Diana, Princess of Wales(English) Diana, Princess of Wales), born Diana Frances Spencer(English) Diana France Spencer; July 1, Sandringham, Norfolk - August 31, Paris) - from 1981 to 1996, the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, heir to the British throne. Widely known as princess Diana , lady diana or lady di. According to a poll conducted in 2002 by the BBC broadcaster, Diana took 3rd place in the list of the 100 Greatest Britons in history.

Biography

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. She continued her education at Sealfield, at a private school near King's Line, then at Riddlesworth Hall Preparatory School.

When Diana was 8 years old, her parents divorced. She stayed with her father, along with her sisters and brother. The divorce had a strong influence on the girl, and soon a stepmother appeared in the house, who disliked children.

In 1975, after her grandfather's death, Diana's father became the 8th Earl Spencer and she received the courtesy title of "lady", reserved for daughters of high peers. During this period, the family moves to the ancient ancestral castle of Althorpe House in Northamptonshire.

At the age of 12, the future princess was admitted to a privileged girls' school at West Hill, in Sevenoaks, Kent. Here she turned out to be a bad student and could not finish it. At the same time, her musical abilities were not in doubt. The girl was also fascinated by dancing. In 1977 she briefly attended school in the Swiss city of Rougemont. Once in Switzerland, Diana soon began to feel homesick and returned to England ahead of schedule.

In the winter of 1977, before leaving for training, she first met her future husband, Prince Charles, when he came to Althorp to hunt.

In 1978 she moved to London, where she initially stayed in her mother's apartment (who then spent most of her time in Scotland). As a gift for her 18th birthday, she received her own apartment worth 100,000 pounds in Earl's Court, where she lived with three friends. During this period, Diana, who previously adored children, began working as an assistant teacher at Young England Nursery School in Pimiliko.

Family life

Shortly before her death, in June 1997, Diana began dating film producer Dodi al-Fayed, the son of the Egyptian billionaire Mohamed al-Fayed, but apart from the press, none of her friends confirmed this fact, and this is also denied in the book of Lady Diana's butler - Paul Barrela, who was a close friend of the princess.

public role

Diana was actively involved in charitable and peacekeeping activities (in particular, she was an activist in the fight against AIDS and the movement to stop the production of anti-personnel mines).

She was one of the most popular women in the world of her time. 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"(Eng. Queen of Hearts).

Visit to Moscow

Doom

On August 31, 1997, Diana died in a car accident in Paris, along with Dodi al-Fayed and driver Henri Paul. Al-Fayed and Paul died instantly, Diana, taken from the scene (in the tunnel in front of the Alma bridge on the Seine embankment) to the Salpêtrière hospital, died two hours later.

The cause of the accident is not entirely clear, there are a number of versions (alcohol intoxication of the driver, the need to escape at speed from paparazzi harassment, as well as various conspiracy theories). The only surviving passenger of the car "Mercedes S280" with the number "688 LTV 75", bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones (English)Russian, who was seriously injured (his face had to be restored by surgeons), does not remember the events.

Celebrity ratings

In 1998, Diana was named one of the 100 most important people of the 20th century by Time magazine.

In 2002, Diana was ranked third on the Great Britons list, ahead of the Queen and other British monarchs, in a BBC poll.

In literature

Many books have been written about Diana in various languages. Almost all of her friends and close collaborators spoke with reminiscences; there are several documentaries and even feature films. There are both fanatical fans of the memory of the princess, insisting even on her holiness, and criticism of her personality and the pop cult that has arisen around her.

In music

In 2007, 10 years after her death, on the day when Princess Diana would have turned 46 years old, a commemorative concert called "Concert for Diana" was held, the founders were Princes Harry and William, world music and film stars performed at the concert. The concert took place at the famous Wembley Stadium in London, opened by Diana's favorite band, Duran Duran.

In 2012, American singer Lady Gaga performed a song dedicated to Princess Diana during one of her shows on The Born This Way Ball world tour. The song is called "Princess Die"

In cinema

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Diana's death, the film "Princess Diana. Last Day in Paris, which describes the last hours of Lady Diana's life.

In 2006, the biopic The Queen was filmed, which describes the life of the British royal family immediately after the death of Princess Diana.

In philately

In honor of Princess Diana, postage stamps were issued in Albania, Armenia, North Korea, Pitcairn, Tuvalu.

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Literature

• Yauza-Press. Princess Diana. Life, told by herself. (A woman of the era. A unique autobiography) 2014- ISBN 978-5-9955-0550-1
• D. L. Medvedev. Diana: A lonely princess. - M .: RIPOL classic, 2010. - ISBN 978-5-386-02465-9.
• N. Ya. Nadezhdin. Princess Diana: "The Tale of Cinderella": Biographical Stories. - M.: Major, Osipenko, 2011. - 192 p. - ISBN 978-5-98551-199-4.

Notes

1. After her divorce in 1996, Diana ceased to be Her Royal Highness and Princess of Wales, but, as is customary among divorced peer wives, her personal name was supplemented by a reference to the lost title of Princess of Wales.
2. Officially, she never had such a title, since only members of the royal house by birth have the title of "prince / princess + name" with rare exceptions.
4. (July 15, 1981). Retrieved 23 July 2013.
5. Newspaper "Izvestia", May 13
6. , March 12, 1994
7. Article on the site celtica.ru
8. (Russian). dni.ru (16:42 / 12/14/2006). Retrieved October 4, 2009. .
9. Faulkner, Larissa J.. Iowa Journal of Cultural Studies.
10. . Am Ia Annoying.com.
11. . wayback machine.
12. (Russian). onuz.net. Retrieved October 4, 2009. .
13. Alexandra Zakharova.(Russian). Russian newspaper. rg.ru (December 2, 2013). Retrieved 26 January 2014.

Links

An excerpt characterizing Diana, Princess of Wales

If the goal of the European wars of the beginning of this century was the greatness of Russia, then this goal could be achieved without all the previous wars and without invasion. If the goal is the greatness of France, then this goal could be achieved without a revolution, and without an empire. If the goal is to spread ideas, then printing would do it much better than soldiers. If the goal is the progress of civilization, then it is quite easy to assume that, in addition to the destruction of people and their wealth, there are other more expedient ways for the spread of civilization.
Why did it happen this way and not otherwise?
Because that's how it happened. “Chance made the situation; genius took advantage of it,” says history.
But what is a case? What is a genius?
The words chance and genius do not designate anything really existing and therefore cannot be defined. These words only denote a certain degree of understanding of phenomena. I don't know why such a phenomenon occurs; I think I can't know; therefore I do not want to know and I say: chance. I see a force producing an action disproportionate to universal human properties; I don’t understand why this is happening, and I say: genius.
For a herd of rams, that ram, which every evening is driven off by a shepherd into a special stall to feed and becomes twice as thick as the others, must seem like a genius. And the fact that every evening this very ram ends up not in a common sheepfold, but in a special stall for oats, and that this very same ram, drenched in fat, is killed for meat, must seem like an amazing combination of genius with a whole series of extraordinary accidents. .
But the sheep need only stop thinking that everything that is done to them is only to achieve their sheep goals; it is worth admitting that the events happening to them may have goals that are incomprehensible to them - and they will immediately see unity, consistency in what happens to the fattened ram. If they do not know for what purpose he was fattening, then at least they will know that everything that happened to the ram did not happen by accident, and they will no longer need the concept of either chance or genius.
Only by renouncing the knowledge of a close, understandable goal and recognizing that the ultimate goal is inaccessible to us, we will see consistency and expediency in the life of historical figures; we will discover the reason for the action that they produce, disproportionate to universal human properties, and we will not need the words chance and genius.
One has only to admit that the purpose of the unrest of the European peoples is unknown to us, and only the facts are known, consisting in murders, first in France, then in Italy, in Africa, in Prussia, in Austria, in Spain, in Russia, and that movements from the west to east and from east to west constitute the essence and purpose of these events, and not only will we not need to see the exclusivity and genius in the characters of Napoleon and Alexander, but it will be impossible to imagine these faces otherwise than as the same people as everyone else; and not only will it not be necessary to explain by chance those small events that made these people what they were, but it will be clear that all these small events were necessary.
Having renounced the knowledge of the ultimate goal, we will clearly understand that just as it is impossible to invent for any plant other colors and seeds more appropriate to it than those that it produces, in the same way it is impossible to invent two other people, with everything their past, which would correspond to such an extent, to such smallest details, to the appointment that they were supposed to fulfill.

The basic, essential meaning of the European events at the beginning of this century is the militant movement of the masses of the European peoples from west to east and then from east to west. The first instigator of this movement was the movement from west to east. In order for the peoples of the West to be able to make that militant movement to Moscow, which they did, it was necessary: ​​1) that they should be formed into a militant group of such a size that would be able to endure a clash with the militant group of the East; 2) that they renounce all established traditions and habits, and 3) that, in making their militant movement, they should have at their head a man who, both for himself and for them, could justify the deceptions, robberies and murders that accompanied this movement.
And since the French Revolution, the old, insufficiently great group has been destroyed; old habits and traditions are destroyed; step by step, a group of new dimensions, new habits and traditions are being worked out, and that person is being prepared who must stand at the head of the future movement and bear all the responsibility of those who have to be accomplished.
A man without convictions, without habits, without traditions, without a name, not even a Frenchman, by the most strange accidents, it seems, moves between all the parties that excite France and, without sticking to any of them, is brought to a conspicuous place.
The ignorance of his comrades, the weakness and insignificance of opponents, the sincerity of lies and the brilliant and self-confident narrow-mindedness of this man put him at the head of the army. The brilliant composition of the soldiers of the Italian army, the unwillingness to fight opponents, childish audacity and self-confidence gain him military glory. An innumerable number of so-called accidents accompanies him everywhere. The disfavor into which he falls with the rulers of France serves him well. His attempts to change the path destined for him fail: he is not accepted for service in Russia, and his assignment to Turkey fails. During the wars in Italy, he is several times on the verge of death and each time he is saved in an unexpected way. Russian troops, the very ones that can destroy his glory, for various diplomatic reasons, do not enter Europe as long as he is there.
On his return from Italy, he finds the government in Paris in the process of decay, in which people who fall into this government are inevitably erased and destroyed. And by itself for him is a way out of this dangerous situation, consisting in a senseless, causeless expedition to Africa. Again, the same so-called accidents accompany him. Impregnable Malta surrenders without a shot being fired; the most careless orders are crowned with success. The enemy fleet, which will not let a single boat through after, lets the whole army through. In Africa, a whole series of atrocities is committed against almost unarmed inhabitants. And the people who commit these atrocities, and especially their leader, assure themselves that this is wonderful, that this is glory, that this is similar to Caesar and Alexander the Great, and that this is good.
That ideal of glory and greatness, which consists in not only considering nothing bad for oneself, but taking pride in every one of one's crimes, attributing to it an incomprehensible supernatural significance - this ideal, which should guide this person and people associated with him, is developed in the open space in Africa. Everything he does, he succeeds. The plague doesn't get to him. The cruelty of killing prisoners is not blamed on him. His childishly careless, causeless and ignoble departure from Africa, from comrades in trouble, is credited to him, and again the enemy fleet misses him twice. While he, already completely intoxicated by the happy crimes he had committed, and ready for his role, came to Paris without any purpose, that decay of the republican government, which could have ruined him a year ago, now reached an extreme degree, and the presence of his fresh from the parties of man, now only can exalt him.
He has no plan; he is afraid of everything; but the parties seize upon him and demand his participation.
He alone, with his ideal of glory and greatness worked out in Italy and Egypt, with his madness of self-adoration, with his audacity of crimes, with his sincerity of lies, he alone can justify what has to be done.
He is needed for the place that awaits him, and therefore, almost regardless of his will and despite his indecision, in spite of the lack of a plan, in spite of all the mistakes that he makes, he is drawn into a conspiracy aimed at seizing power, and the conspiracy is crowned with success. .
He is pushed into the meeting of the rulers. Frightened, he wants to run, believing himself dead; pretends to faint; says meaningless things that should have ruined him. But the rulers of France, who were formerly sharp-witted and proud, now, feeling that their role has been played, are even more embarrassed than he is, they say the wrong words that they should have spoken in order to retain power and destroy him.
Accident, millions of accidents give him power, and all people, as if by agreement, contribute to the establishment of this power. Accidents make the characters of the then rulers of France subordinate to him; accidents make the character of Paul I, recognizing his authority; chance makes a conspiracy against him, not only not harming him, but asserting his power. Chance sends Enghiensky into his hands and inadvertently forces him to kill, thereby, stronger than all other means, convincing the crowd that he has the right, since he has the power. What happens by chance is that he exerts all his strength on an expedition to England, which, obviously, would destroy him, and never fulfills this intention, but inadvertently attacks Mack with the Austrians, who surrender without a fight. Chance and genius give him victory at Austerlitz, and by chance all people, not only the French, but all of Europe, with the exception of England, which will not take part in the events that are about to take place, all people, despite their former horror and disgust for his crimes, now they recognize him for his power, the name that he gave himself, and his ideal of greatness and glory, which seems to everyone to be something beautiful and reasonable.
As if trying on and preparing for the upcoming movement, the forces of the west several times in 1805, 6, 7, 9 years tend to the east, growing stronger and stronger. In 1811, the group of people that had taken shape in France merges into one huge group with the middle peoples. Along with an increasing group of people, the power of justification of the person at the head of the movement further develops. In the ten-year preparatory period of time preceding the great movement, this man comes into contact with all the crowned heads of Europe. The unmasked rulers of the world cannot oppose any reasonable ideal to the Napoleonic ideal of glory and greatness, which has no meaning. One before the other, they strive to show him their insignificance. The King of Prussia sends his wife to seek favors from the great man; the emperor of Austria considers it a mercy that this man receives the daughter of the Caesars in his bed; The pope, guardian of the holy things of the nations, serves with his religion to exalt the great man. Not so much Napoleon himself prepares himself for the performance of his role, but everything around him prepares him to take upon himself the entire responsibility of what is being done and has to be done. There is no deed, no crime or petty deceit that he would commit and which would not immediately be reflected in the mouths of those around him in the form of a great deed. The best holiday that the Germans can think of for him is the celebration of Jena and Auerstät. Not only is he great, but his ancestors are great, his brothers, his stepsons, sons-in-law. Everything is done in order to deprive him of the last power of reason and prepare him for his terrible role. And when he is ready, the forces are ready.
The invasion is heading east, reaching its final goal - Moscow. The capital is taken; the Russian army is more destroyed than the enemy troops were ever destroyed in previous wars from Austerlitz to Wagram. But suddenly, instead of those accidents and genius that have so consistently led him until now by an uninterrupted series of successes to the intended goal, there is an innumerable number of reverse accidents, from a cold in Borodino to frost and a spark that ignited Moscow; and instead of genius there are stupidity and meanness, which have no examples.
The invasion flees, returns back, flees again, and all accidents are now constantly no longer for, but against it.
A countermovement from east to west takes place, with a remarkable resemblance to the previous movement from west to east. The same attempts to move from east to west in 1805-1807-1809 precede the great movement; the same clutch and a group of huge sizes; the same pestering of the middle peoples to the movement; the same hesitation in the middle of the journey and the same speed as it approaches the goal.
Paris - the ultimate goal achieved. The Napoleonic government and troops are destroyed. Napoleon himself no longer makes sense; all his actions are obviously pathetic and vile; but again an inexplicable accident happens: the allies hate Napoleon, in whom they see the cause of their disasters; deprived of strength and power, convicted of villainy and deceit, he should have appeared to them the way he seemed to them ten years ago and a year after, a robber outside the law. But by some strange chance, no one sees it. His role is not over yet. A man who ten years ago and a year after was considered an outlaw robber is sent on a two-day journey from France to an island given to him for possession with guards and millions who pay him for something.

The movement of nations is beginning to take its course. The waves of great movement have receded, and circles form on the calm sea, along which diplomats rush about, imagining that it is they who produce a lull in the movement.
But the calm sea suddenly rises. It seems to diplomats that they, their disagreements, are the cause of this new onslaught of forces; they expect war between their sovereigns; their position seems insurmountable. But the wave they feel rising is not coming from where they are waiting for it. The same wave rises, from the same starting point of movement - Paris. The last splash of movement from the west is being made; a splash that should solve the seemingly insoluble diplomatic difficulties and put an end to the militant movement of this period.
The man who devastated France, alone, without a conspiracy, without soldiers, comes to France. Every watchman can take it; but, by a strange chance, not only does no one take it, but everyone greets with delight that person who was cursed a day ago and will be cursed in a month.
This person is also needed to justify the last cumulative action.
The action has been completed. The last part has been played. The actor is ordered to undress and wash off the antimony and rouge: he will no longer be needed.
And several years pass in that this man, alone on his island, plays a miserable comedy in front of himself, petty intrigues and lies, justifying his deeds, when this justification is no longer needed, and shows the whole world what it was what people took for strength when an invisible hand led them.
The steward, having finished the drama and undressed the actor, showed him to us.
“Look what you believed! There he is! Do you see now that it was not he but I who moved you?
But, blinded by the force of the movement, people did not understand this for a long time.
Still greater consistency and necessity is the life of Alexander I, the person who stood at the head of the countermovement from east to west.
What is needed for that person who, overshadowing others, would be at the head of this movement from east to west?

"They say it's better to be poor and happy than rich and unhappy. But what about a compromise - moderately rich and moderately capricious?" - Princess Diana.

Princess Diana Spencer She was born July 1, 1961, at Sandringham Manor in Norfolk. Diana was perhaps the most beloved and respected member of the British royal family, earning herself the nickname "The People's Princess". She was born into a family of English aristocrats - Edward John Spencer, Viscount Althorp, and Francis Ruth Burke Roche, Viscountess Althorp (later Francis Shand Kydd).

Both Diana's parents were close to the royal court, and in Edward's biography there was even an episode with his marriage proposal to Queen Elizabeth II, which she did not immediately reject, promising to "think about it." However, to the great dismay of Diana's father, Elizabeth soon met the Greek prince Philip, with whom she fell in love with no memory and whom she eventually married. However, despite unfulfilled hopes, Edward maintained warm friendly relations with Elizabeth, thanks to which the Spencers always occupied a special position at court.

Diana became the third daughter in the Spencer family, while her father desperately wanted to have a male heir. Therefore, the birth of another girl was a huge disappointment for both parents. "I should have been born a boy!" - with a bitter smile, Lady Di confessed many years later.

However, the heir did appear in the family, but by that time the relationship of the spouses had been so undermined by mutual discontent that the marriage soon broke up. Frances remarried the owner of the wallpaper business, Peter Shand-Kydd, who, although fabulously wealthy, did not possess a title, which caused the endless displeasure of her mother. A true aristocrat and devoted royalist, mother Francis could not believe that her daughter had left her husband and four children for some “upholsterer”. She confronted her daughter in court, and as a result, Edward received custody of all four children.

Although both parents did their best to brighten up the lives of children with trips and entertainment, Diana often lacked simple human attention and participation, and at times she felt lonely.

She received an excellent education at first in Riddlesworth Hall private school(Riddlesworth Hall), and then - in prestigious boarding school West Heath(West Heath School).

The title of Lady Diana Spencer was acquired when her father inherited the title of Earl in 1975. Despite the fact that Diana was known as a shy girl, she showed a genuine interest in music and dance. But, alas, the dreams of the future princess about ballet were not destined to come true, because one day, while on vacation in Switzerland, she seriously injured her knee. However, many years later, Diana demonstrated brilliant dancing skills by performing a number on the Covent Garden stage with professional dancer Wayne Sleep on the occasion of her husband's birthday.

In addition to dancing and music, Diana liked to spend time with children: she gladly took care of her younger brother Charles and took care of her older sisters. Therefore, after graduating from the boarding school for noble maidens in Rougemont, Switzerland, Diana moved to London and began to look for work with children. In the end, Lady Dee got a job as a teacher at Young England School in London's Pimlico area.

Generally speaking, Diana never shied away from any, even the blackest, work: she worked part-time as a nanny, a cook and even a cleaner. The apartments of her friends and older sister, Sarah, were cleaned by the future princess for $ 2 per hour.

Pictured: Lady Diana and Prince Charles

Since the Spencer family was close to the royal family, as a child, Diana often played with Prince Charles's younger brothers, Princes Andrew and Edward. In those days, the Spencers rented Park House - an estate that belonged to Elizabeth II. And in 1977, Diana's older sister, Sarah, introduced her to Prince Charles, who was 13 years older than the young lady.

As the heir to the British throne, Prince Charles has always been the focus of media attention, and his courtship of Diana, of course, did not go unnoticed. The press and the public were captivated by this quirky couple: a reserved prince who is a big fan of gardening and a shy young girl with a passion for fashion and pop culture. On the day the couple got married - July 29, 1981 - the wedding ceremony was broadcast on TV channels around the world. Millions of people watched the event, proclaimed the "Wedding of the Century".

Marriage and divorce

On June 21, 1982, their first child, Prince William Arthur Philip Louis, was born in the family of Diana and Charles. And 2 years later, on September 15, 1984, the couple had a second heir - Prince Henry Charles Albert David, known to the general public as Prince Harry.

Deeply shocked by the pressure that fell upon her along with marriage, and the relentless attention of the press to literally her every step, Diana decided to defend the right to her own life.

Pictured: Princess Diana and Prince Charles with their sons Prince William and Prince Harry

She began to support many charitable organizations, helping the homeless, children in needy families, and people suffering from HIV and AIDS.

Unfortunately, the fabulous wedding of the prince and princess did not become the beginning of a happy marriage. Over the years, the couple drifted apart, and both parties were suspected of infidelity. Being unhappy in marriage, Diana suffered from bouts of depression and bulimia. In the end, in December 1992, British Prime Minister John Major announced the separation of the couple, reading the text of the appeal of the royal family in the House of Commons. The divorce was finalized in 1996.

Diana's death and legacy

Even after the divorce, Diana remained still popular. She dedicated herself to her sons and was also involved in humanitarian projects such as the fight against land mines. Lady Dee used her worldwide fame to raise public awareness of pressing issues. However, her popularity had a downside: Diana's affair with the Egyptian producer and playboy Dodi Al-Fayed in 1997 caused a real stir and incredible hype in the press. As a tragic result, on the night of August 31, 1997, a couple in love died in a car accident in Paris, when the driver tried to break away from the paparazzi chasing them.

In the photo: Memorial in honor of Princess Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed
at Harrods in London

Diana did not die immediately, but only a few hours later in a Paris hospital due to her injuries. Diana's lover, Dodi Al-Fayed, and his driver were also killed, and the security guard was seriously injured. Until now, there are many rumors around the death of Diana: it was even rumored that she was killed by the British special services at the direction of the royal family, who allegedly could not come to terms with the fact that the mother of the heirs to the throne had a relationship with a Muslim. By the way, Diana's mother, Frances, was also not enthusiastic about this relationship, once calling Diana a "whore" for "confusing with Muslim men."

The French authorities conducted their own investigation into the crash and found a high level of alcohol in the blood of the driver, who was subsequently recognized as the main culprit of the accident.

The news of Diana's sudden and absurd death shocked the world. Thousands of people wanted to pay their last tribute to the "People's Princess" at the farewell ceremony. The ceremony was held at Westminster Abbey and broadcast on television. Diana's body was later buried at her family estate, Althorp.

In 2007, 10 years after the death of their beloved mother, Diana's sons, Princes William and Harry, organized a concert dedicated to the 46th anniversary of her birth. All proceeds from the event were donated to charities supported by Diana and her sons.

Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton also paid tribute to Diana by naming their daughter, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, who was born on May 2, 2015, after her.

The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund continues her efforts. Established after her death, the foundation provides grants to various organizations and supports many humanitarian initiatives, including organizing care for the sick in Africa, helping refugees, and ending the use of landmines.

The memory of the Princess of Wales and her good deeds still lives in the hearts of millions of people. And no other title in the world has such a high value as the title " Queens of human hearts forever assigned to Diana.

In the photo: Princess Diana devoted a lot of time to charitable work

Based on biography.com. Some of the photos are taken from biography.com.

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 from an early age were distinguished by uncontrollable characters. 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.

The friendship between William and his future wife began 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. The family life of young people proceeds 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, a special messenger delivered the good news to Buckingham Palace. 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. The city crier informs about the historical event, 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 the youngest son Harry, he has proven himself in public life from the very best side. He is a good athlete and played for the junior team in a polo championship in faraway 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 could not decide on the lady of his seat for a long time.

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 office.

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 like an older sister to him. She even replaced his mother in some ways. This is ideal for the offspring of the royal family. Beautiful appearance, sanity, willingness to subordinate his personal life 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 of the 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

Diana Francis Spencer, Princess of Wales - the first wife of Prince Charles of Wales (from 1981 to 1996), heir to the British throne. Also known as Lady Diana or Lady Di.

So, before you is a brief biography of Princess Diana.

Biography of Princess Diana

Princess Diana was born on July 1, 1961 in Norfolk. She grew up and was brought up in an English aristocratic family. Her father John Spencer, holder of the title of Viscount Althorp, was a military and political figure. Mother Francis Shand Kydd also came from an aristocratic family.

An interesting fact is that Princess Diana belonged to the same genus as.

Childhood and youth

Diana spent her entire childhood at Sandringham, where she was educated at home. She then studied at the elite Sealfield School, after which she continued her studies at Riddlesworth Hall.

The future princess had a rather docile character, but she was somewhat stubborn. The teachers recalled that Diana really liked and. In her drawings, she often depicted her father and mother, who decided to divorce when she was only 8 years old.

Princess Diana as a child

Diana suffered the separation of her parents very painfully. Having reached the age of 12, she was sent to study at the prestigious West Hill Girls' School.

During this period of her biography, Diana became seriously interested in music and dancing, but her studies did not cause much enthusiasm. According to some sources, the exact sciences were difficult for her, which is why she repeatedly failed her exams.

In 1977, Diana first met Prince Charles. It is curious that at this meeting the young people did not show any interest in each other.

In the same year, the girl was sent to study at. However, after staying in this country for a short time, the future princess returned home, because she experienced strong nostalgia for her homeland.

In 1978, Diana received an apartment from her mother as a gift, in which she began to live with 3 friends. The future princess was very fond of children, as a result of which she later got a job in a local kindergarten as an assistant teacher. She always remained simple and friendly, and was not afraid to take on any job.

Prince Charles and the wedding

In 1980, Diana met again with Prince Charles, whose parents wanted to find him a worthy wife. It is worth noting that Queen Elizabeth was very concerned that her son had a romantic relationship with Camilla Parker-Bowles, who was legally married.

However, when romantic feelings flared up between Diana and Charles, the prince's relatives were delighted. They say that even Camilla was sincerely happy about this.

Diana Spencer and Prince Charles

Initially, the prince invited Diana to his yacht, after which he took her to Balmoral Palace to meet relatives. Later, Charles proposed to his beloved, to which she agreed.

The engagement was officially announced on February 24, 1981. At the same time, the British were able to see the famous bride's ring - an expensive sapphire encrusted with 14 diamonds.

The marriage of Charles and Diana became the most expensive wedding ceremony in history. It took place in St. Paul's Cathedral on July 29, 1981. Before the wedding, a parade through the streets of the capital was organized.

Members of the royal family rode in carriages accompanied by cavalry. About 600,000 Britons gathered along the road along which the wedding procession passed, wishing to look at the bride and groom. An interesting fact is that Lady Diana was the first Englishwoman in the last 3 centuries to become the wife of the heir to the throne.

Diana and Charles wedding

The groom was dressed in the dress uniform of a fleet commander, while the bride was wearing a luxurious white dress with an 8-meter veil. On Diana's head was a tiara adorned with precious stones.

The wedding ceremony was followed by about 750 million viewers around the world. In total, more than £3 million was spent on the wedding.

Divorce

Initially, there was a complete idyll between Prince Charles and Princess Diana, but later the family union cracked. Articles began to appear in the press that talked about Charles's love affairs.

In particular, he continued to meet with Camilla Parker-Bowles, as a result of which it was increasingly difficult for Diana to keep the family hearth.

An interesting fact is that the prince did not even try to hide his ties with his mistress. At the same time, Queen Elizabeth supported her son in every possible way, which further complicated the situation. This led to the fact that Diana also had a favorite in the person of James Hewitt, who was a riding coach.

In 1995, there were rumors that Princess Diana was having an affair with cardiac surgeon Hasnat Khan, whom she met by chance in the hospital. However, due to the different social status and the official marriage of Diana, their relationship could not continue.

In 1996, Queen Elizabeth insisted on a divorce between her son and Princess Diana. Thus, their marriage lasted only 5 years. In this union, they had two boys - William and Harry.

After the divorce, Diana was repeatedly noticed in the company of a film producer and the son of an Egyptian billionaire, Dodi al-Fayed. However, it is difficult to say how close their relationship was.

Doom

On August 31, 1997, while on a trip to Princess Diana, she died in a car accident. In addition to her, there were three other people in the car, including the driver. The car crashed into a concrete support while passing under the Alma Bridge.

Princess Diana's wrecked car

Princess Diana died 2 hours later at a local hospital. Other passengers also died, except for the princess's bodyguard, who suffered serious head injuries.

The death of Lady Dee was a real shock not only for the British, but for the people of the whole world. The princess's funeral ceremony took place on 6 September. Diana Francis Spencer found peace at the Spencer family estate of Althorp in Northamptonshire, on a small island.

A sea of ​​flowers at Princess Diana's palace

At the moment, experts cannot agree on the true cause of the car accident.

• Some investigators suggest that Diana's driver was trying to get away from the car with the paparazzi.
• According to another version, the accident could have been rigged.

In fact, there are many assumptions and theories regarding the tragedy that happened.

10 years after the terrible accident, Scotland Yard police confirmed the fact of double speeding on this section of the highway. In addition, investigators announced that the driver had alcohol in his blood that was three times the legal limit.

Today, a copy of the torch of the New York Statue of Liberty, located near the site of the tragedy, has been turned into a spontaneous memorial to Princess Diana.

Memory

Lady Di, as many called the princess, enjoyed great love among her compatriots. She devoted a lot of time and energy to charity.

The woman periodically transferred large sums of money to various funds. In addition, she repeatedly provided material and moral assistance to ordinary people.

In 1998, Time named Diana one of the 100 most important people of the 20th century. In 2002, according to a BBC poll, Diana was ranked 3rd in the list of the greatest Britons. Thanks to this, she was ahead of Queen Elizabeth and other monarchs.

The deceased princess was sung in songs by various famous artists, including Elton John, Depeche mode and others. 10 years after the tragedy, the premiere of the film took place, which told about the last day of Diana's life.

Perhaps in the future we will find out the true cause of the car accident that claimed the life of everyone's beloved Princess Diana.

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FULL NAME: Diana, Princess of Wales, born Diana Frances Spencer

DATE OF BIRTH: 07/01/1961 (Cancer)

PLACE OF BIRTH: Sandringham, UK

EYE COLOR: Blue

HAIR COLOR: blond

MARITAL STATUS: married

FAMILY: Parents: John Spencer, Francis Shand Kydd. Spouse: Prince Charles. Children: William Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry of Wales

GROWTH: 178 cm

OCCUPATION: princess of wales

Biography:

From 1981 to 1996, the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, heir to the British throne. Commonly known as Princess Diana, Lady Diana or Lady Di. According to a poll conducted in 2002 by the BBC broadcaster, Diana took 3rd place in the list of the hundred greatest Britons in history.

She was born July 1, 1961 in Sandringham, Norfolk to John Spencer. Her father was Viscount Althorp, a branch of the same Spencer-Churchill family as the Duke of Marlborough and Winston Churchill. Diana's paternal ancestors were carriers of royal blood through the illegitimate sons of King Charles II and the illegitimate daughter of his brother and successor, King James II. Earls Spencers have long lived in the very center of London, in Spencer House.

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. She continued her education at Sealfield, at a private school near King's Line, then at Riddlesworth Hall Preparatory School.

When Diana was 8 years old, her parents divorced. She stayed with her father, along with her sisters and brother. The divorce had a strong influence on the girl, and soon a stepmother appeared in the house, who disliked children.

In 1975, following the death of her grandfather, Diana's father became the 8th Earl Spencer and she received the courtesy title of "lady" reserved for daughters of high peers. During this period, the family moved to the ancient ancestral castle of Althorp House in Northamptonshire.

At the age of 12, the future princess was accepted into a privileged school for girls in West Hill, in Sevenoaks, Kent. Here she turned out to be a bad student and could not finish it. At the same time, her musical abilities were not in doubt. The girl was also fascinated by dancing. In 1977, she briefly attended school in the Swiss city of Rougemont. Once in Switzerland, Diana soon began to feel homesick and returned to England ahead of schedule.

In 1978 she moved to London, where she first stayed in her mother's apartment (who then spent most of her time in Scotland). As a gift for her 18th birthday, she received her own £100,000 apartment in Earls Court, where she lived with three friends. During this period, Diana, who previously adored children, began working as an assistant teacher at Young England Nursery School in Pimlico.

Diana first met Charles, Prince of Wales at the age of sixteen, in November 1977, when he came to Althorp to hunt. He dated her older sister, Lady Sarah McCorquodale. One weekend in the summer of 1980, Diana and Sarah were guests at one of the country residences, and she saw Charles playing polo, and he showed a serious interest in Diana as a potential future bride. Their relationship was further developed when Charles invited Diana to Cowes one weekend for a ride on the royal yacht Britannia. This invitation followed immediately after visiting Balmoral Castle (the Scottish residence of the royal family). There, one weekend in November 1980, they met with the Charles family.

Over the five years of married life, the incompatibility of the spouses and the age difference of almost 13 years became obvious and destructive. Diana's belief that Charles had an affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles also had a negative effect on the marriage. Already in the early 1990s, the marriage of the Prince and Princess of Wales fell apart. The world media first hushed up the event, and then made a sensation out of it. The Prince and Princess of Wales spoke to the press through friends, and each blamed the other for the failure of their marriage.

Diana presenting the trophy to Guillermo Gracida Jr. at the Guards Polo Club polo tournament in 1986
The first reports of difficulties in the relationship of the spouses appeared already in 1985. Prince Charles has reportedly rekindled his relationship with Camilla Parker-Bowles. And then Diana began an extramarital relationship with Major James Hewitt. These adventures were described in the book Diana: Her True Story by Andrew Morton, published in May 1992. The book, which also showed the suicidal tendencies of the unfortunate princess, caused a media storm. In 1992 and 1993, phone records were leaked to the media, which had a negative impact on both royal antagonists. Tape recordings of conversations between the Princess and James Gilbey were provided by the Sun newspaper hotline in August 1992, and transcripts of the intimate conversations were published in the newspaper the same month. and Camille, also picked up by the tabloids. On December 9, 1992, Prime Minister John Major announced the couple's "amicable separation" in the House of Commons. In 1993, the Trinity Mirror (MGN) newspaper published photos of the princess in tights and cycling shorts while exercising in one of the fitness centers. The photos were taken by the owner of the fitness center, Bruce Taylor. The princess's lawyers immediately put forward a demand for an indefinite ban on the sale and publication of photos around the world. Despite this, some newspapers outside the UK managed to reprint them. The court upheld the lawsuit against Taylor and MGN, banning further publication of the photographs. MGN eventually issued an apology after facing a wave of criticism from the public. The princess was said to have received £1 million in legal fees, with £200,000 donated to charities she leads. Taylor also apologized and paid Diana £300,000, although it was alleged that members of the royal family helped him financially.

In 1993, Princess Margaret burned "especially personal" letters that Diana had written to the Queen Mother, deeming them "too personal". Biographer William Shawcross wrote, "No doubt Princess Margaret felt she was protecting her mother and other family members." He suggested that Princess Margaret's actions were understandable, though historically deplorable.

For her marital problems, Diana blamed Camilla Parker-Bowles, who had previously had a relationship with the Prince of Wales, and at some point she began to believe that he had other affairs on the side. In October 1993, the princess wrote to a friend that she suspected her husband of having an affair with his personal assistant (a former nanny to his sons) Tiggy Legg-Brook, and that he wanted to marry her. Legg-Bourke was hired by the prince as a young companion for his sons while they were in his care, and the princess was resentful of Legg-Bourke and unhappy with her treatment of the young princes. On December 3, 1993, the Princess of Wales announced the end of her public and social life.

At the same time, rumors began to surface that the Princess of Wales was having an affair with James Hewitt, a former riding instructor. These rumors were made public in Anna Pasternak's 1994 book, Princess in Love, which was directed by David Green in 1996 and directed by the film of the same name. Julie Cox starred as the Princess of Wales, and Christopher Villiers portrayed James Hewitt.

On June 29, 1994, in a television interview with Jonathan Dimbleby, Prince Charles asked the public for understanding. In this interview, he confirmed his extramarital affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles, saying that he rekindled the relationship in 1986 when his marriage to the princess was "irrecoverably destroyed". Tina Brown, Sally Bedell-Smith and Sarah Bradford, like many other biographers, have fully endorsed Diana's 1995 BBC Panorama confession; in it, she said that she suffered from depression, bulimia and subjected herself to self-torture many times. Diana's confessions are recorded in the show's transcript, confirming many of the issues she told interviewer Martin Bashir, including "cuts on her arms and legs." A combination of illnesses that Diana herself said she suffered from led some of her biographers to suggest that she had borderline personality disorder.

On August 31, 1997, Diana died in a car accident in Paris, along with Dodi al-Fayed and driver Henri Paul. Al-Fayed and Paul died instantly, Diana, taken from the scene (in the tunnel in front of the Alma bridge on the Seine embankment) to the Salpêtrière hospital, died two hours later.

The cause of the accident is not entirely clear, there are a number of versions (alcohol intoxication of the driver, the need to escape at speed from the persecution of the paparazzi, as well as various conspiracy theories). The only surviving passenger of the Mercedes S280 car with the number "688 LTV 75", bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones (Russian) English, who was seriously injured (his face had to be restored by surgeons), does not remember the events.

On December 14, 2007, a report was presented by the ex-commissioner of Scotland Yard, Lord John Stevens, who stated that the British investigation confirmed the conclusions according to which the alcohol content in the blood of the driver of the car, Henri Paul, at the time of his death, was three times higher than is acceptable in French legislation. In addition, the speed of the car exceeded the permissible in this place twice. Lord Stevens also noted that the passengers, including Diana, were not wearing seat belts, which also played a role in their deaths.