Lady Diana

Diana Frances Spencer was born in Norfolk, England on July 1, 1961. Her father, John Spencer, was a Viscount when she was born and would later inherit the title of Earl. Her mother, Frances, came from a family with strong ties to the royal family and Queen Elizabeth II. 

Diana grew up on a large estate in Norfolk . She had two  sisters (Sarah and  Jane) and a younger brother (Charles). Her sisters were mostly away at boarding school while she was young, so Diana became close to her brother Charles. At the age of eight, Diana was sent to boarding school. 

At school Diana excelled in athletics, music, and art. She did not like maths and science. One of her favorite things  was to work with the elderly and the disabled. She loved to help others. When she completed boarding school , she went to finishing school in Switzerland.  Diana didn't like the school and asked her father to let her come home. He agreed and she returned to England. 

When Diana turned 18 she moved into an apartment with three of her friends. She didn't need money because her father paid for all of her expenses. However, Diana took a job as an assistant at a Kindergarten. She really loved working with kids. 

Diana had first met Prince Charles when she was sixteen years old.  For a time, their love story was secret and kept from the newspapers for a short time.

On February 6, 1981 the prince asked Lady Diana to marry him.  Their wedding would be the event of the century. Before the wedding, Diana moved into Buckingham Palace where she learned all about being a princess. On July 29, 1981, the wedding finally took place at St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

Diana gave birth to a son on June 21, 1982. His name was William Arthur Philip Louis. Two years later, Diana had another son, Henry, who was called Prince Harry. But the marriage of Princess Diana and Prince Charles began to fall apart. They spent little time together . He had also remained close friends with  Camilla Parker. By the 1990s, the marriage was over. Their divorce was announced in 1992 .After their divorce, Princess Diana spent much of her time and  bringing attention to various charities. She would often visit sick children. 

On August 31, 1997 Diana was travelling in Paris with a friend named Dodi Fayed. The car they were in was being chased by paparazzi (photographers who follow celebrities). The car crashed, killing both Diana and Dodi. Her death was mourned by much of the world. 

Interesting Facts about Princess Diana

• Diana's parents were married at Westminster Abbey. The queen attended their wedding.

• While a child she visited the nearby home of the royal family and played with the younger princes, Andrew and Edward.

• Prince Charles was thirteen years older than Lady Diana.

• Kate Middleton, who married Prince William, wears Princess Diana's wedding ring.

• She did not like people to call her "Di" even though she was often called "Lady Di", "Shy Di", or "Princess Di."