A public figure from the announcement of her engagement to Prince Charles, Diana was born into an aristocratic English family with royal ancestry, and she remained the focus of worldwide media scrutiny during and after her marriage, which ended in divorce on 28 August 1996, including following her death in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997 and the subsequent display of public mourning a week later. Diana also received recognition for her charity work and for her support of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. From 1989, she was the president of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, in addition to dozens of other charities.
Early life
Diana Spencer was born in the late afternoon on 1 July 1961, in Sandringham, Norfolk. She was the third child of John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, Viscount Althorp, and Frances Ruth Burke Roche, Viscountess Althorp (later known as Frances Shand Kydd). The Spencer family was hoping for a male heir to carry on the Spencer title. The Spencer family is one of Great Britain's oldest and most important families, closely allied with the royal family for several generations. As the family was expecting a boy, no name was chosen for a week: Diana Frances, after a Spencer ancestress and her mother. Diana was the sister of Lady Sarah McCorquodale, Jane Fellowes, Baroness Fellowes, and Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer. Diana was baptized at Sandringham church, with commoners as god parents; her younger brother, Charles, was baptized at Westminster Abbey with Queen Elizabeth II as principal godparent.Another brother, John, died a year before she was born. According to Andrew Morton's biography of Diana, the infant John Spencer was so deformed and sick he only survived 10 hours after birth. The desire for an heir added strain to the Spencers' marriage, and Lady Althorp was reportedly sent to Harley Street clinics in London to determine the cause of the "problem". The experience was described as "humiliating" by Charles Spencer, the current earl: "It was a dreadful time for my parents and probably the root of their divorce because I don't think they ever got over it." Diana grew up in Park House, which was situated near to the Sandringham estate.
Diana's parents separated when she was only seven years of age. Her mother, Frances, had an affair with Peter Shand Kydd. In Morton's book, he describes Diana's remembrance of her father loading suitcases in the car, her mother crunching across the gravel forecourt and driving away through the gates of Park House. Diana and her younger brother lived with their mother in London during their parents' separation, but during the Christmas holidays at the end of the year, Lord Althorp refused to let his estranged wife return with the children to London. Shortly afterward Lord Althorp won custody of Diana and her three siblings, with support from his mother-in-law, Frances Spencer's mother. She was first educated at Riddlesworth Hall, and later attended boarding school at The New School at West Heath.
In 1973, John Spencer began a relationship with Raine Legge, the Countess of Dartmouth, the only daughter of Alexander McCorquodale and Barbara Cartland. Lord Spencer and Lady Dartmouth were married at Caxton Hall, London, on 14 July 1976. As Countess Spencer, Raine was unpopular with her stepdaughter Lady Diana Spencer. Diana received the title of Lady after her father inherited the title of Earl Spencer in 1975. 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. After attending finishing school at the Institut Alpin Videmanette in Switzerland, she moved to London. She began working with children, eventually becoming a nursery teacher at the Young England School. Diana had apparently played with Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex as a child while her family rented Park House, an estate owned by Queen Elizabeth II.
Lady Diana Frances Spencer became known to the world as Princess Diana when she married into Britain's royal family. Her fairytale wedding was televised and watched by over 750 million viewers, making it the most popular program ever broadcast. From the point on, she remained in the public eye. Her much-publicized life, personal struggles and charity work gave her a popularity that endeared her to millions.
Ancestry
Diana and Charles were linked by several family ancestral lines. The most notable common ancestor was likely James I. Prince Charles is descended from James' daughter Elizabeth, and Diana can be traced back to his son Charles I.
Birth
Diana was born in Sandringham, England, on July 1, 1961, to John Edward Spencer and Frances Spencer.
Siblings
Diana had four siblings: Sarah and Jane, who were older, and a younger brother, Charles. Diana's older brother, John, died at birth.
Education
Diana attended three schools, the first being Riddlesworth Hall Preparatory School from 1966 to 1974. From 1974 to 1977, she attended West Heath in Kent. Her final year of education was spent at the Swiss finishing school Institut Alpin Videmanette.
Career
Before becoming a princess, Diana worked as a children's nanny at the Young England School in London.
Marriage
On the Feb. 24, 1981, the 19-year-old Diana became engaged to Prince Charles following a summer courtship. They were married five months later on July 29, at St. Paul's Cathedral.
Children
Diana's first child was born just 11 months after the marriage, on June 21, 1982, at St. Mary's Hospital in London, and was named William Arthur Philip Louis. Just over two years later on Sept. 15, 1984, her second child, Henry Charles Albert David, called "Harry," was born. He too was born at St. Mary's.
Divorce
An official announcement was made by Britain's prime minister on Dec. 9, 1992, that Diana and Charles were separating. Less than four years later, on July 15, 1996, the couple's divorce was finalized by the High Court.
Death
On Aug. 28, 1997, in Paris, France, Diana and her alleged boyfriend, Dodi Al Fayed, were killed in a car crash. The accident sent media shock waves around the world and raised issues regarding the part paparazzi photographers played in the tragedy.
Final Resting Place
Diana's funeral took place on Sept. 6, 1997, at Westminster Abbey. The service, which was broadcast worldwide, was attended by dozens of celebrities and dignitaries, including Tom Cruise, Stephen Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Elton John, then-first lady Hillary Clinton and Margaret Thatcher. She was later taken to her family's ancestral home, Althorp House. It was there in a private ceremony that she was finally laid to rest.
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