01of 30Bettmann/GettyDiana Frances Spencerwas born on July 1, 1961 (she would’ve been 60 this Thursday) to John Spencer, the 8th Earl Spencer and his first wife, Frances (later, Frances Shand Kydd). She was the fourth of five children, but her brother, John, died in infancy. She had two older sisters, Sarah and Jane, and one younger brother,Charles, who is now the 9th Earl Spencer.
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Diana Frances Spencerwas born on July 1, 1961 (she would’ve been 60 this Thursday) to John Spencer, the 8th Earl Spencer and his first wife, Frances (later, Frances Shand Kydd). She was the fourth of five children, but her brother, John, died in infancy. She had two older sisters, Sarah and Jane, and one younger brother,Charles, who is now the 9th Earl Spencer.
02of 30Fox Photos/Getty ImagesIn 1969, when she was 7 years old, Diana’s parents divorced. Her brother, Charles,told PEOPLE that the split, which saw her mother leaving the family home, was hard on her. “[It] was tough on Diana,” he said. “She used to sit on the doorstep at Park House and wait for her to come back.”
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Fox Photos/Getty Images
In 1969, when she was 7 years old, Diana’s parents divorced. Her brother, Charles,told PEOPLE that the split, which saw her mother leaving the family home, was hard on her. “[It] was tough on Diana,” he said. “She used to sit on the doorstep at Park House and wait for her to come back.”
03of 30Bettmann/GettyBoth her parents remarried — her mother wed Peter Shand Kydd, a businessman, in 1969, and her father wedRaine, who was the Countess of Dartmouthbefore her marriage to Diana’s father in 1976. When John inherited the Earldom following his father’s death in 1975, the family relocated to Althorp, the Spencer family seat.
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Both her parents remarried — her mother wed Peter Shand Kydd, a businessman, in 1969, and her father wedRaine, who was the Countess of Dartmouthbefore her marriage to Diana’s father in 1976. When John inherited the Earldom following his father’s death in 1975, the family relocated to Althorp, the Spencer family seat.
04of 30Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesThough school was not Diana’s strong suit (Charles said she found schoolwork “tricky”), she did do well in other areas,such as piano and dance.
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Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Though school was not Diana’s strong suit (Charles said she found schoolwork “tricky”), she did do well in other areas,such as piano and dance.
05of 30Tim Graham Picture Library/GettyAfter graduating from school, she moved to London, where she worked as a nanny and a nursery school teacher.
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Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty
After graduating from school, she moved to London, where she worked as a nanny and a nursery school teacher.
06of 30Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/GettyShe first metPrince Charlesin 1977, when he was dating her sister, Sarah. They reunited in 1980, and the two began dating. After spending time with the royal family at Balmoral, the Queen’s Scottish residence, and on the royal yacht Britannia,Queen Elizabethand other members of the royal family expressed their approval of Diana. It wasn’t long before Prince Charles proposed in 1981.
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Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/Getty
She first metPrince Charlesin 1977, when he was dating her sister, Sarah. They reunited in 1980, and the two began dating. After spending time with the royal family at Balmoral, the Queen’s Scottish residence, and on the royal yacht Britannia,Queen Elizabethand other members of the royal family expressed their approval of Diana. It wasn’t long before Prince Charles proposed in 1981.
07of 30Quadrillion/Corbis/GettyDiana and Charles made their first joint public appearance in March 1981, at a ball in London, where she metGrace, Princess of Monaco.
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Quadrillion/Corbis/Getty
Diana and Charles made their first joint public appearance in March 1981, at a ball in London, where she metGrace, Princess of Monaco.
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Anwar Hussein/WireImage
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10of 30Tim Graham/GettyAfter the ceremony at St. Paul’s, the whole family came together on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, where Charles and Diana kissed for the crowds below.
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Tim Graham/Getty
After the ceremony at St. Paul’s, the whole family came together on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, where Charles and Diana kissed for the crowds below.
11of 30Quadrillion/Corbis/GettyThe couple honeymooned on Brittania and in Balmoral. It has since been revealed that the cracks in the foundation of Charles and Diana’s relationship were apparent even then: Sally Bedell Smith, author ofPrince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life, said that the two clashed during the first few weeks of their marriage — and Diana used the honeymoon to “catch up on sleep.”
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The couple honeymooned on Brittania and in Balmoral. It has since been revealed that the cracks in the foundation of Charles and Diana’s relationship were apparent even then: Sally Bedell Smith, author ofPrince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life, said that the two clashed during the first few weeks of their marriage — and Diana used the honeymoon to “catch up on sleep.”
12of 30Tim Graham/GettyCharles and Diana announced they were expecting their first child on November 5, 1981, andPrince Williamwas born at St. Mary’s Hospital in London on June 21, 1982.
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Charles and Diana announced they were expecting their first child on November 5, 1981, andPrince Williamwas born at St. Mary’s Hospital in London on June 21, 1982.
13of 30Tim Graham/GettyShe and Charles took then 9-month-old sonPrince Williamwith them on an official visit to Australia and New Zealand in March 1983, a decision that was unprecedented at the time. On the trip, Diana and Charles posed in front of Ayers Rock in Australia — a photo that William and his wife,Kate Middleton, recreated on their 2014 trip to the country with their son,Prince George.
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She and Charles took then 9-month-old sonPrince Williamwith them on an official visit to Australia and New Zealand in March 1983, a decision that was unprecedented at the time. On the trip, Diana and Charles posed in front of Ayers Rock in Australia — a photo that William and his wife,Kate Middleton, recreated on their 2014 trip to the country with their son,Prince George.
14of 30Pool Photograph/Corbis/Corbis via Getty ImagesAs the Princess of Wales, Diana traveled the world. Here, at the White House in 1985,she dances with John Travoltain a now-iconic photograph.
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Pool Photograph/Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
As the Princess of Wales, Diana traveled the world. Here, at the White House in 1985,she dances with John Travoltain a now-iconic photograph.
15of 30Anwar Hussein/GettyTheir second child,Prince Harry, was born two years later, on September 14, 1984. Here, the family gathers for a photo after Harry’s christening at the Music Room in Buckingham Palace, while William steals the show at the front.
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Anwar Hussein/Getty
Their second child,Prince Harry, was born two years later, on September 14, 1984. Here, the family gathers for a photo after Harry’s christening at the Music Room in Buckingham Palace, while William steals the show at the front.
16of 30Princess Diana and Prince Harry.Tim Graham/GettyDiana was committed to giving her children as normal a life as possible, something both William and Harry still praise her for today. Here, she and Harry sit together during a summer vacation to Mallorca in 1988.
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Princess Diana and Prince Harry.Tim Graham/Getty
Diana was committed to giving her children as normal a life as possible, something both William and Harry still praise her for today. Here, she and Harry sit together during a summer vacation to Mallorca in 1988.
17of 30Anwar Hussein/GettyThat also included dropping them off at school when she could, as she did here for Harry’s first day in 1989.
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That also included dropping them off at school when she could, as she did here for Harry’s first day in 1989.
18of 30Tim Graham/GettyIn 1989, Diana attends a polo match with William.
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In 1989, Diana attends a polo match with William.
19of 30Julian Parker/UK Press/GettyIn the documentaryDiana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy, Harry said of Diana: “Our mother was a total kid, through and through. When everybody says to me, ‘So she was fun, give us an example,’ all I can hear is her laugh in my head. That sort of crazy laugh of where there was just pure happiness shown on her face.” That memorable laugh is seen here, during a family trip to Thorpe Park, an amusement park.
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Julian Parker/UK Press/Getty
In the documentaryDiana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy, Harry said of Diana: “Our mother was a total kid, through and through. When everybody says to me, ‘So she was fun, give us an example,’ all I can hear is her laugh in my head. That sort of crazy laugh of where there was just pure happiness shown on her face.” That memorable laugh is seen here, during a family trip to Thorpe Park, an amusement park.
20of 30Tim Graham/Getty ImagesDiana wears theCambridge Lover’s Knot tiara— one of her favorites — in Hong Kong.
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Tim Graham/Getty Images
Diana wears theCambridge Lover’s Knot tiara— one of her favorites — in Hong Kong.
21of 30Prince Charles and Princess Diana.Tim Graham/GettyBy 1992, tensions between Charles and Diana were at an all-time high. In November, they took what would be their final trip together, to South Korea. In December, Prime Minister John Major announced their separation.
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Prince Charles and Princess Diana.Tim Graham/Getty
By 1992, tensions between Charles and Diana were at an all-time high. In November, they took what would be their final trip together, to South Korea. In December, Prime Minister John Major announced their separation.
22of 30Anwar Hussein/WireImageCharles’s affair with his ex-girlfriend Camilla Parker-Bowles wasrevealed to the public in 1994, as was Diana’s own affair with her riding instructor, James Hewitt. Shortly after Charles’s admission, Diana wore this black stunner to a party at London’s Serpentine Gallery, which became affectionately dubbed the “revenge dress.”
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Charles’s affair with his ex-girlfriend Camilla Parker-Bowles wasrevealed to the public in 1994, as was Diana’s own affair with her riding instructor, James Hewitt. Shortly after Charles’s admission, Diana wore this black stunner to a party at London’s Serpentine Gallery, which became affectionately dubbed the “revenge dress.”
23of 30Johnny Eggitt/AFP/GettyThough they were separated, Charles and Diana continued to attend events together on occasion, like this VJ Day commemoration in August 1995. That same year, Diana gave a bombshell interview to BBC’s Panorama where she discussed Charles’s affair with Camilla and her feelings about the royal family.
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Johnny Eggitt/AFP/Getty
Though they were separated, Charles and Diana continued to attend events together on occasion, like this VJ Day commemoration in August 1995. That same year, Diana gave a bombshell interview to BBC’s Panorama where she discussed Charles’s affair with Camilla and her feelings about the royal family.
24of 30Anwar Hussein/WireImageOn August 28, 1996, Charles and Diana divorced. She lost her “Her Royal Highness” style, but retained the title of Princess of Wales. She dated a few men in the years after her divorce, most notably heart surgeon Hasnat Khan and businessman Dodi Al-Fayed. She visited Pakistan in the year of her divorce.
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On August 28, 1996, Charles and Diana divorced. She lost her “Her Royal Highness” style, but retained the title of Princess of Wales. She dated a few men in the years after her divorce, most notably heart surgeon Hasnat Khan and businessman Dodi Al-Fayed. She visited Pakistan in the year of her divorce.
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26of 30Jayne Fincher/GettyShe also was a strong supporter of the homeless. In 1995, she made a speech in defense of the charity Centrepoint. Her sons continue to work with the organization today.
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Jayne Fincher/Getty
She also was a strong supporter of the homeless. In 1995, she made a speech in defense of the charity Centrepoint. Her sons continue to work with the organization today.
27of 30Tim Graham/GettyIn January 1997, she visited Angola with the Halo Trust, continuing her advocacy against land mines. A cause Harry champions today.
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In January 1997, she visited Angola with the Halo Trust, continuing her advocacy against land mines. A cause Harry champions today.
28of 30Tim Graham/Getty ImagesIn 1997, just a few months before she died, Diana held an auction of her clothes at Christies in N.Y.C., which raised over $3 million. At the auction, she chats with her stepmother, Raine, Countess Spencer.
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In 1997, just a few months before she died, Diana held an auction of her clothes at Christies in N.Y.C., which raised over $3 million. At the auction, she chats with her stepmother, Raine, Countess Spencer.
29of 30Stefan Rousseau/PA Images via Getty ImagesIn August 1997, Diana visited Sarajevo, Bosnia, where she met with victims of land mines and continued her advocacy against the use of land mines worldwide.Just a few weeks later, Diana was in Paris with her then-boyfriend, Al-Fayed. They were in a car crash in the Pont de l’Alma on August 31, 1997, that killed both her and Al-Fayed, as well as the driver, Henri Paul.
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Stefan Rousseau/PA Images via Getty Images
In August 1997, Diana visited Sarajevo, Bosnia, where she met with victims of land mines and continued her advocacy against the use of land mines worldwide.
Just a few weeks later, Diana was in Paris with her then-boyfriend, Al-Fayed. They were in a car crash in the Pont de l’Alma on August 31, 1997, that killed both her and Al-Fayed, as well as the driver, Henri Paul.
30of 30Ralf-Finn Hestoft/Corbis/GettyAfter her death, there was an outpouring of public mourning and sympathy. Flowers, cards and photos covered every inch of space outside of Kensington Palace, Diana’s London home.
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Ralf-Finn Hestoft/Corbis/Getty
After her death, there was an outpouring of public mourning and sympathy. Flowers, cards and photos covered every inch of space outside of Kensington Palace, Diana’s London home.
source: people.com
