The unique story of Princess Diana is so filled with twists and turns that it's hard to believe a bunch of Hollywood writers did not create it. But make no mistake: Diana, Princess of Wales's life is as real as it gets. Affectionately known as the People's Princess, Diana went from being an unknown young girl living with her mother to becoming one of the world's most prominent public figures.
Her influence is still felt today. Beloved by all, both in the United Kingdom and abroad, Diana met a sad end in Paris, in the Summer of 1997. She was only 36 years old when she was tragically killed in a car crash. But in her short life, she did more for the world than most people would've dreamed of achieving in a lifetime.
Norfolk's Charming Young Lady
Diana Spencer was born in Norfolk, England, in 1961. She was the fourth out of five children, and her parents divorced when she was seven years old. Her father was John Spencer, also known as Viscount Althorp. Born in a blue-blooded family, Diana was graced with the best things life has to offer. Still, she showed a unique charm and ability to captivate others from a very young age.
In the '70s, the Spencer family was hopefully looking to improve their generation-long ties with the Royal Family. Diana's sister dated Prince Charles briefly, with the young monarch quickly losing interest. Soon enough, he turned his attention to the other daughter of the Spencers. Within a year, Prince Charles and Diana would settle on to marry.
Connecting With The People
Most Royals spend their entire lives trying to connect with people. For Diana, it took nothing but being herself. She became a media sensation as soon as she was first publically seen with Prince Charles.
The British people fell in love with the charming young lady who was kind to journalists, drove a modest car, and worked a regular job as a kindergarten assistant. For them, she couldn't be any more different from the other elitist members of the Royal Institution.
A Wedding To Remember
On July 29, 1981, Prince Charles and Princess Diana exchanged vows at London's St. Paul's Cathedral. She was the first Englishwoman to marry the first-in-line to the throne in more than 300 years. The dream wedding captured the imagination of a generation, with approximately 750 million people tuning in to watch it live.
A graceful young lady in the streets of Britain, Diana was also able to pull it off when all eyes were on her. She wore a $10K dress and a 14-diamond wedding ring, but she was still gracefully received by the commoners, with a crowd of over 600,000 curious people gathering outside of the Cathedral.
An Unwanted Child?
Reportedly, Diana's parents were not happy when they learned that she was going to be a girl. They were hoping to give birth to a boy, a male figure who would be able to continue the family line. For that reason, it took them a week to decide on her name.
Little did they knew that their baby girl would go on to become one of the world's most powerful and influential figures. And that, by the age of 22, she would marry Britain's first-in-line to the throne with the charm and personality only she was capable of.
Not Ready To Obey
The people had no doubts: Diana was going to be a different kind of princess. And she started to show it right when she became one. At the altar, she got two of Prince Charles's names wrongs, mixing up the order of 'Charles Phillip.' But, most importantly, she decided to ignore one of the oldest vowing traditions of the marital institution.
To the amazement of many, Diana skipped the part in which she was supposed to swear obeyance to her husband. The mishap intrigued the press. Was it unintentional? Or was Princess Diana simply showing that she wasn't ready to follow the rules that went against her moral convictions?
Always Smiling Through the Pain
Growing up, Diana was not a happy child. Struggling with her parents' divorce, she found it hard to connect with Raine Spencer, her stepmother. Showing the same temper that led her to ignore many outdated Royal protocols, she reportedly tried to push Raine down a set of stairs after a particularly frisky clash.
That was just Diana! She could be the world's most charming young woman, but she was also ready to do whatever it takes to do what she believed to be right. A feature that would prove to be very powerful in the future.
Introducing Prince William
In 1982, Prince Charles and Princess Diana welcomed their first son to the world. Wrapped in a soft blanket, the little Prince William was introduced to the world. For everybody watching, it was a moment of tender and unconditional happiness. But underneath, Diana was starting to feel the pressure of being one of the world's most famous women.
Shortly before, a bikini picture of a pregnant Diana made headlines all over the media. In an official statement, the Royal Family called it the darkest day in the history of British journalism. An overstatement, surely, especially considering Diana's quarrel with the media was just starting.
A Mother First
Princess Diana was a loving mother. But her maternal duties and beliefs often clashed with the centuries-old rules of the Royal Family. When Prince Harry was born in 1984, she went against the establishment. She'd not let anybody decide which name should be given to her kids, what they should do, and where they should attend school.
Four short years after the dream wedding that captured the world's attention, Britain's most high-profile couple was experiencing some serious marital problems. The 13-year age difference didn't help, but there was something much darker happening in the background.
Alone and Betrayed
In 1992, a book called 'Diana: Her True Story' hit the shelves, causing a media sensation. According to author Andrew Morton, Diana's dream life was a lie. She was living in a golden cage, a Royal nightmare of suppression, unfaithfulness, and mental health problems. Shortly after the book's release, the media started uncovering the whole story. It was a grasping and gruesome tale.
It turned out Prince Charles was involved with his former girlfriend, Camilla Parker Bowles. Diana, on the other hand, had been seeing the British Army major James Hewitt. The affairs were proven by private tapes, leaked in the tabloids. But there was an even darker side to it all.
The World's Unhappiest Princess
Following the scandal that became known as Camillagate, the public opinion was starting to disbelieve the happy-family story that had been framed by the Royals. In a period in which secrets are harder and harder to keep, the whole truth came out. During her time with Prince Charles, Diana was severely depressed, in pain, and suffering the real consequences of her unhappiness.
She was cutting herself, she was constantly struggling with her husband, who she despised, and she considered suicide multiple times. In an interview, Diana even admitted to having purposefully thrown herself down a set of stairs while pregnant with Prince William. By the mid-'90s, there was no doubt: a Royal divorce was on the way.
In 1996, Diana Became Free
The most controversial Royal divorce in history was settled in the summer of 1996. One year before, a heartfelt interview with Princess Diana explored the extramarital affairs she and Prince Charles had encountered during their time together. After the divorce, Diana lost her status as "Her Royal Highness." But she was arguably more powerful than the Queen: because she had the support of the people.
With a divorce settlement of $21 million, Diana was finally free. She was ready to start living life in her own terms. No longer the young charming Norfolk girl the world had met in the early '80s, Diana was now a responsible and experienced woman who was ready to do some good in this world.
Always Ready To Help
More than a Royal or a public figure, Princess Diana was a humanitarian. Forced to make countless public appearances, she always did her best to make them count. She worked with numerous charity cases, raising awareness and sums of millions to fight disease, poverty, and other scourges.
While still married, she was awarded the 'Freedom of the City of London' for her humanitarian work. She also took her kindness abroad, collaborating with international organizations in Moscow, Italy, and Africa.
She Fought HIV Prejudice
In the late '80s, Princess Diana inaugurated the 'Landmark AIDS Centre' in London. Nowadays, all celebrities and politicians rush to help when it comes to AIDS. But back then, there was still a lot of prejudice towards it. Diana helped to donate millions to fight the virus, but her most important contribution was perhaps her effort to fight the stigma.
Namely, she impressed the people by meeting with AIDS patients and shaking their hands. To the uninformed and prejudiced public opinion, this was an eye-opening experience. Back then, many people still thought HIV could be transmitted by superficial contact.
She Also Fought Landmines
Shortly after her divorce, Diana turned her attention to yet another unpopular issue. After learning that over 130 people had lost their limbs to forgotten landmines in the fields of Angola, she decided to take a stand. In 1997, she visited many landmine-afflicted locations, met with Hillary Clinton, and delivered several speeches on the subject.
That same year, a treaty was signed by the UN nations, banning all use of anti-personnel mines. Unless you believe in cosmic-level coincidences, it is highly likely that Diana's campaign was the crucial inspiration behind the decision.
Supporting Humanitarian Causes
Arguably the ultimate symbol of kindness and human compassion in the 20th century, Mother Teresa might've been one of Diana's strongest inspirations. Their 1992 meeting made a strong impression on the Princess of Wales. Mother Teresa offered a rosary to Diana, which she kept amongst her most esteemed possessions.
During the '90s, Diana worked harder than ever to support humanitarian causes, sometimes having a profound impact on international politics. Her meeting with Mother Teresa felt like a symbolical 'passing of the torch.' By then, of course, no one could have predicted that the two women would eventually leave this world in the same week.
A Role Model
Princess Diana's public life was based around her humanitarian work. But she was much more than that. To millions of people around the world, she was an inspiration. And she was particularly popular with women, who often looked up to her as a role model.
Probably not the most consensual figure in the Royal circles, Diana was loved by who mattered the most: the common people. Dissected by the media, followed around by fans, and copied by millions, Diana was one of the ultimate public figures of the past century.
More Than Just a Celebrity
It would've been easy for Diana to simply stick to her part and enjoy the perks of being a Royal princess. But she was more than just a public figure, and she was more important than your typical celebrity. Above all, she was a woman who followed her passions and respected her instincts.
In this now-iconic picture, Princess Diana meets with some of the world's most popular actors, including Tom Hanks, Ron Howard, and Rita Wilson. Her charm and status were so overwhelming that her presence humbled almost everyone.
Everybody Wanted a Piece of Her
Princess Diana's influence never stopped growing during the '80s and '90s. She was the woman every camera was pointed at, and the star who every other celebrity wanted to meet. For that reason, she made some powerful connections and some well-known friends during her life.
She shook hands with David Bowie, talked politics with Nancy Reagan, hosted events with Luciano Pavarotti, traveled with Richard Branson, met Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, and even shared a couple of laughs with Liza Minnelli.
'That' Moment
Diana's best-known celebrity moment was arguably the now-iconic dance she shared with John Travolta. It happened at the White House in 1985, and Travolta had no idea that he was supposed to dance with the Princess. But he accepted the challenge and proved to be up to the task.
In a later interview, Travolta admitted that he felt like he was playing the role of 'Prince Charming' during that night. He also confessed that he was very nervous about dancing with the Princess and that he felt awestruck by her charm and elegant presence. He said the moment was "one of the highlights of my life."
Fashion Icon
With a crowd of fans that wanted to be like Diana, it's no wonder the Princess of Wales was seen as one of the most influential opinion-makers in the world. During the '80s and '90s, women loved to copy her style, which was seen as a perfect combination between old-fashioned glamour and modern elegance.
Being Diana, the Princess enjoyed the opportunity to do what she did best: helping others in need. During a 1997 New York City auction, she raised over $3 million for charity by selling some of her most iconic dresses.
Diana Means Money
Princess Diana's name was synonymous with money. Magazines and newspapers knew that nothing meant high sales like a Diana-inspired cover. This wasn't always helpful to the Princess, who was at the center of countless fake stories, ruthlessly produced by the tabloids.
But once in a while, the Princess of Wales had the opportunity to really shine on the cover of a magazine. This now iconic 'Vanity Fair' edition featured a happy Diana on the cover and explored her post-divorce life. Sadly, it would turn out to be one of Diana's last mainstream media appearances.
Boys, Boys, Boys
While trapped in a loveless marriage, Diana often found comfort in the company of another man. During her time with Prince Charles, she was involved with James Hewitt, a protection officer who has reportedly "let her down." According to some wild conspiracy theories, there's a chance Hewitt is the real father of Prince Harry, but this was never confirmed and is now seen as a tabloid invention.
In fact, the tabloids loved to make up stories about Diana. If you believe the newspapers, she was involved with up to seven lovers, which included singer Bryan Adams and John F. Kennedy Jr. These stories were hoaxes, wholly made up by the press.
The Love of Her Life
Ironically, the man Princess Diana believed to be the love of her life was always able to escape the press. To this day, there's not a picture showing Princess Diana and British-Pakistani heart surgeon Hasnat Khan together. But their relationship is exposed in the best-selling book 'Diana: The Royal Truth.'
Princess Diana referred to Khan as 'Mr. Wonderful' and was deeply fond of him. From 1996 to 1997, they were involved in a passionate love story, which ended abruptly in the same year Diana died.
Wedding Plans & Media Storm
Hasnat Khan was the man that captured the undivided attention of the world's most popular woman. But this mysterious figure was not ready to get involved in the media storm that surrounded the Princess of Wales. Not even for love.
Even though Diana and Khan talked about getting married, there were just too many things going on against them. Khan wasn't prepared to become a public figure, and Diana's mother, Frances Spencer, strongly disapproved that she was dating a Muslim man. Ironically, Diana would go on to date the Egyptian producer Dodi Al-Fayed after her break-up with Khan.
Summer Vibes
In the Summer of 1997, a broken-hearted, recently-divorced Diana decided it was time for her to finally enjoy life. She started a relationship with Dodi Al-Fayed, a man who was known as a womanizer and who quickly fell under her spell.
Enjoying their time together, Diana and Al-Fayed were followed around by the media as they vacationed in the South of France. To spice things up, Al-Fayed's father bought 'Jonikal,' a multimillion yacht that was meant to entertain Diana and her sons.
The Calm Before the Storm
Caught by the press in her bathing suit, Diana's time in St. Tropez was an odd spectacle. Not because there was anything wrong with it, but because it was unusual to see the Princess of Wales enjoying her life.
After years of dedicating to a busy Royal and humanitarian schedule, it seemed as though she was making something for herself for the first time ever. Little did she know that her relaxing vacation in South France was just the calm before the storm.
A Night Out in Paris
Still warm from the St. Tropez sun, Diana and Al-Fayed decided to visit Paris. They stayed at the luxurious Hôtel Ritz. Then, on August 30th, they decided to go for a night out in the company of a bodyguard and a car driver.
This picture was captured shortly after their tragic death, by an elevator security camera. With a big smile on her face, Princess Diana was completely unaware of the events that would follow.
The Press Was Always Watching
But as Diana and Al-Fayed stepped out of the elevator and into their car, the Princess's smile was gone. Outside the hotel, tens of journalists gathered to capture a photo of the world's most famous woman. Diana and Al-Fayed quickly stepped inside their Mercedes.
They were going on a short trip, but they would never make it to their final destination. On the first hours of the 31st of August 1997, Diana, Al-Fayed, and their driver would die in a car crash in the Ponte de l'Alma tunnel. They were trying to escape the paparazzi.
One Last Snap
Sometimes, the pictures that make history are not the prettiest. This photo would mean nothing if it wasn't for the fact it captured Diana's last moments alive. For one last time in her life, the most photographed woman of the '90s was being captured by the lenses of a relentless paparazzi.
In the front, driver Henri Paul and bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones seem to be at the center of the shot. But the real target was the blond woman on the back seat, nervously looking back at the pursuing photographers. Moments later, three of the four occupants of the vehicle lost their lives. Rees-Jones, the sole survivor, broke every bone in his face and is still severely scarred today.
Waves of Grief
To millions of people in the United Kingdom and all over the world, losing Princess Diana was almost like losing someone they knew. After all, she was the Princess of the People. She was the woman everybody looked up to, the blue-blooded charmer who was going to save the world.
What's more tragic is that she was still very young and she had a lot to give. In the streets of London, nobody wanted to imagine a future without Diana.
Saying Goodbye
On September 6, 1997, the world said goodbye to Princess Diana. A record 32 million viewers watched the televised funeral, which was attended by Britain's most prominent figures. Elton John performed a special version of 'Candle in the Wind,' and Diana was buried with the rosary Mother Teresa had given her.
But the most potent image was perhaps the one showing Princes William and Harry walking behind her mother's coffin. In life, Diana helped to save thousands through her humanitarian work, but in the end, her life was not saved.
Gone Way Too Soon
By the time she parted, Diana was no longer that young Norfolk girl we first introduced you to. She was a powerful independent woman, a loving mother, and a growingly influential figure in international politics. Her legacy will always live on, especially through the two sones she loved so much.
Prince William and Prince Harry turned out fine, but it's impossible to measure the impact of growing up without a mother. In 2011, William married Catherine Middleton. Most recently, Prince Harry tied the knot with Meghan Markle. But without Diana, their lives were never the same.
The Conspiracy Theories
Princess Diana's death was examined thoroughly by the authorities. In the end, the police report concluded that driver Henri Paul was under the influence of alcohol. It also determined that he was speeding to avoid the car of the pursuing paparazzi.
But alternative theories were pointed out. Al-Fayed's father was certain that Diana's death was planned by the MI6, Britain's intelligence organization. In 2008, however, he decided to drop the claims, which many believed to be unbiased. He said he did so to preserve the well-being of Diana's children.
A Long-Lasting Legacy
Immortalized with a wax statue in London's famous Madame Tussaud's museum, Princess Diana was portrayed as the people knew her. A kind-hearted woman with an elegant pose and a cheeky smile. But there's more to Diana's legacy than fancy dresses.
She will live on forever as one of the most iconic members of the Royal Family, as an exemplar humanitarian, as a mother ready to fight everyone for the well-being of her offspring, and as a powerful woman who could have continued to change this world for better.
Will There Ever Be Another Princess Diana?
When we talk about the people, we're talking about an abstract construct of millions of individuals. That's why most public figures are both loved and hated by the public. But that was not the case with Diana. The Princess came from an aristocratic family, flew private, wore luxury dresses, and was for most of her life called 'Her Highness.' Still, she was beloved by all, no matter their status.
Will we ever see anybody like Diana ever again? Will a public figure ever get her unreachable status with the people? We're not sure. But if there's ever a public figure as influential as Diana, we hope he or she shares the same sense of compassion, humanitarianism, and kindness toward the others. May her example live on forever!