Aristocratic Upbringing
British royalty Princess Diana Spencer was born on July 1, 1961, near Sandringham, England.
Diana, Princess of Wales, was one of the most adored members of the British royal family.
Daughter of Edward John Spencer, Viscount Althorp, and Frances Ruth Burke Roche. Her parents divorced when Diana was young, and her father won custody of her and her siblings.
Educated first at Riddlesworth Hall and then went to boarding school at West Heath School.
She became Lady Diana Spencer after her father inherited the title of Earl Spencer in 1975.
Known for her shyness growing up, she did show an interest in music and dancing. Diana also had a great fondness for children.
After attending finishing school at the Institut Alpin Videmanette in Switzerland, she moved to London. She began working with children, eventually becoming a kindergarten teacher at the Young England School.
Diana was no stranger to the British royal family, having reportedly played with Prince Andrew and Prince Edward as a child while her family rented Park House, an estate owned by Queen Elizabeth II. In 1977, she became reacquainted with their older brother, Prince Charles, who was 13 years her senior.
As the heir to the British throne, Prince Charles was usually the subject of media attention and his courtship of Diana was no exception.
Garden-loving prince and the shy young woman with an interest in fashion and popular culture.
When the couple married on July 29, 1981, the ceremony was broadcast on television around the world, with millions of people tuning in to see what many considered to be the wedding of the century.
Marriage and Divorce
On June 21, 1982, Diana and Charles had their first child: Prince William Arthur Philip Louis, then Prince Harry more than two years later on September 15, 1984.
Overwhelmed by her royal duties and the intense media coverage of nearly every aspect of her life, she began to develop and pursue her own interests.
Diana served a strong supporter of many charities and worked to help the homeless, people living with HIV and AIDS and children in need.
The two became estranged over the years, and there were reports of infidelities from both parties. During their union, Diana struggled with depression and bulimia.
The couple's separation was announced in December 1992 by British Prime Minister John Major, who read a statement from the royal family to the House of Commons, finalized in 1996.
Death and Legacy
Even after the divorce, Diana maintained a high level of popularity. She devoted herself to her sons and to such charitable efforts as the battle against the use of land mines.
Diana used her international celebrity to help raise awareness about this issue.
Continued to experience the negative aspects of fame—her 1997 romance with Egyptian film producer and playboy Dodi Al-Fayed caused quite a stir and created a media frenzy.
While visiting Paris, the couple was involved in a car crash after trying to escape from the paparazzi on the night of August 30, 1997.
Diana initially survived the crash, but later succumbed to her injuries at a Paris hospital a few hours later. Al-Fayed and the driver were also killed, and a bodyguard was seriously injured.
Thousands turned out to pay tribute to the "people's princess" during her funeral procession. The funeral was held at Westminister Abbey, which was broadcast on television. Her body was later buried at her family's estate, Althorp.
Princess Diana Charity Work
Quotes by Princess Diana
"I would like to be a queen in the hearts of the people."
“The worst illness of our time is that so many people have to suffer from never being loved.”
“Your patron has never been happier to see you. Whatever uncertainties the last few weeks may have brought I want you to be certain of this our work together will continue unchanged. Especially at Christmas. The sick, the old, the handicapped and the homeless, the lonely, the confused and the simply unloved who are needing your help more than ever."
“Two things stand like stone - Kindness in anothers trouble - courage in your own”
Charity Work of Princess Diana
Throughout her life Diana was something of a rebel.
Her work with victims of AIDS could in some ways be seen in this regard.
She was one of the first very high profile people to be pictured touching those afflicted with AIDS this had a significant impact in changing people’s opinions and attitudes to the disease it was certainly a charity not following the protocol and tradition of the Royal family. AS Princess Diana said:
“HIV does not make people dangerous to know. You can shake their hands and give them hug heaven knows they need it"
Diana had a very personable touch. She was very at ease in meeting people from any background and even if they were ill or in hospices.
The patients would react very favourably to her meetings, they warmed to her life energy and heartfelt sympathy.

She could empathise with people’s suffering, having suffered much herself.
To the media Diana often portrayed a very stoic and positive energy, but an aid suggested that at the same time these engagements often drained Diana emotionally at the end of some engagements she felt depleted.
As well as working on charities such as AIDS she lent her name to the campaign to bad landmines.
Her personal support is said to have been a significant factor in encouraging Britain and then other countries to support the Ottawa Treaty which sought to introduce a ban on the use of anti – personnel landmines.
When Robin Cook brought the second reading of the landmines bill to the house in 1998 he made a point of paying tribute to the contribution of Princess Diana.
Diana Princess of Wales - Charities Landmines & Explosive Remnants of War
Continuing the commitment of Diana, Princess of Wales we champion the issue of landmines, supporting the campaign for a worldwide ban and speaking up for those whose everyday lives are blighted by landmines.
Prisoners' Families
The Fund supports young people in prisoners’ families – an invisible group stigmatized by society and judged guilty for a crime they did not themselves commit.
Palliative Care
Enabling people to die with dignity and with the least possible amount of pain. For this reason it has launched a £5 million initiative on Palliative Care.

* Showered in gems searching for love. * Though was concealing eating disorder and problems within marriage. * Diana’s ring made by garrads crown jewelers * Diana chose ring, dark sapphire * Wore spencer family tiara, mothers earrings * Choker (diamond, sapphire, emerald) emerald later given to Camilla as brouch * Throughout eighties * Favorite; wedding gift from the crown prince of Saudi Arabia; Burmese sapphire * Spencer trade mark pearls; big sapphire jewel of royalty * Less formal and more tactile than any royal mother * Continuously used the power of jewels to make statements * Used earrings to symbolize face emotion * Tiara or hat symbol of authority