Life Cycle of Princes Diana, A Fashion & Beauty Icon

Diana, princess of Wales, original name Diana Frances Spencer was born 1 July 1961 at Park House, Sandringham, Norfolk. Diana was the daughter of Edward John Spencer, Viscount Althorp and Frances Ruth Burke Roche, Viscountess Althorp (later known as the Honourable Frances Shand Kydd). Her parents divorced when Diana was 7 years old and her father won custody of the children. She was the fourth of five children of his parents. The Spencer family had been closely allied with the British Royal Family for several generations. 

Diana grew up in Park House, situated on the Sandringham Estate. The Spencers leased the house from its owner Queen Elizabeth II. The Royal family frequently holidayed at the neighbouring Sandringham House and Diana played with the Queen’s sons Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

Diana became Lady Diana Spencer when her father succeeded to the earldom in 1975. Riddlesworth Hall near Thetford, Norfolk and West Health School at Sevenoaks, Kent provided the young Diana’s Schooling. After attending the finishing school of Chateau d’Oex at Montreux, Switzerland, Diana returned to England and Became a kindergarten assistant at the Fashionable Young England School in Pimlico.

Married Life 

Diana renewed her contracts with the Royal Family and her friendship with Charles grew in 1980. Lady Diana was well received by Queen Elizabeth II. Princess Diana and Prince Charles’s engagement became official on 24 February 1981. 20 years old Diana became Princess of Wales when she married the Prince of Wales on 29 July 1981 at St Paul’s Cathedral, which offered more seating than Westminster Abbey, a church that was generally used for royal nuptials. 

The service was widely described as a “Fairytale Wedding” and was watched by a global television audience of 750 million people while 600000 spectators lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the couple en route to the ceremony. Their first child Prince William Arthur Philip Louis of Wales was born June 21, 1982. Their second child Prince Henry Charles Albert David was born September 15, 1984. 

Diana’s separation from Charles was announced in December 1992 by British Prime Minister John Major, who read a statement from the Royal Family to the House of Commons. The couple became estranged over the years and Diana struggled with depression and bulimia. 

Charity works

After the divorce Diana maintained her high public profile and continued many of the activities she had earlier undertaken on behalf of charities, supporting causes as diverse as the arts, children’s issues, cancer and AIDS patients. She also was involved in campaigning for animal protection and fighting against the use of landmines. 

She was the patroness of charities and organizations who worked with the homeless, youth, drug addicts and the elderly. She was president of the Great Ormond Street hospital for children. She was patron of the National History Museum and the president of the Royal Academy of Music. Her patronages included many charitable organizations.

In 1987, Diana was awarded the Honorary Freedom of the City of London to bestow on someone. To ensure that William and Harry had an understanding of people’s emotions, their insecurities, people’s distress and their hopes and dreams, Diana brought her sons with her to hospitals, homeless shelters and orphanages. To acquaint them with the world outside royal privileges, she took them to fast food restaurants and on public transportation. Her compassion, personal warmth, humility and accessibility earned her the sobriquet “The People’s Princess.” 

Death

On 31 August 1997, Diana died in a car crush in the Pont de I’Alma tunnel in Paris while the driver was fleeing the paparazzi. The television funeral on 6 September, was watched by a British television audience that peaked at 32.10 million of people which was one of the United Kingdom’s highest viewing figures ever. Million more watched the event around the world. 

Diana remains one of the most popular members of the Royal Family throughout history. She is remembered as the “People’s Princess” because of his widespread popularity and global humanitarian efforts.

Diana was a fashion icon whose beauty and style was emulated by women around the world. In 1997, Princess Diana was one of the runners-up for Time Magazine’s Person of the Year. Time magazine named Diana one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20^th Century. In 2002, Diana ranked third on the BBC’s poll of the 100 Greatest Britons, above the Queen and other British Monarchs.