Princess Diana once famously said she’d “like to be a queen in people’s hearts”. But after her untimely death, the then Prime Minister of Britain, Tony Blair, called her the “People’s Princess”, and that became the title by which Diana, Princess of Wales would be best remembered.
As well as being loved by people from all across the globe, she was also famous for her charity work, iconic fashion and the close relationship she had with her sons, Prince William and young Prince Harry.
Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince Charles
Lady Diana Spencer was just 16 when first met Charles, Prince of Wales, heir to the British throne, in November 1977. He was actually dating her older sister, Lady Sarah at the time which is famously depicted in the Netflix series, The Crown.
Diana watched Charles play polo and the relationship quickly progressed. Prince Charles proposed to Diana on February 6, 1981.
On July 29, 1981, nearly one billion viewers in 74 countries tuned in to witness the marriage of Prince Charles to Diana at St. Paul’s Cathedral broadcast live on TV. Princess Diana's wedding dress famously featured a 25-foot train and a 153-yard tulle veil.
However, five years into the marriage, trouble began brewing for the royal couple. Charles restarted his relationship with his former girlfriend Camilla Parker Bowles, and Diana later began an affair with the family's former riding instructor, Major James Hewitt. The affair with Camilla caused major conflict between both Prince Charles and Princess Diana as well as for the Royal Family. As mentioned in The Crown, Diana and Camilla met for lunch to discuss their troubles.
Diana and Charles announced their separation in 1992 but their divorce did not become official until August 1996 where Diana relinquished the title of “Her Royal Highness” and any claims to the British throne.
A loving mother to Prince William and Prince Harry
On June 21, 1982, Princess Diana gave birth to the couple's first son, Prince William. The birth of their second son, Prince Harry, then followed on September 15, 1984.
It will come as no surprise that Diana was not a traditional Royal mother. On Diana’s first official overseas visit in 1983, she brought a young Prince William along with them for a tour of Australia and New Zealand. She was also not shy of showing her sons affection in public, something that was seldom seen in the Royal Family.
It's lovely to see Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge show the same public affection to their children, George, Charlotte and Louis. We're hoping that Prince Harry's upcoming book will also reveal some details about his childhood and close relationship with his mother.
Princess Diana’s fashion
From the shy, young 19-year-old fiancée of Prince Charles to the glamorous, grown-up trendsetter, Diana dazzled the world with her trendy outfits and 80s makeup and 90s makeup. While she’s undoubtedly remembered for more than her outfits, her sense of style left an indelible mark on the fashion world that lives on even today.
It’s no wonder, then, that her old home, Kensington Palace, decided to pay tribute to her in 2018 with an exhibition celebrating her public life through the styles she wore.
Diana: Her Fashion Story traced the evolution of the Princess’s style, from the demure, romantic outfits of her first public appearances, to the glamour, elegance and confidence of her later life.
From her earliest royal engagements, everything Diana wore was closely scrutinised, and the exhibition explored how she navigated her unique position in the public eye: learning to use her image to engage and inspire people, and to champion the causes she cared about.
"The exhibition explores the story of a young woman who had to quickly learn the rules of royal and diplomatic dressing, who in the process put the spotlight on the British fashion industry and designers" - Eleri Lynn, curator of Diana: Her Fashion Story
Diana’s trailblazing began almost as soon as she was pictured with Charles in an official engagement photograph wearing a stunning bright blue matching suit and pussy bow blouse. From there, hundreds of unforgettable outfits followed as she wowed in glamorous dresses by the likes of Catherine Walker and Victor Edlestein. It was a style that inspired an ambition for effortless glamour that left its mark on today’s high street and not least in the style of her daughter-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate, and her stylish outfits.
Princess Diana’s charity work
“I think the biggest disease the world suffers from in this day and age is the disease of people feeling unloved,” she once said. Diana’s empathy and ability to connect with people from all walks of life – the young, the old, the poor and the infirm – was always a facet of her personality, but when she was catapulted to worldwide fame in her role as the Princess of Wales, she channelled those traits into her life’s work. “I know that I can give love for a minute, for half an hour, for a day, for a month, but I can give. I am very happy to do that and I want to do that,” she said.
During her lifetime, Diana was closely associated with more than 100 charities but in 1996, after her divorce, she streamlined her efforts to focus on a handful for whom she could make a tangible difference. They included Centrepoint (a homelessness charity), the National AIDS Trust, The Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust (focusing on supporting cancer patients), Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, The Leprosy Mission and the English National Ballet.
“In our opinion she was the foremost ambassador for AIDS awareness on the planet and no-one can fill her shoes,” the National AIDS Trust’s Gavin Hart said after her death. She also embraced more politically charged campaigns, such as the banning of landmines in conjunction with Red Cross. “Her overall effect on charity is probably more significant than any other person’s in the 20th century,” said Stephen Lee, the then-director of the UK Institute of Charity Fundraising Managers. That work and the endearing common touch she shared so freely with people endure as her legacy to this day.
Princess Diana’s death
Just after midnight on August 31, 1997, Princess Diana died in a car crash while in Paris at the age of 36. Her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and the driver of the car Henri Paul also died in the crash while Diana’s bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones survived despite being seriously injured.
Diana and Dodi had been holidaying in the French Riviera and were on their way to Dodi’s apartment from the Ritz Paris Hotel. However when they left, they were swarmed by paparazzi on motorbikes who began tailing their car. The driver Henri lost control, crashing into a pillar at the entrance of the Pont de l'Alma tunnel.
Princess Diana’s death was initially blamed on the paparazzi hounding the car however it was later revealed that the driver Henri was under the influence of alcohol and prescription drugs and a formal investigation concluded the paparazzi did not cause the collision and Diana’s death.
Following her tragic death, there are many memorials and statues to commemorate Diana in London which draw in visitors from around the world.
Princess Diana’s funeral
Diana’s funeral took place on Saturday September 6, 1997 at 9:08am in London, when the bell of Westminster Abbey started tolling to signal the departure of the procession from Kensington Palace. A whopping 32.10 million people watched the funeral on British TV while 2,000 people attended the ceremony in Westminster Abbey.
The private burial happened later the same day where Prince Charles, her sons, mother, siblings, a close friend, and a clergyman were all present.
Princess Diana’s bodyguard
As the only survivor of the fatal car crash which killed Princess Diana, there is much interest in her bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones. Trevor has maintained he remembers very little from the evening. At the inquest into Diana’s death, he said: “I have a memory of stopping at traffic lights and seeing a motorcycle on the right-hand side of the car.”
“I’m not sure about the other vehicles but I can remember this motorcycle very clearly. My memory then is of total confusion. I don’t remember the pain but in my head there was a lot of confusion.”
Princess Diana documentaries and TV shows
As with any popular figure in history, there have been many documentaries, films and TV programmes about Diana's story over the years as well as some books about the Princess by her ex-butler, Paul Burrell. While the accuracy of many of these films have been disputed, here are some of the most popular to watch now.
The Princess
The latest documentary to hit screens is The Princess. Praised by critics, the entire documentary is narrated by the Princess, Charles, real interviews and from real members of the public at the time. It also captures the view that the British public had of the Royal Family at the time.
The Crown
We've all heard of this popular Netflix series. While they've been very clear that it is a fictional show based on real events, the researchers behind the series have been very thorough. It's easy to see why it's such a popular series with a stellar cast. Emma Corrin plays a young Diana particularly well!
Spencer
This 2021 film is set during Christmas 1991 depicting a rather down and distressed Diana as she considers divorcing her husband, Prince Charles.
Diana
This 2013 film stars Naomi Watts and follows the final two years of her life, based on Kate Snell's 2001 book, Diana: Her Last Love.
The Queen
Starring actress Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth, it follows the death of Diana and the reaction of the Queen and Prince Philip and the rest of the Royal family around this time. Are you a fan of Dame Helen Mirren? Check out these pictures from her younger years.
Diana: The People's Princess
This documentary (which you can watch on YouTube) follows the final year of Diana's life including her charity work, life as a mum and her relationship with boyfriend Dodi Al Fayed.
The Story of Diana
This American documentary about Diana explores her life and legacy through interviews with historians and people who knew Diana.
Diana: The Musical
This musical following the story of Diana uses song and dance to tell the story. Be warned, it has received rather terrible reviews, so be warned before you start watching!
Features & Reviews Editor Emily Gilbert has been a journalist since 2015 and has worked across a variety of specialist and lifestyle brands both in print and online. Specialising in travel content and product reviews, Emily is the first to know about all the exciting new releases, her favourite being gadgets for the home.