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135-476: Diana, Princess of Wales (born Diana Frances Spencer ; 1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997) was a member of the British royal family . She was the first wife of Charles III (then Prince of Wales ) and mother of Princes William and Harry . Her activism and glamour, which made her an international icon, earned her enduring popularity. Diana was born into the British nobility and grew up close to
270-593: A 2021 interview , the Duchess of Sussex, who is of biracial heritage, relayed second-hand that there had been "concerns and conversations" within the royal family about the skin colour of their son, Archie , while the Duke of Sussex stated it was a single instance. The interview received a mixed reaction from the British public and media, and several of their claims were called into question. The Duke of Cambridge said
405-738: A newly opened cancer hospital built by Imran Khan, travelled to Pakistan to visit its children's cancer wards and attend a fundraising dinner in aid of the charity in Lahore . She later visited the hospital again in May 1997. In June 1996, she travelled to Chicago in her capacity as president of the Royal Marsden Hospital in order to attend a fundraising event at the Field Museum of Natural History and raised more than £1 million for cancer research. She additionally visited patients at
540-526: A Muslim man. By the time of Diana's death in 1997, she had not spoken to her mother in four months. By contrast, her relationship with her estranged stepmother had reportedly improved. Within a month, Diana began a relationship with Dodi Fayed , the son of her summer host, Mohamed Al-Fayed . That summer, Diana had considered taking her sons on a holiday to the Hamptons on Long Island, New York , but security officials had prevented it. After deciding against
675-629: A car crash in Paris; the incident led to extensive public mourning and global media attention. An inquest returned a verdict of unlawful killing following Operation Paget , an investigation by the Metropolitan Police . Her legacy has had a significant effect on the royal family and British society . Diana Frances Spencer was born on 1 July 1961, the fourth of five children of John Spencer, Viscount Althorp (1924–1992), and Frances Spencer, Viscountess Althorp (née Roche ; 1936–2004). She
810-663: A car with Charles near the Sydney Opera House , Diana burst into tears for a few minutes, which their office stated was due to jet lag and the heat. In New Zealand, the couple met with representatives of the Māori people . Their visit to Canada in June and July 1983 included a trip to Edmonton to open the 1983 Summer Universiade and a stop in Newfoundland to commemorate the 400th anniversary of that island's acquisition by
945-499: A charity event. She visited many other countries, including Belgium, Switzerland, and Zimbabwe, alongside numerous others. During her separation from Charles, which lasted for almost four years, Diana participated in major national occasions as a senior member of the royal family, notably including "the commemorations of the 50th anniversaries of Victory in Europe Day and Victory over Japan Day " in 1995. In 1983 Diana confided to
1080-472: A church that was generally used for royal weddings. The service was widely described as a "fairytale wedding" and was watched by a global television audience of 750 million people while 600,000 spectators lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the couple en route to the ceremony. At the altar, Diana inadvertently reversed the order of his first two names, saying "Philip Charles" Arthur George instead. She did not say she would "obey" him; that traditional vow
1215-430: A decent start in life". "We, as a part of society, must ensure that young people—who are our future—are given the chance they deserve", she said. Diana used to take young William and Harry for private visits to Centrepoint services and homeless shelters. "The young people at Centrepoint were always really touched by her visits and by her genuine feelings for them", said one of the charity's staff members. William later became
1350-623: A friend. She was also linked by the press to the rugby union player Will Carling and private equity investor Theodore J. Forstmann , yet these claims were neither confirmed nor proven. The journalist Martin Bashir interviewed Diana for the BBC current affairs show Panorama . The interview was broadcast on 20 November 1995. Diana discussed her own and her husband's extramarital affairs. Referring to Charles's relationship with Parker Bowles, she said: "Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it
1485-704: A hostess at parties. She spent time working as a nanny for the Robertsons, an American family living in London, and worked as a nursery teacher's assistant at the Young England School in Pimlico . In July 1979, her mother bought her a flat at Coleherne Court in Earl's Court as an 18th birthday present. She lived there with three flatmates until 25 February 1981. Diana first met Charles, Prince of Wales ,
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#17327763159921620-600: A leprosy hospital in Indonesia. Following her visit, she became patron of the Leprosy Mission, an organisation dedicated to providing medicine, treatment, and other support services to those who are afflicted with the disease. She remained the patron of this charity and visited several of its hospitals around the world, especially in India, Nepal, Zimbabwe and Nigeria until her death in 1997. She touched those affected by
1755-409: A lump sum settlement of £17 million (equivalent to £40 million in 2023) as well as £400,000 per year. The couple signed a confidentiality agreement that prohibited them from discussing the details of the divorce or of their married life. Days before, letters patent were issued with general rules to regulate royal titles after divorce. Diana lost the style " Her Royal Highness " and instead
1890-468: A model of family life". The scandals contributed to the public's unwillingness to pay for the repairs to Windsor Castle after the 1992 fire . A further " PR disaster" was the royal family's initial response to the death of Diana, Princess of Wales , in 1997. In the 1990s, the royal family formed the Way Ahead Group, made up of senior family members and advisers and headed by Elizabeth II, in
2025-503: A nursery teacher's assistant and temporarily lived at the Queen Mother's residence, Clarence House . She subsequently resided at Buckingham Palace until the wedding, where, according to the biographer Ingrid Seward, her life was "incredibly lonely". Diana was the first Englishwoman to marry the first in line to the throne since Anne Hyde married James, Duke of York and Albany (later James VII and II ), over 300 years earlier, and she
2160-520: A ploy "to inflame the true object of her affections, Hasnat Khan". In the years after her death, Burrell, journalist Richard Kay, and voice coach Stewart Pierce have claimed that Diana was also thinking about buying a property in the United States. Following her engagement to Charles, Diana made her first official public appearance in March 1981 in a charity event at Goldsmiths' Hall . She attended
2295-594: A private investigator working for a News of the World journalist. A 2021 BBC documentary suggested that briefings and counter-briefings from different royal households was the reason behind the negative coverage about members of the royal family. Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace, which represented the Queen, the then Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge respectively, described these suggestions as "overblown and unfounded claims". Senior members of
2430-507: A quest to change in accordance with public opinion. The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in April 2011 led to a "tide of goodwill", and by Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee in 2012 the royal family's image had recovered. A 2019 YouGov poll showed that two-thirds of British people were in favour of maintaining the royal family. The role and public relations of the extended royal family again came under increased scrutiny due to
2565-413: A reconciliation. Philip wrote to Diana and expressed his disappointment at the extramarital affairs of both her and Charles; he asked her to examine their behaviour from the other's point of view. Diana reportedly found the letters difficult, but nevertheless appreciated that he was acting with good intent. It was alleged by some people, including Diana's close friend Simone Simmons, that Diana and Philip had
2700-663: A solo trip, and went to Brazil with Charles. During the Brazilian tour, Diana paid visits to organisations that battled homelessness among street children. Her final trips with Charles were to India and South Korea in 1992. She visited Mother Teresa 's hospice in Kolkata , India. The two women met later in the same month in Rome and developed a personal relationship. It was also during the Indian tour that pictures of Diana alone in front of
2835-517: A source for Morton's book. During her lifetime, both Diana and Morton denied her direct involvement in the writing process and maintained that family and friends were the book's main source; however, after her death Morton acknowledged Diana's role in writing the tell-all in the book's updated edition, Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words . The Queen and Prince Philip hosted a meeting between Charles and Diana and unsuccessfully tried to effect
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#17327763159922970-472: A televised interview with Jonathan Dimbleby on 29 June 1994. In the interview, he said he had rekindled his relationship with Parker Bowles in 1986 only after his marriage to Diana had "irretrievably broken down". In the same year, Diana's affair with Hewitt was exposed in detail in the book Princess in Love by Anna Pasternak, with Hewitt acting as the main source. Diana was evidently disturbed and outraged when
3105-465: A tense relationship; however, other observers said their letters provided no sign of friction between them. Philip later issued a statement, publicly denying allegations of his insulting Diana. During 1992 and 1993, leaked tapes of telephone conversations reflected negatively on both Charles and Diana. Tape recordings of Diana and James Gilbey were made public in August 1992, and transcripts were published
3240-716: A trip to Canada in 1939 and in 1940 during The Blitz in London. Annual events attended by the royal family include the State Opening of Parliament , Trooping the Colour , and the National Service of Remembrance . According to historian Robert Lacey , Queen Elizabeth II once said that investitures of the honours recipients are the most important thing she does. Besides the King, Prince William and Princess Anne also perform investitures. Family members represent
3375-599: A trip to Thailand, she accepted Fayed's invitation to join his family in the south of France, where his compound and large security detail would not cause concern to the Royal Protection squad. Mohamed Al-Fayed bought the Jonikal , a 60-metre multimillion-pound yacht on which to entertain Diana and her sons. Tina Brown later claimed that Diana's romance with Fayed and her four-month relationship with Gulu Lalvani were
3510-561: A videotape recorded by Settelen in 1992, Diana said that in 1984 through to 1986, she had been "deeply in love with someone who worked in this environment." It is thought she was referring to Barry Mannakee , who was transferred to the Diplomatic Protection Squad in 1986 after his managers had determined that his relationship with Diana had been inappropriate. Diana said in the tape that Mannakee had been "chucked out" from his role as her bodyguard following suspicion that
3645-553: A week until they settled on Diana Frances after her mother and Lady Diana Spencer , a many-times-great-aunt who was also a prospective Princess of Wales as a potential bride for Frederick, Prince of Wales . Within the family, she was also known informally as "Duch", a reference to her duchess-like attitude in childhood. On 30 August 1961, Diana was baptised at St. Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham . She grew up with three siblings: Sarah , Jane , and Charles . Her infant brother, John, died shortly after his birth one year before Diana
3780-416: A year before, according to Tina Brown, Philip had warned Diana: "If you don't behave, my girl, we'll take your title away." She is said to have replied: "My title is a lot older than yours, Philip." After her divorce, Diana retained the double apartment on the north side of Kensington Palace that she had shared with Charles since the first year of their marriage; the apartment remained her home until her death
3915-569: Is Buckingham Palace . Announcements of the births and deaths of members of the royal family are traditionally attached to its front railings. Both Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle , the monarch's weekend home in Berkshire , are used to host state visits . The Palace of Holyroodhouse and Hillsborough Castle serve as official royal residences when the monarch is in Scotland or Northern Ireland, respectively. Clarence House served as
4050-753: Is Frogmore Cottage , near Windsor. The Duke of York lives at the Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park , while the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh reside at Bagshot Park in Surrey . St. Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham St Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham is a Church of England parish church , in Norfolk , England. It is close to Sandringham House and members of the British royal family regularly attend services when in residence at Sandringham, notably at Christmas . The church
4185-405: Is Mountbatten-Windsor , reflecting the name taken by her Greek-born husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh , upon his naturalisation . A surname is generally not needed by members of the royal family who are entitled to the titles of prince or princess and the style His or Her Royal Highness. Such individuals use surnames on official documents such as marriage registers , however. Members of
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4320-544: Is considered to be a noteworthy example of a carrstone building. The church is situated in the park and is approached from Sandringham House through the garden by "an avenue of fine old Scotch firs ". Much of the decoration and the church's stained glass in the east window was designed by Charles Eamer Kempe whom King Edward VII had also commissioned in 1903 to create a stained glass window at Buckingham Palace for his eldest son, Prince Albert, Duke of Clarence . The church's silver altar and reredos , made by
4455-542: Is dedicated to Mary Magdalene , a disciple of Jesus. Since 2022, the Reverend Canon Paul Williams serves as Rector of Sandringham . The Grade II* listed The church is dedicated to Mary Magdalene and is described as a small building in the perpendicular style, "nobly lying on raised ground". The present building dates from the 16th century but was restored by Samuel Sanders Teulon in 1855 and Sir Arthur Blomfield in 1890. It
4590-814: Is divorced), along with Queen Elizabeth II 's cousins with royal rank and their spouses. The list applies for the purposes of regulating the use of royal symbols and images of the family. The website of the royal family provides a list of "Members of the Royal Family" comprising King Charles III and Queen Camilla ; William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales ; Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex ; Prince Andrew, Duke of York ; Anne, Princess Royal ; Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh ; Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester and Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester ; Prince Edward, Duke of Kent ; and Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy . Among them,
4725-481: Is named after one of Diana's royal titles, could raise over £1 million with her help. In 1994, she helped her friend Julia Samuel launch the charity Child Bereavement UK which supports children "of military families, those of suicide victims, [and] terminally-ill parents", and became its patron. Her son William later became the charity's royal patron. In 1987 Diana was awarded the Honorary Freedom of
4860-567: Is or is not a member, although the Royal Household has issued different lists outlining who is a part of the royal family. Members often support the monarch in undertaking public engagements, and pursue charitable work and interests. Members of the royal family are regarded as British and world cultural icons . The Lord Chamberlain 's "List of the Royal Family" published in August 2020 mentions all of King George VI 's descendants and their spouses (including Sarah, Duchess of York , who
4995-626: The American Red Cross 's anti-landmine initiative. From 7 to 10 August 1997, just days before her death, she visited Bosnia and Herzegovina with Jerry White and Ken Rutherford of the Landmine Survivors Network . Diana's work on the landmines issue has been described as influential in the signing of the Ottawa Treaty , which created an international ban on the use of anti-personnel landmines. Introducing
5130-493: The Commonwealth realms . She was celebrated in the media for her beauty, style, charm, and later, her unconventional approach to charity work. Her patronages were initially centred on children and the elderly, but she later became known for her involvement in two particular campaigns: one involved the social attitudes towards and the acceptance of AIDS patients , and the other for the removal of landmines , promoted through
5265-700: The Cook County Hospital and delivered remarks at a conference on breast cancer at the Northwestern University Chicago campus after meeting a group of breast cancer researchers. In September 1996, after being asked by Katharine Graham , Diana went to Washington and appeared at a White House breakfast in respect of the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research. She also attended an annual fund-raiser for breast cancer research organised by The Washington Post at
5400-478: The Court Circular , a list of daily appointments and events attended by the royal family. Public appearances are often accompanied by walkabouts, where royals greet and converse with members of the public outside events. The start of this tradition is sometimes attributed to a trip Queen Elizabeth II made in 1970 to Australia and New Zealand. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother also interacted with crowds on
5535-694: The Gulf War , Diana visited Germany in December 1990 to meet with the families of soldiers. She subsequently travelled to Germany in January 1991 to visit RAF Bruggen , and later wrote an encouraging letter which was published in Soldier , Navy News and RAF News . In 1991, Charles and Diana visited Queen's University at Kingston , Ontario, where they presented the university with a replica of their royal charter. In September 1991, Diana visited Pakistan on
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5670-668: The Holy See included a private audience with Pope John Paul II . In autumn 1985, they returned to Australia, and their tour was well received by the public and the media, who referred to Diana as "Di-amond Princess" and the "Jewel in the Crown". In November 1985, the couple visited the United States, meeting Ronald and Nancy Reagan at the White House. Diana had a busy year in 1986 as she and Charles toured Japan, Spain, and Canada. In Canada, they visited Expo 86 , where Diana fainted in
5805-498: The International Red Cross . She also raised awareness and advocated for ways to help people affected by cancer and mental illness. Diana was initially noted for her shyness, but her charisma and friendliness endeared her to the public and helped her reputation survive the public collapse of her marriage. Considered photogenic, she is regarded as a fashion icon of the 1980s and 1990s. In August 1997, Diana died in
5940-580: The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund would be teaming up with the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund to help people with AIDS. They had planned the combination of the two charities a few months before her death. Mandela later praised Diana for her efforts surrounding the issue of HIV/AIDS: "When she stroked the limbs of someone with leprosy or sat on the bed of a man with HIV/AIDS and held his hand, she transformed public attitudes and improved
6075-874: The Sandringham estate . The family leased the house from its owner, Queen Elizabeth II , whom Diana called "Aunt Lilibet" since childhood. The royal family frequently holidayed at the neighbouring Sandringham House, and Diana played with Princes Andrew and Edward . Diana was seven years old when her parents divorced. Her mother later began a relationship with Peter Shand Kydd and married him in 1969. Diana lived with her mother in London during her parents' separation in 1967, but during that year's Christmas holidays, Lord Althorp refused to let his daughter return to London with Lady Althorp. Shortly afterwards, he won custody of Diana with support from his former mother-in-law, Lady Fermoy. In 1976, Lord Althorp married Raine, Countess of Dartmouth . Diana's relationship with her stepmother
6210-733: The Second Reading of the Landmines Bill 1998 to the British House of Commons , the Foreign Secretary , Robin Cook , paid tribute to Diana's work on landmines: All Honourable Members will be aware from their postbags of the immense contribution made by Diana, Princess of Wales to bringing home to many of our constituents the human costs of landmines. The best way in which to record our appreciation of her work, and
6345-640: The Taj Mahal made headlines. In May 1992, she went on a solo tour of Egypt, visiting the Giza pyramid complex and attending a meeting with Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak . In November 1992, she went on an official solo trip to France and had an audience with President François Mitterrand . In March 1993, she went on her first solo trip after her separation from Charles, visiting a leprosy hospital in Nepal where she met and came into contact with some patients, marking
6480-794: The Terrence Higgins Trust ). In 1991, she hugged one patient during a visit to the AIDS ward of the Middlesex Hospital , which she had opened in 1987 as the first hospital unit dedicated to this cause in the UK. As the patron of Turning Point , a health and social care organisation, Diana visited its project in London for people with HIV/AIDS in 1992. She later established and led fundraising campaigns for AIDS research. In March 1997, Diana visited South Africa, where she met with Nelson Mandela . On 2 November 2002, Mandela announced that
6615-617: The Trooping the Colour for the first time in June 1981, making her appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace afterwards. In October 1981, Charles and Diana visited Wales. She attended the State Opening of Parliament for the first time on 4 November 1981. Her first solo engagement was a visit to Regent Street on 18 November 1981 to switch on the Christmas lights. Diana made her inaugural overseas tour in September 1982, to attend
6750-406: The advent of television , however, the media started paying less respect to the royal family's privacy. Princes William and Harry have had informal arrangements with the press whereby they would be left alone by the paparazzi during their education in return for invitations to staged photograph opportunities. William has continued the practice with his family posts on Instagram . Relations between
6885-559: The funeral of Princess Grace of Monaco . Also in 1982, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands created Diana a Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown . In 1983, Diana accompanied Charles and William on a tour of Australia and New Zealand. The tour was a success and the couple drew immense crowds, though the press focused more on Diana rather than Charles, coining the term 'Dianamania' as a reference to people's obsession with her. While sitting in
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#17327763159927020-435: The line of succession to the British throne . Diana's marriage to Charles suffered due to their incompatibility and extramarital affairs. They separated in 1992, soon after the breakdown of their relationship became public knowledge. Their marital difficulties were widely publicised, and the couple divorced in 1996. As Princess of Wales, Diana undertook royal duties on behalf of the Queen and represented her at functions across
7155-552: The premier of Newfoundland , Brian Peckford , "I am finding it very difficult to cope with the pressures of being Princess of Wales, but I am learning to cope with it". She was expected to make regular public appearances at hospitals, schools, and other facilities, in the 20th-century model of royal patronage. From the mid-1980s, she became increasingly associated with numerous charities. She carried out 191 official engagements in 1988 and 397 in 1991. Diana developed an intense interest in serious illnesses and health-related matters outside
7290-529: The 1980s. Contrary to the prevailing stigmatization of AIDS patients , she was not averse to making physical contact with patients, and was the first British royal to do so. In 1987, she held hands with an AIDS patient in one of her early efforts to destigmatise the condition. Diana noted: "HIV does not make people dangerous to know. You can shake their hands and give them a hug. Heaven knows they need it. What's more, you can share their homes, their workplaces, and their playgrounds and toys". To Diana's disappointment,
7425-709: The British Red Cross Anti-Personnel Land Mines Campaign, but was no longer listed as patron. In May 1997, Diana opened the Richard Attenborough Centre for Disability and the Arts in Leicester, after being asked by her friend Richard Attenborough . In June 1997 and at the suggestion of her son William, some of her dresses and suits were sold at Christie's auction houses in London and New York, and
7560-505: The British Red Cross and supported its organisations in other countries such as Australia and Canada. She made several lengthy visits each week to Royal Brompton Hospital , where she worked to comfort seriously ill or dying patients. From 1991 to 1996, she was a patron of Headway, a brain injury association. In 1992, she became the first patron of Chester Childbirth Appeal, a charity she had supported since 1984. The charity, which
7695-504: The British-Pakistani heart surgeon Hasnat Khan , who was called "the love of her life" by many of her closest friends after her death, and she is said to have described him as "Mr. Wonderful". In May 1996, Diana visited Lahore upon invitation of Imran Khan , a relative of Hasnat Khan, and visited the latter's family in secret. Khan was intensely private and the relationship was conducted in secrecy, with Diana lying to members of
7830-425: The California Pavilion. In November 1986, she went on a six-day tour to Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, where she met King Fahd of Saudi Arabia and Sultan Qaboos of Oman . In 1988, Charles and Diana visited Thailand and toured Australia for the bicentenary celebrations . In February 1989, she spent a few days in New York as a solo visit, mainly to promote the works of the Welsh National Opera , of which she
7965-410: The Caribbean tour of the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations , the family encountered criticism from a number of political figures and the press, given their past connections to colonialism and the Atlantic slave trade via the Royal African Company . Reparations for slavery emerged as a major demand of protesters during the couple's visit. Both
8100-434: The City of London , the highest honour which is in the power of the City of London to bestow on someone. In June 1995, she travelled to Moscow. She paid a visit to a children's hospital she had previously supported when she provided them with medical equipment. In December 1995, Diana received the United Cerebral Palsy Humanitarian of the Year Award in New York City for her philanthropic efforts. In October 1996, for her works on
8235-425: The Crown. In 1983, she was targeted by the Scottish National Liberation Army who tried to deliver a letter bomb to her. In February 1984, Diana was the patron of London City Ballet when she travelled to Norway on her own to attend a performance organised by the company. In April 1985, Charles and Diana visited Italy, and were later joined by their sons. They met with President Alessandro Pertini . Their visit to
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#17327763159928370-410: The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester have their official London residences and offices at apartments in Kensington Palace , London. The former and their children officially moved into Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Home Park in September 2022. The Duke and Duchess of Kent reside in Wren House in the grounds of Kensington Palace. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's official residence in the United Kingdom
8505-460: The Duke of York's friendship with convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell , and allegations of sexual abuse , along with his unapologetic conduct in the 2019 interview about these subjects and subsequent 2021 lawsuit . In June 2019, the royal family, several members of which advocate for environmental causes, faced criticism after it was revealed that they "had doubled [their] carbon footprint from business travel". In
8640-509: The Duke of York, the Duke of Sussex and the Duchess of Sussex do not currently carry out royal duties. Other members of the royal family holding royal rank who do not carry out official duties are: Prince George , Princess Charlotte , and Prince Louis of Wales ; Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex ; Princess Beatrice ; Princess Eugenie ; the Duchess of Kent ; and Prince Michael of Kent and his wife . Notes The monarch's children and grandchildren (if they are children of
8775-428: The Earl offered the Princess of Wales a number of properties including Wormleighton Manor , the Spencer family's original ancestral home". However, he could not offer Garden House cottage on the Althorp estate to Diana as the home was intended for a member of staff. Diana was also given an allowance to run her private office, which was responsible for her charity work and royal duties, but from September 1996 onwards she
8910-456: The Easter term of 1978, Diana returned to London, where she shared her mother's flat with two school friends. In London, she took an advanced cooking course and worked at a series of low-paying jobs; she worked as a dance instructor for youth until a skiing accident caused her to miss three months of work. She then found employment as a playgroup pre-school assistant, did some cleaning work for her sister Sarah and several of her friends, and acted as
9045-409: The Princess's bulimia and self-harming was published; her private telephone conversations surfaced, as did the Prince's intimate telephone conversations with his lover, Camilla Parker Bowles; the Duke and Duchess of York separated; and photographs of the topless Duchess having her toes sucked by another man appeared in tabloids. Historian Robert Lacey said that this "put paid to any claim to being
9180-439: The Queen did not support this type of charity work, suggesting she get involved in "something more pleasant". In July 1989, she opened Landmark Aids Centre in South London. In October 1990, Diana opened Grandma's House, a home for young AIDS patients in Washington, DC. She was also a patron of the National AIDS Trust and regularly visited London Lighthouse , which provided residential care for HIV patients (it has since merged with
9315-504: The Queen's eldest son and heir apparent , when she was 16 in November 1977. He was then 29 and dating her older sister, Sarah. Charles and Diana were guests at a country weekend during the summer of 1980 and he took a serious interest in her as a potential bride. The relationship progressed when he invited her aboard the royal yacht Britannia for a sailing weekend to Cowes . This was followed by an invitation to Balmoral Castle (the royal family's Scottish residence) to meet his family. She
9450-457: The Queen, irritating Buckingham Palace by issuing her own announcement of the divorce agreement and its terms. In July 1996, the couple agreed on the terms of their divorce. This followed shortly after Diana's accusation that Charles's personal assistant Tiggy Legge-Bourke had aborted his child, after which Legge-Bourke instructed her solicitor Peter Carter-Ruck to demand an apology. Diana's private secretary Patrick Jephson resigned shortly before
9585-609: The UK that are disadvantaged. Princess Anne started The Princess Royal Trust for Carers , which helps unpaid carers, giving them emotional support and information about benefit claims and disability aids. The Earl and Countess of Wessex (as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were then known) founded the Wessex Youth Trust, since renamed The Earl and Countess of Wessex Charitable Trust, in 1999. The Prince and Princess of Wales are founding patrons of The Royal Foundation , whose projects revolve around mental health , conservation, early childhood, and emergency responders . In 2019 following
9720-681: The anniversary celebrations of D-Day . In February 1995, Diana visited Japan. She paid a formal visit to Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko , and visited the National Children's Hospital in Tokyo. In June 1995, Diana went to the Venice Biennale art festival, and also visited Moscow where she received the International Leonardo Prize. In November 1995, Diana undertook a four-day trip to Argentina to attend
9855-568: The book was released, although Pasternak claimed Hewitt had acted with Diana's support to avoid having the affair covered in Andrew Morton's second book. In the same year, the News of the World claimed that Diana had had an affair with the married art dealer Oliver Hoare . According to Hoare's obituary, there was little doubt she had been in a relationship with him. However, Diana denied any romantic relationship with Hoare, whom she described as
9990-446: The charity's patron in 1987 and visited the charity on a regular basis, meeting the sufferers at its centres or institutions including Rampton and Broadmoor . In 1990 during a speech for Turning Point she said, "It takes professionalism to convince a doubting public that it should accept back into its midst many of those diagnosed as psychotics, neurotics and other sufferers who Victorian communities decided should be kept out of sight in
10125-410: The churchyard Prince John (1905–1919) is buried. After the death of George V in January 1936, the King's coffin lay in state overnight in the church with an honour guard of estate workers. On the following morning, 23 January, the coffin was taken in a 2½ mile (4 kilometre) procession from the church to Wolferton railway station , with Edward VIII and his brothers walking behind and the rest of
10260-615: The disease when many people believed it could be contracted through casual contact. "It has always been my concern to touch people with leprosy, trying to show in a simple action that they are not reviled, nor are we repulsed", she commented. The Diana Princess of Wales Health Education and Media Centre in Noida, India, was opened in her honour in November 1999, funded by the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund to give social support to
10395-617: The elderly, she was awarded a gold medal at a health care conference organised by the Pio Manzù Centre in Rimini , Italy. The day after her divorce, she announced her resignation from over 100 charities and retained patronages of only six: Centrepoint , English National Ballet , Great Ormond Street Hospital, The Leprosy Mission , National AIDS Trust , and the Royal Marsden Hospital . She continued her work with
10530-549: The elderly. From 1989, she was president of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children . She was patron of the Natural History Museum and president of the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art . From 1984 to 1996, she was president of Barnardo's , a charity founded by Dr. Thomas John Barnardo in 1866 to care for vulnerable children and young people. In 1988, she became patron of
10665-664: The family among a group of people who they most associated with British culture . Members are expected to promote British industry. Royals are typically members of the Church of England , headed by the monarch. When in Scotland they attend the Church of Scotland as members and some have served as Lord High Commissioner to the Church of Scotland . Members of the royal family are patrons for approximately 3,000 charities, and have also started their own nonprofit organisations. The King started The Prince's Trust , which helps young people in
10800-414: The family as " soft power assets". Given the royal family's public role and activities, it is sometimes referred to by courtiers as "The Firm", a term that originated with George VI. Members of the royal family are politically and commercially independent, avoiding conflict of interest with their public roles. The royal family are considered British cultural icons , with young adults from abroad naming
10935-556: The final years of her life, in an attempt to distance herself from the royal family. After her death, it was revealed that Diana had been in discussion with Major's successor, Tony Blair , about a special role that would provide a government platform for her campaigns and charities to make her capable of endorsing Britain's interests overseas. Diana retained close friendships with several celebrities, including Elton John , Liza Minnelli , George Michael , Michael Jackson , and Gianni Versace , whose funeral she attended in 1997. She dated
11070-420: The first time they had ever been touched by a dignitary who had come to visit. In December 1993, she announced that she would withdraw from public life, but in November 1994 she said she wished to "make a partial return". In her capacity as the vice-president of British Red Cross , she was interested in playing an important role for its 125th anniversary celebrations. Later, the Queen formally invited her to attend
11205-549: The following year. She also moved her offices to Kensington Palace but was permitted "to use the state apartments at St James's Palace". In a book published in 2003, Paul Burrell claimed Diana's private letters had revealed that her brother, Lord Spencer, had refused to allow her to live at Althorp, despite her request. The allegations were proven to be untrue as Spencer received legal apologies from different newspapers, including The Times in 2021, which admitted that "having considered his sister's safety, and in line with police advice,
11340-833: The income of the Duchy of Lancaster , and the Prince of Wales from the Duchy of Cornwall . The security expenses for the royal family are typically covered by the Metropolitan Police rather than the sovereign grant. The royal family, the Home Office , and the Metropolitan Police decide which members have a right to taxpayer-funded police security. Extended members do not retain automatic right to protection; in 2011, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie ceased receiving police security. The sovereign's official residence in London
11475-469: The life chances of such people". Diana had used her celebrity status to "fight stigma attached to people living with HIV/AIDS", Mandela said. Diana was patron of the HALO Trust , an organisation that removes debris—particularly landmines—left behind by war. In January 1997, pictures of Diana touring an Angolan minefield in a ballistic helmet and flak jacket were seen worldwide. During her campaign, she
11610-564: The list by special legislation. Each year the family "carries out over 2,000 official engagements throughout the UK and worldwide", entertaining 70,000 guests and answering 100,000 letters. Engagements include state funerals, national festivities, garden parties, receptions, and visits to the Armed Forces . Many members have served in the Armed Forces themselves, including the King's brothers and sons. Engagements are recorded in
11745-406: The media and British royals have been destabilized by the rise of the digital media , with the quantity of articles becoming paramount toward gaining advertising revenue , with neither side able to exercise control. In the 2000s, the phones of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, and Prince Harry and his then-girlfriend Chelsy Davy , were hacked multiple times by media outlets, most notably by
11880-456: The monarch on official visits and tours to other countries as ambassadors to foster diplomatic relations. They have also attended Commonwealth meetings on the monarch's behalf. The royal family also participates in state visits on the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office , which includes the welcoming of dignitaries and a formal banquet. Journalist James Forsyth has referred to
12015-503: The monarch's sons), and the children of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales, are automatically entitled to be known as prince or princess with the style His or Her Royal Highness (HRH). Peerages , often dukedoms , are bestowed upon most princes prior to marriage. Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall , children of the King's sister, Princess Anne, are, therefore, not prince and princess. Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and James Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex , though entitled to
12150-514: The negative reactions to the " Prince Andrew & the Epstein Scandal " interview, the Duke of York was forced to resign from public roles; the retirement became permanent in 2020. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex permanently withdrew from royal duties in early 2020. Following these departures, there is a shortage of royal family members to cover the increasing number of patronages and engagements. Royal biographer Penny Junor says that
12285-817: The official residence of Charles III from 2003, when he was Prince of Wales, until he ascended to the throne on 8 September 2022. Another London residence of his when Prince of Wales was St James's Palace , which he shared with the Princess Royal and Princess Alexandra. Princess Alexandra also resides at Thatched House Lodge in Richmond . The King also privately owns Sandringham House in Norfolk and Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, which are his personal property. He inherited them from Elizabeth II upon her death. The Prince and Princess of Wales and
12420-468: The organisations that benefited from the auction of her clothes in New York. The trust's communications manager said she did "much to remove the stigma and taboo associated with diseases such as cancer, AIDS, HIV and leprosy". Diana became president of the hospital on 27 June 1989. The Wolfson Children's Cancer Unit was opened by Diana on 25 February 1993. In February 1996, Diana, who had been informed about
12555-592: The patron of Centrepoint. Diana was a staunch and longtime supporter of charities and organisations that focused on social and mental issues, including Relate and Turning Point. Relate was relaunched in 1987 as a renewed version to its predecessor, the National Marriage Guidance Council. Diana became its patron in 1989. Turning Point, a health and social care organisation, was founded in 1964 to help and support those affected by drug and alcohol misuse and mental health problems. She became
12690-463: The people affected by leprosy and disability. Diana was a long-standing and active supporter of Centrepoint, a charity which provides accommodation and support to homeless people, and became patron in 1992. She supported organisations that battle poverty and homelessness, including the Passage . Diana was a supporter of young homeless people and spoke out on behalf of them by saying that "they deserve
12825-563: The press who questioned her about it. Their relationship lasted almost two years with differing accounts of who ended it. She is said to have spoken of her distress when he ended their relationship. However, according to Khan's testimony at the inquest into her death, it was Diana who ended their relationship in the summer of 1997. Burrell also said the relationship was ended by Diana in July 1997. Burrell also claimed that Diana's mother, Frances Shand Kydd, disapproved of her daughter's relationship with
12960-556: The proceeds that were earned from these events were donated to charities. Her final official engagement was a visit to Northwick Park Hospital , London, on 21 July 1997. Her 36th and final birthday celebration was held at Tate Gallery , which was also a commemorative event for the gallery's 100th anniversary. She was scheduled to attend a fundraiser at the Osteopathic Centre for Children on 4 September 1997, upon her return from Paris. Diana began her work with AIDS patients in
13095-486: The purview of traditional royal involvement, including AIDS and leprosy . In recognition of her effect as a philanthropist, Stephen Lee, director of the UK Institute of Charity Fundraising Managers, said "Her overall effect on charity is probably more significant than any other person's in the 20th century." Diana was the patroness of charities and organisations who worked with the homeless, youth, drug addicts, and
13230-478: The royal family has presented itself "as the model family" since the 1930s. Author Edward Owen wrote that during the Second World War , the monarchy sought an image of a "more informal and vulnerable family" that had a unifying effect on the nation during instability. In 1992 , the Princess Royal and her husband Mark Phillips divorced; the Prince and Princess of Wales separated; a biography detailing
13365-489: The royal family support the monarch in "state and national duties", while also carrying out charity work of their own. If the sovereign is indisposed, two counsellors of state are required to fulfil his/her role, with those eligible being restricted to the sovereign's spouse, and the first four people in the line of succession over the age of 21. In 2022 the then Earl of Wessex and the Princess Royal were added to
13500-665: The royal family were "very much not a racist family". In June 2021, documents revealed that "coloured immigrants or foreigners" were banned by Elizabeth II's chief financial manager at the time from working for the family as clerks in the 1960s, prompting black studies professor Kehinde Andrews to state that "the royal family has a terrible record on race". In response, the palace stated that it complied "in principle and in practice" with anti-discrimination legislation, and that second-hand claims of "conversations from over 50 years ago should not be used to draw or infer conclusions about modern-day events or operations." In March 2022 and during
13635-456: The royal family, living at Park House on their Sandringham estate . In 1981, while working as a nursery teacher's assistant, she became engaged to Charles, the eldest son of Elizabeth II . Their wedding took place at St Paul's Cathedral in July 1981 and made her Princess of Wales , a role in which she was enthusiastically received by the public. The couple had two sons, William and Harry, who were then respectively second and third in
13770-542: The royal family, who represent the monarch, draw their income from public funds known as the sovereign grant , which is an annual payment of the British government to the monarch. It comes from the revenues of the Crown Estate , which are commercial properties owned by the Crown . Members of the royal family who receive money from the sovereign grant must be accountable to the public for it and are not allowed to make money from their name. The monarch also receives
13905-477: The safety of mental institutions". Despite the protocol problems of travelling to a Muslim country, she made a trip to Pakistan in 1991 in order to visit a rehabilitation centre in Lahore as a sign of "her commitment to working against drug abuse". British royal family The British royal family comprises King Charles III and his close relations. There is no strict legal or formal definition of who
14040-495: The same centre. In 1988, Diana opened Children with Leukaemia (later renamed Children with Cancer UK) in memory of two young cancer victims. In November 1987, a few days after the death of Jean O'Gorman from cancer, Diana met her family. The deaths of Jean and her brother affected her and she assisted their family to establish the charity. It was opened by her on 12 January 1988 at Mill Hill Secondary School, and she supported it until her death in 1997. In November 1989, Diana visited
14175-484: The same month. The article, " Squidgygate ", was followed in November 1992 by the leaked " Camillagate " tapes, intimate exchanges between Charles and Parker Bowles, published in the tabloids . In December 1992, Prime Minister John Major announced the couple's "amicable separation" to the House of Commons . Between 1992 and 1993, Diana hired a voice coach, Peter Settelen , to help her develop her public speaking voice. In
14310-567: The silversmiths Barkentin & Krall, were presented to Queen Alexandra by the American department store owner Rodman Wanamaker as a tribute to Edward VII. He also presented the Queen with the silver pulpit and a silver 17th-century Spanish processional cross. Also of note are the Florentine marble font and Greek font dating to the 9th century. Many memorials to royal family members and relations can be seen at Sandringham Church and in
14445-460: The story broke, later writing that Diana had "exulted in accusing Legge-Bourke of having had an abortion". The rumours of Legge-Bourke's alleged abortion were apparently spread by Martin Bashir as a means to gain his Panorama interview with Diana. The decree nisi was granted on 15 July 1996 and the divorce was finalised on 28 August 1996. Diana was represented by Anthony Julius in the case. The couple shared custody of their children. She received
14580-438: The styles "Princess Louise of Edinburgh" and "Prince James of Edinburgh", respectively, are not called prince and princess, as their parents, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, wanted them to have more modest titles. The King reportedly wants to reduce the number of titled members of the royal family. By tradition, wives of male members of the royal family share their husbands' title and style. Princesses by marriage do not have
14715-501: The then Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge have condemned slavery in their speeches, and the Prince has described acknowledging the wrongs of the past as a necessity for the Commonwealth countries to realise their potential. Historically, the royal family and the media have benefited from each other; the family used the press to communicate with the public, while the media used the family to attract readers and viewers. With
14850-476: The tipping point. On 20 December, Buckingham Palace announced that the Queen had sent letters to Charles and Diana, advising them to divorce. The Queen's move was backed by Prime Minister John Major and by senior privy counsellors , and, according to the BBC, was decided after two weeks of talks. Charles formally agreed to the divorce in a written statement soon after. In February 1996, Diana announced her agreement after negotiations with Charles and representatives of
14985-451: The title prefixed to their own name but to their husband's; for example, the wife of Prince Michael of Kent is Princess Michael of Kent. Sons of monarchs are customarily given dukedoms upon marriage, and these peerage titles pass to their eldest sons. Male-line descendants of King George V , including women until they marry, bear the surname Windsor. The surname of the male-line descendants of Queen Elizabeth II, except for women who marry,
15120-858: The two were having an affair. Penny Junor suggested in her 1998 book that Diana was in a romantic relationship with Mannakee. Diana's friends dismissed the claim as absurd. In the subsequently released tapes, Diana said she had feelings for that "someone", saying "I was quite happy to give all this up [and] just to go off and live with him". She described him as "the greatest friend [she's] ever had", though she denied any sexual relationship with him. She also spoke bitterly of her husband saying that "[He] made me feel so inadequate in every possible way, that each time I came up for air he pushed me down again." Although she blamed Parker Bowles for her marital troubles, Diana began to believe her husband had been involved in other affairs. In October 1993 Diana wrote to her butler Paul Burrell , telling him that she believed her husband
15255-614: The work of NGOs that have campaigned against landmines, is to pass the Bill, and to pave the way towards a global ban on landmines. A few months after Diana's death in 1997, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines won the Nobel Peace Prize . For her first solo official trip, Diana visited The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust , a cancer treatment hospital in London. She later chose this charity to be among
15390-506: Was Harry's father based on the alleged physical similarity between Hewitt and Harry, but Hewitt and others have denied this. Harry was born two years before Hewitt and Diana began their affair. By 1987, cracks in the marriage had become visible and the couple's unhappiness and cold attitude towards one another were being reported by the press, who dubbed them " the Glums " because of their evident discomfort in each other's company. In 1989, Diana
15525-561: Was a bit crowded." She also expressed doubt about her husband's suitability for kingship. The authors Tina Brown , Sally Bedell Smith , and Sarah Bradford support Diana's admission in the interview that she had suffered from depression , bulimia and had engaged numerous times in the act of self-harm ; the show's transcript records Diana confirming many of her mental health problems. The combination of illnesses from which Diana herself said she suffered resulted in some of her biographers opining that she had borderline personality disorder . It
15660-587: Was a boy, but did not share the knowledge with anyone else, including Charles, who hoped for a girl. Diana gave her sons wider experiences than was usual for royal children. She rarely deferred to Charles or to the royal family, and was often intransigent when it came to the children. She chose their first given names, dismissed a royal family nanny and engaged one of her own choosing, selected their schools and clothing, planned their outings, and took them to school herself as often as her schedule permitted. She also organised her public duties around their timetables. Diana
15795-754: Was a patron. During a tour of Harlem Hospital Center , she spontaneously hugged a seven-year-old child with AIDS. In March 1989, she had her second trip to the Arab states of the Persian Gulf , in which she visited Kuwait and the UAE. In March 1990, Diana and Charles toured Nigeria and Cameroon. The president of Cameroon hosted an official dinner to welcome them in Yaoundé . Highlights of the tour included visits by Diana to hospitals and projects focusing on women's development. In May 1990, they visited Hungary for four days. It
15930-574: Was accused of meddling in politics and called a "loose cannon" by Lord Howe , an official in the British Ministry of Defence . Despite the criticism, HALO states that Diana's efforts resulted in raising international awareness about landmines and the subsequent sufferings caused by them. In June 1997, she gave a speech at a landmines conference held at the Royal Geographical Society , and went to Washington, DC to support
16065-434: Was also the first royal bride to have a paying job before her engagement. Diana's first public appearance with Charles was at a charity ball held at Goldsmiths' Hall in March 1981, where she was introduced to Princess Grace of Monaco . Diana became Princess of Wales at age 20 when she married Charles, then 32, on 29 July 1981. The wedding was held at St Paul's Cathedral , which offered more seating than Westminster Abbey ,
16200-568: Was announced. In January 1982—12 weeks into the pregnancy—Diana fell down a staircase at Sandringham, suffering some bruising, and the royal gynaecologist George Pinker was summoned from London; the foetus was uninjured. Diana later confessed that she had intentionally thrown herself down the stairs because she was feeling "so inadequate". On 21 June 1982, she gave birth to the couple's first son, Prince William . She subsequently suffered from postpartum depression after her first pregnancy. Amidst some media criticism, she decided to take William—who
16335-525: Was at a birthday party for Parker Bowles's sister, Annabel Elliot , when she confronted Parker Bowles about her and Charles's extramarital affair. These affairs were later exposed in 1992 with the publication of Andrew Morton 's book, Diana: Her True Story . The book, which also revealed Diana's allegedly suicidal unhappiness, caused a media storm. In 1991, James Colthurst conducted secret interviews with Diana in which she had talked about her marital issues and difficulties. These recordings were later used as
16470-482: Was born. The desire for an heir added strain to her parents' marriage, and Lady Althorp was sent to Harley Street clinics in London to determine the cause of the "problem". The experience was described as "humiliating" by Diana's younger brother, Charles: "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, situated on
16605-407: Was delivered at Park House, Sandringham , Norfolk. The Spencer family had been closely allied with the British royal family for several generations; her grandmothers, Cynthia Spencer, Countess Spencer , and Ruth Roche, Baroness Fermoy , had served as ladies-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother . Her parents were hoping for a boy to carry on the family line, and no name was chosen for
16740-568: Was initially home-schooled under the supervision of her governess , Gertrude Allen. She began her formal education at Silfield Private School in King's Lynn , Norfolk, and moved to Riddlesworth Hall School , an all-girls boarding school near Thetford , when she was nine. She joined her sisters at West Heath Girls' School in Sevenoaks , Kent, in 1973. She did not perform well academically, failing her O-levels twice. Her outstanding community spirit
16875-429: Was later revealed that Bashir had used forged bank statements to win Diana and her brother's trust to secure the interview, falsely indicating people close to her had been paid for spying. Lord Dyson conducted an independent inquiry into the issue and concluded that Bashir had "little difficulty in playing on [Diana's] fears and paranoia ", a sentiment that was shared by Diana's son William. The interview proved to be
17010-671: Was left out at the couple's request, which caused some comment at the time. Diana wore a dress valued at £9,000 (equivalent to £43,573 in 2023) with a 25-foot (7.62-metre) train. Within a few years of the wedding, the Queen extended Diana visible tokens of membership in the royal family, lending her the Queen Mary's Lover's Knot Tiara and granting her the badge of the Royal Family Order of Elizabeth II . The couple had residences at Kensington Palace and Highgrove House , near Tetbury . On 5 November 1981, Diana's pregnancy
17145-412: Was now in love with his personal assistant Tiggy Legge-Bourke —who was also his sons' former nanny—and was planning to have her killed "to make the path clear for him to marry Tiggy". Legge-Bourke had been hired by Charles as a young companion for his sons while they were in his care, and Diana was resentful of Legge-Bourke and her relationship with the young princes. Charles sought public understanding via
17280-558: Was particularly bad. She resented Raine, whom she called a "bully". On one occasion Diana pushed her down the stairs. She later described her childhood as "very unhappy" and "very unstable, the whole thing". She became known as Lady Diana after her father later inherited the title of Earl Spencer in 1975, at which point her father moved the entire family from Park House to Althorp , the Spencer seat in Northamptonshire . Diana
17415-690: Was recognised with an award from West Heath. She left West Heath when she was sixteen. Her brother Charles recalls her as being quite shy up until that time. She demonstrated musical ability as a skilled pianist. She also excelled in swimming and diving, and studied ballet and tap dance . In 1978 Diana worked for three months as a nanny for Philippa and Jeremy Whitaker in Hampshire. After attending Institut Alpin Videmanette (a finishing school in Rougemont, Switzerland ) for one term, and leaving after
17550-527: Was reported to have described Harry as "naughty, just like me", and William as "my little wise old man" whom she started to rely on as her confidant by his early teens. Five years into the marriage, the couple's incompatibility and age difference became visible and damaging. In 1986, Diana began a relationship with James Hewitt , the family's former riding instructor and in the same year, Charles resumed his relationship with his former girlfriend Camilla Parker Bowles . The media speculated that Hewitt, not Charles,
17685-441: Was required to pay her bills and "any expenditure" incurred by her or on her behalf. Furthermore, she continued to have access to the jewellery that she had received during her marriage, and was allowed to use the air transport of the British royal family and government . Diana was also offered security by Metropolitan Police 's Royalty Protection Group , which she benefitted from while travelling with her sons, but had refused it in
17820-482: Was still a baby—on her first major tours of Australia and New Zealand, and the decision was popularly applauded. By her own admission, Diana had not initially intended to take William until Malcolm Fraser , the Australian prime minister , made the suggestion. A second son, Harry , was born on 15 September 1984. Diana said she and Charles were closest during her pregnancy with Harry. She was aware their second child
17955-521: Was styled Diana, Princess of Wales . As the mother of the prince expected to one day ascend to the throne, she was still considered to be a member of the royal family and was accorded the same precedence she enjoyed during her marriage. The Queen reportedly wanted to let Diana continue to use the style of Royal Highness after her divorce, but Charles had insisted on removing it. Prince William was reported to have reassured his mother: "Don't worry, Mummy, I will give it back to you one day when I am king". Almost
18090-585: Was the first visit by members of the royal family to "a former Warsaw Pact country". They attended a dinner hosted by President Árpád Göncz and viewed a fashion display at the Museum of Applied Arts in Budapest. Peto Institute was among the places visited by Diana, and she presented its director with an honorary OBE . In November 1990, she and Charles went to Japan to attend the enthronement of Emperor Akihito . In her desire to play an encouraging role during
18225-407: Was well received by the Queen, the Queen Mother and the Duke of Edinburgh . Charles subsequently courted Diana in London. He proposed on 6 February 1981 at Windsor Castle , and she accepted, but their engagement was kept secret for two and a half weeks. Their engagement became official on 24 February 1981. Diana selected her own engagement ring . Following the engagement, she left her occupation as
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