Princess Diana

 

Princess Diana Biography                                                      

name:   Diana Spencer

nickname Lady Di

born: July 1st, 1961

birthplace of: Sandringham (Norfolk - England)

parents: John Edward Spencer (1924-1992) Lady Frances

Spencer (1936) divorced since 1969

sisters and brothers: Sarah, Jane, Charles

length: 1.77 m

weight: unknown

colour of eyes: blue

colour of hair: blond

residence: Kensington Palace in London

marriage: On July 29th Lady Diana married Prince Charles. She was 20 years old and Prince Charles was 33 years old.

children: Prinz William (Willie), 21st June 1982

Prinz Henry (Harry), 15th September 1984

dissolution of marriage: August 28th, '96

died: August 30th, '97

place of death:  Paris

 

 

 

 

 

Princess Diana`s childhood

Everything was perfectly prepared. Pale blue baby clothes lay freshly washed and starched on the commode, father Jonnie Althorp held young Frances' hand and  hoped that everything would very soon be over. Both the two small girls Sarah and Jane were also allowed to stay up for longer on this first of July 1961. They of course wanted to be the first to greet their new little brother. But with the first scream of the child followed the disappointing knowledge: a girl. Yet again no heir to the family title Earl of Spencer!

It was the birth of Diana.

Even when her parents so eagerly wished for a son, Diana experienced a carefree childhood, protected, loved and honoured. Three years later followed the eagerly awaited for son. They Christened him after the name of the British heir to the throne, Charles.

Even when her parents so eagerly wished for a son, Diana experienced a carefree childhood, protected, loved and honoured. Three years later followed the eagerly awaited for son. They Christened him after the name of the British heir to the throne, Charles.

Diana later liked to think back to these first years of her childhood. The family lived in a very beautiful and large house on the private estate of the Royal Family at Sandringham. In earlier times Park House served as a royal guesthouse, later it was leased by Diana's family. It consisted of ten bedrooms and four roomy salons. The wonderful grounds offered the children a great amount of space for games and rollicks. The immediate neighbourliness to the royal country seat brought with it regular meetings between Diana and her siblings and members of the Royal Family. They often met up with Prince Andrew and Prince Edward to go swimming at Park House, or they were invited to a tea party "at the court". These meetings were completely informal and without courtly ceremony, as the Royals were mostly present during the hunting season and accordingly relaxed. In spite of this Diana's father paid much attention to good behaviour and etiquette when raising his children. After all he himself, as the descendant of the ancient noble Spencer family, held the high position of Royal Equerry. Diana's mother Frances, daughter of Baron Fermoy, was a highly educated lady, who warmed the hearts of her four children and her husband.

However family life became increasingly more difficult. Whilst Jonnie loved the country surroundings, hunting and fishing, Frances yearned for the hurly-burly and elegance of the capital city. They argued more and more, and Diana often closely witnessed loud arguments between her parents. This worried her, and she wondered whether she was perhaps at fault. When Diana was four years old Frances decided to hire a governess. Together with other children from the village the little girl was taught in her parents' house. In this way at least during the day bright children's laughter was able to be heard.

Hardly a year later began the marital tragedy of Frances and Jonnie. The prosperous and vivacious Peter Shand Kydd entered Diana's mother's life. She tried to save her marriage, to support her family, yet two years later she moved to London because of Peter. A catastrophe for Diana and her siblings! After the divorce came the battle over custody. Jonnie convinced the court that the children should stay with their father. Diana was just seven years old at this time.

     Suddenly everything was different in their parental home. Nannies and servants certainly cared devotedly for the four children, but the joy was gone. Above all little Charles missed his beloved mother beyond all measure. Diana too felt deep worry in her heart, she felt abandoned and her child soul felt wounded. For the first time in her life she helped herself, by giving others faith and love. At the ripe age of just seven years she developed her most remarkable characteristic: she opened her heart to others and in this way she numbed her own pain. Diana became a substitute mother for Charles. She protected him, gave him love and warmth. In this way she found a new role within her family which met her needs.

Yet then her father decided that Diana must go to a boarding school. He chose Riddlesworth Hall in Norfolk, a girls' boarding school for the upper classes. A vision of horror for the nine-year-old! Nothing could help, Diana had to fulfil her father's wishes. It took a long time before she felt at ease in her new school. Diana was so shy, so vulnerable - how could she even find her way around in the strange environment? Mathematics, history, geography, French! Diana had no great interest in getting to grips with these things. She much more preferred to crouch in her room and read Barbara Cartland's novels. These were concerned with powerful feelings, with love and romance. She certainly couldn't guess that very soon a member of the Cartland family would completely change her life in a decisive way. Her teachers demanded discipline. Yet Diana's work only seldom offered cause for praise. She reflected on her natural talents and saved herself through her willingness to help and kindness. If there were problems between teachers and pupils - Diana negotiated. If one of her comrades had problems at home - then Diana comforted. If two girls argued, then she settled it for them.

At this time she made an important new experience, which would bring her yet more pleasure and use later in life: Diana discovered that sport activities bring not only recognition, but can also be a balsam for the soul. Swimming, tennis, hockey and ballet were her passions. She was even convinced that one day she would be a great dancer. After three years she was honoured for winning countless swimming competitions and received an honourable prize for "helpfulness".

Two years later she was sent to the West Heath Boarding School in Kent. Her father paid 4000 pounds per term and hoped that this respected school would take any ballet ideas out of her head. Again it took a long time before Diana felt comfortable amongst her fellow pupils. At first she wanted only one thing: that daddy would bring her home! She held through five years at the school, however she didn't pass her exams, even at the second attempt. A place at college was therefore not possible, so Diana ended her schooling at 16. For a girl from an old titled family all this is also not very important. It is enough to be able to marry well.

And when the family background is good and the girl is pretty, the rest is not so important. One thing was very clear to Diana: she never wanted to return to her father. This is because in the mean time a lot of things had changed in his life. In 1975 Diana's grandfather died, and with this her father became Earl of Spencer. As well as the title he also inherited the wonderful Althorp House. Shortly after the move Barbara Cartland's daughter entered his life. And Diana obtained a hated stepmother! Lady Raine had her husband under her control. She was pleased to be the lady of the castle, and she completely turned the household around. A few of the most expensive paintings were sold, new furniture and wall decorations were ordered. That was not Diana's home any more! There were arguments over the family heirlooms. How could father have married Lady Raine! Her shrill voice and her grumbling annoyed all the Spencer children, they suddenly all had a concept of the enemy in common. Yet it was difficult for them to assert themselves against Raine. She was not keen on any of the four, the children disturbed her in her duties as sole woman in charge. Diana was not able to achieve anything here through kindness and friendliness. On the contrary, Lady Raine left out no opportunity to present her step-daughter as a silly girl, who didn't once manage to pass exams at college.

Diana was broken by the coldness and superior strength of her step-mother.

 

 

Engagement.

In February 1980 Diana spent her first weekend at Sandringham in the company of the Royal Family without being accompanied by a sister. Although she was excited she played down the excitement of her friends: "What do you think would happen, it's only a weekend hunt at Sandringham." The interjection "my God, perhaps you'll be the next Queen of England", she dismissed whilst she was scrubbing the oven: "I hardly think so. Can you imagine me in rubber gloves and a robe?" Diana travelled to Sandringham together with Lady Amanda Knatchbull. She was the granddaughter of Lord Mountbatten who had been murdered in August 1979 by the IRA, and who Charles had seen as a "substitute father" for many years. A friend of Diana's, Philip, invited Diana in July 1980 to a barbecue at his parents' house in Petworth. As his mother was the Queen's Lady in Waiting, he could promise Diana that she would meet Prince Charles: "You are young, he might like you." Diana was given a place next to Prince Charles at the barbecue. Both later remembered that they began with friendly pleasantries, however soon came to talk about the magnificent funeral service held for Lord Mountbatten. All the world knew how much he had meant to Prince Charles, but Diana said it spontaneously: "You looked so sad as you had to walk down the aisle. I have never seen anything so sad before. My heart bled as I saw you so, and I thought: "That is not right, you are completely alone, you should have someone with you who you trust". With this a spark must have been ignited, as the picture that the twelve years older Charles had previously had of the little Spencer daughter transformed itself decisively.

Hardly back home, and Diana first experienced what it meant to be placed into the royal calendar. One Sunday afternoon a telephone call told her that Prince Charles would be prepared to accompany her to a performance of Verdi's "Requiem" in the Royal Albert Hall. Her grandmother Lady Ruth Fermoy would come as chaperone, and would also be present at a cold buffet in his private quarters in Buckingham Palace. In August 1980 the next invitation arrived. This time she was invited to a sailing weekend at Cowes. At the beginning of September the Prince newly invited Diana to an extended weekend, this time to Balmoral. Fittingly Diana's sister Jane and her husband lived in a small farmhouse on the Royal Estate. Here Diana could live comfortably, was however repeatedly called by Charles as to whether she would lend him company during a walk, or at a barbecue. Diana had accompanied Charles fishing on the River Dee as the distant flash of binoculars and camera lenses fell on her. As she knew how much her sister Sarah had been upset by attention from the press, she immediately pulled on a headscarf like a cowl and turned herself away. Craftily, and impressing Prince Charles, who remained back, she kept her back to the journalists and observed the photographers using the mirror in the lid of her powder compact. However her anonymity only lasted for one weekend, and with this weekend in 1980 Lady Diana Spencer lost the part of her life as a private person. Already on 8th September The Sun betrayed to the nation that behind the back of public life a Royal Romance had almost started again. The curtain had been lifted.

Patiently smiling she bore in public the siege of her apartment block or the "Young England Kindergarten", being followed in her car and outstretched microphones. Still very naive she tried to shake off the most annoying photographer by promising him that if he never turned up again she would let herself be photographed outside the kindergarten with some of the children.

The professional had promised everything for this photo. He cleverly positioned the innocent group against the sun and took the world famous picture which completely exposed Diana's legs though a far too thin skirt. At the time the Prince turned up his nose in amusement at the picture and forgave her with the ticking-off: "I knew that you have good legs, but I had overlooked the fact that they are quite so spectacular. Do you necessarily have to show them to everybody?" From then on Diana was on her guard, even when it was difficult. She couldn't have imagined that this would be her future way of life. The case’ first grew critical when the media presented a newspaper article about Diana having spent the night on the Royal train. They opened the hypocritical discussion as to whether Diana - if she had the nerve to visit her Charles then - was still a virgin or not. The debate over virginity, previous experience and platonic or close friends of the teenage Diana put the court on the spot. Officially the bearer of future heirs to the throne must go into marriage as a virgin, a discussion about this would however always do damage to the reputation of the Palace and the bride. It resulted in a need for action.

Diana spent the Christmas of 1980 at Althorp, and then New Year's Eve with her friends at the shared flat in London. During New Year Diana visited Charles at Sandringham. After this weekend the hysterically speculating press could hardly be held back, all reports screamed about a declaration: Is she the one?

 
Prince Charles however went skiing in January 1981, well knowing that in February Diana would fly with her mother and step-father to their sheep farm in Australia. Charles was supposed to decide there whether he would marry Diana or not. It was not love for Charles, but Diana had all the qualities that one should possess in his social circle. He is supposed to have once told a friend: "I don't love her, but she has the best qualities". At the beginning of February Prince Charles rang her from his ski resort of Klosters in Switzerland, just to tell her that after his return there would be something important that he must ask her. Whilst bourgeois lovers perhaps hurry directly to their intended in order to propose to her, royals undertake the hurdles of duty. On 3rd February Prince  Charles returned, took part in a aircraft carrier manoeuvre and first managed to ask Diana to come to Windsor Castle on 6th February. There in the so-called nursery, he told Diana how much he had missed her in the Alps and whether she would marry him. Overpowered and embarrassed Diana broke into her typical giggling whereby Charles repeated how serious the issue was to him, as of course she would also one day become queen through it. Later Diana remembered how she heard herself speaking, how she finally agreed and had ever more repeated how much she loved him. To which the Prince answered: "Whatever loves means".

Diana first told her news to her friends in the apartment. Then things undertook a breathless pace. On 23rd February Diana moved out of her apartment in Coleherne Court and into Buckingham Palace, where she should learn correctness and a little knowledge of courtly life. Already when saying goodbye to her friends Diana's new bodyguard, Paul Officer, ambiguously noted: "You should know that this is the last day of your live as a private person, make the best out of it!" The then very well informed Times already reported on the same day, 24.02.1981, that the official statement went to the press, about the engagement. At midday the dream pair gave a television interview in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, the first of very few in Diana's life.

The freshly engaged pair already had their first official appearance on 9th March at a charity event at London's Goldsmith's Hall. Diana appeared in a very deeply cut shoulder and backless dress made from silk over a not too certain sitting corsage and as she got out of the car she offered the photographers the second sensational photo to go round the world: pretty sexy Diana. A storm of flashbulbs outside and spotlights inside, the cheering and being at the centre of attention made Diana however feel very insecure. Through brave dieting since the engagement her nerves were thinner, then came Charles' criticism shortly before they departed: As she proudly appeared in his study in her only dress suitable for the occasion, he complained completely unimpressed, that at court one only wore black when in mourning. At the ball itself a woman, who like her had married into different circles, took away her uncertainty. Princess Grace of Monaco retreated back with her, particularly praised her dress and listened to Diana's complaints about the sudden isolation and her fears for the future. Her cheering advice was: "Don't worry, it will all get a lot worse!"

 
Three episodes and an unreasonable demand could have warned Diana at the time, as years later she first saw through how strongly she had been taken in and planned. At her first move from the shared flat into royal Clarence House no-one apart from the lady-in-waiting was expecting and greeted her. But already on her bed lay an invitation, written before the engagement ( well judged ), from Camilla to a ( well planned ) dinner, which very soon turned out to be a strategic dinner to be held when Charles was on a five-week-long trip which would take him to Australia and New Zealand, and finally to Venezuela, Washington and Williamsburg. It annoyed her that Camilla was one step ahead. Directly before his departure Diana was still flirting with her fiance in his Buckingham Palace office, perhaps she had also, as she often enjoyed during the engagement period, sat on his lap, in any case at this moment of saying goodbye the telephone rang, on the other end was Camilla, who also wanted to say goodbye. Diana was unsure at the time as to how she should react, she immediately left the room so as not to disturb the private conversation, and later told friends that the situation, and her own, likewise his reaction, had "broken my heart". The rivalry instinct was awaken, the aftertaste of the momentary defeat was only with difficulty shaken off. Charles was away for five weeks, the television kept the camera on a visibly upset, blushing Diana, who suddenly burst into tears, whose true reasons for doing so no-one could have imagined.

Diana and her own family, mother as well as two sisters, prepared the wedding in BP, wrote guest lists and ideas for the day together.

Many secrets were made about the wedding dress for the dream wedding. It didn't appeal to Diana any more at the end, as it had to be taken in many times due to her successful dieting. Diana had to realise at this time that different rules were followed at BP to those which she was used to. She also enforced to have things similar to what she was used to at Althorp, for a chat or to make herself a quick sandwich surrounded by her servants in the palace kitchens. This behaviour unnerved the servants, so one of them appointed herself as a speaker and explained to Diana strictly, but clearly, the threshold as being the dividing line between the authorised royal domain and the unauthorised kitchen domain. Two days before the wedding a rather too high-spirited ball took place in the palace, in "Buck House", for Diana's bourgeoise friends.

Marriage

The fairytale wedding was close at hand. She went early to bed on the evening before her wedding, and astonishingly she managed, in the Queen Mother's house, to soon fall a sleep. Her engagement ring, a æÃ30,000 sapphire ring with 14 diamonds, lay on her bedside table. How would her new life as the Princess of Wales look? Had she made the right decision? Would she be able to bear being constantly under public scrutiny? But for such doubts it was now too late. Early in the morning Diana took a hot bubble bath. Tea and toast with orange marmalade was brought to her room, but she sipped just a little tea. Her heart was pounding! Could not everyone in England hear it? She was overwhelmed by the sight of the celebrating crowds who had already been assembling for days beforehand. Diana's favourite make-up artist came to Clarence House with a large suitcase full of make-up, powder and rouge.

She applied just a little colour on Lady Di's face, but a great amount of waterproof mascara. Diana should appear fresh and innocent when she appeared at the altar. Then David and Elizabeth Emanuel, the designers of the wedding dress appeared, and helped Diana to get dressed. It was a magnificent gown made from ivory silk with an almost eight metres long veil. The narrow bodice was set with valuable lace, the sleeves opulently gathered up and embellished with little ribbons. It cost £9,000.

Unfortunately the dress designers had not made allowances for the lack of space in the glass coach that should bring Diana and her father to St. Paul's Cathedral. When the bride alighted from the coach the dress was crumpled and full of creases. Yet this circumstance did no damage to the beauty and grace of the bride. Diana appeared to all the observers like a figure from a fairytale. Already  Charles, in the gala-uniform of the marines, waited with the Royal Family and all the guests in the cathedral. Diana's mother Frances and her grandmother Lady Ruth Fermoy were allowed to take places very close to the Royal Family, whilst step-mother Lady Raine and Frances' new husband had to make do with the pews behind. Over 700 million people from 58 countries followed on the television how the bride with her father walked down the aisle towards the altar. The Earl of Spencer had tears in his eyes, for it was not only a great day in the life of his daughter, but also in his! He hobbled a little, however this did not detract from him showing true royal dignity and pride.

The solemn ceremony ran not without a few slips. By her acceptance Diana changed the order of Charles' forenames, calling him Phillip Charles Arthur George which led Prince Charles to the joke:"Diana, you have actually married my father". The heir also made a mishap. He declared: "I will share all ’your" goods with you". Obviously he should have promised to have shared ’his" earthly goods. In addition he placed the wedding ring on the left hand. But the worst thing that happened to Charles was the fact that after the vows he forgot to kiss Diana. Was that a bad omen? The celebration of marriage in St. Paul's Cathedral, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, lasted almost an hour and a half. The following coach ride to the palace, the celebrating crowds, the well practised, but still so strange, waving, Diana completed as though in a trance. How did the 20 year-old really feel and think in these moments? She appeared so relaxed, calm and overjoyed. The pressure on her spirit had been removed. Now she had actually managed it.

Yes, Lady Diana Spencer was the rightful wedded wife of the future king of England! She enjoyed being bathed in the crowds, the deafening celebrations when she received a kiss from Charles while on the balcony of the royal palace. In these unforgettable moments Diana felt herself chosen by God and the world:

Yes, Lady Diana Spencer was the rightful wedded wife of the future king of England! She enjoyed being bathed in the crowds, the deafening celebrations when she received a kiss from Charles while on the balcony of the royal palace. In these unforgettable moments Diana felt herself chosen by God and the world:

I am a princess and will one day become queen of England. HURRAH

The dream pair spent the first night at Broadlands, where Charles' parents had once spent their wedding night. The freshly married pair spent the honeymoon on the royal yacht Britannia. A Mediterranean cruise was on the programme, a gift from the queen. Charles and Diana were, however, not alone and undisturbed. As, naturally, a staff of servants was with them. But not only that. Charles used the free time to read science books and also brought his old fishing equipment with him. What a disappointment for Diana! She dreamt of watching romantic sunsets from the deck, with their arms tightly around each other, wanted to breakfast in bed with him, to dance under a glimmering, starry sky. Queen Elizabeth thought more practically, and built official appointments into the programme: if the pair were already visiting Tunisia, Sardinia, Greece and Egypt, then a few official visits would not harm... The cruise lasted for eleven days, which Diana, in spite of everything, greatly enjoyed.

   Finally they sailed for Scotland. The queen and her husband Prince Philip were already waiting for the dream couple. Diana and Charles were meant to pass the rest of their honeymoon in the company of the Royal Family. How wonderfully romantic! The heir to the throne did not notice his young wife's disappointment. There could not be anything more enjoyable for him than long hacks, walks and hunts. Diana didn't dare to complain. Before the wedding everyone advised her to be obedient. She was also advised, directly from her father, that to be allowed to marry in to the royal family would mean that she would have to prove her worth. She wanted that, but could she imagine that everything would run with so much difficulty, and with so much formality?