel. Retrieved 21 May 2011. ^ Jump up to: Morton, p. 99 ^ Jump up to: Glass, Robert (24 July 1981). "Descendant of 4 Kings charms her Prince". Daily Times (London). AP. Retrieved 21 July 2013. ^ Jump up to: "Princess Diana: The Early Years". British Royals. Retrieved 21 May 2011.