It is said that money, fame and beauty make most of the people happy and contented in life. But there are few selfless people who, despite having all at hand, work for the happiness of others. One such popular personality was Princess Diana, 'the Queen of Hearts', who, in her short and meaningful life, has become a legend.
On July 1, 1961, the third daughter of Lord Althorp, Earl of Spencer VIII, (then 37 years) and Lady Frances (25) was born. She was named Diana. Britain's Prince Charles and Diana came from the same ancestry. They were cousins several times over.
Diana's life was full of ups and downs right from her childhood. Her father, Johnnie, was the godson of Queen Mary. His family comprised a line of earls, dukes and duchesses stretching back to the fifteenth century. King George III conferred the title of Earl Spencer on one of Johnnie's ancestors and it was gradually passed down the line.
While Johnnie was 'unofficially engaged' to Lady Anna Coke of Holkham Hall, he met and fell in love with an 18-year-old girl, Frances Roche. The marriage between Johnnie and Frances took place on June 1, 1954. The couple maintained strong physical relationship for almost ten years and wanted to have a son and heir. But the two were not compatible emotionally right from the beginning, perhaps, due to the 12-year age difference.
Frances was a sophisticated, bright and fun-loving lady. She had a sharp sense of humor. Johnnie was, in her view, prosaic and a man of little ambition. The first two daughters were the signs of disappointment for the couple as they hoped to have a son. Their third child was the much-awaited boy but he passed away within ten hours of his birth. This dealt a severe jolt to Frances and Johnnie.
Unhappy Childhood
Before Diana's birth, her parents again hoped that their next child would be a boy. They were mentally not even prepared for an alternative. So, when Di was born, a mixture of feelings was visible - joy, shock, anger and then disappointment. So, poor little Di was, perhaps, not very welcome in the family.
Three years after Diana's birth, one more son was born to the Spencers. The parents, having got their heir on May 20,1964 were, no doubt, contented but this happiness did not last long. Differences and fights crept in.
The turning point came when Frances and Johnnie met Peter and Janet Shand Kydd in 1966. Peter, a handsome entrepreneur and a former naval officer, was the virtual opposite of Johnnie. He was bright, witty and ambitious. He and Frances were immediately drawn to each other. The friendship turned into an affair. And very soon, both Frances and Peter put an end to their respective marriages.
Diana and the siblings stayed with their father and grandmother. Frances paid them occasional visits but it only made the children more upset as they realized the vacuum created by her absence. The children then became unmanageable and deliberately misbehaved. Such were the circumstances during Diana's childhood, which made her a very insecure and emotionally disturbed girl.
The youngest of the three daughters, Diana spent a lonely childhood. Her two elder sisters were Sarah and Jane. Sometimes, Diana did show a sort of guilty feeling when she gradually realized that her parents were keen on getting a son.
After the divorce between Frances and Johnnie in April 1969, Diana's father won the custody of children. The children then lived at their father's house at Queen's Estate, Sandringham and Althorp Mansion. This incident of her parents' separation was very difficult for Diana to cope with at such a tender age. Consequently, Diana made up her mind : she will not allow her marriage, whenever it takes place, to collapse.
Lackluster Schooling
Lonely Diana also spent a very dejected childhood. Diana's education began at Riddlesworth Hall Preparatory School in Norfolk. Later, she went to the West Health School in Kent and finished her studies at the Alpin Videmanette Institute in Switzerland. But she never excelled academically.
By late 1970s, Diana was back in London. Having completed her studies, she worked as a nanny, a governess and also as a kindergarten teacher. Being deprived of motherly love during her own childhood, Diana's heart was full of compassion for young children.
At the age of 19, Diana charmed the people around her with her beauty. It was her childhood dream to become a professional ballerina. But her tallness - five feet and ten inches - seems to have put a stop on her dancing ambition.
Diana's Stepmother
While in school, Diana could not shine like her two elder sisters and brother named Charles. But she won laurels in sports and outdoor activities.
On the home front, Diana's father and Raine, Countess of Dartmouth and the eldest daughter of famous writer Barbara Cartland, got married on July 14, 1976. The children were not informed about this marriage because the earl knew that they would to not feel happy to see someone in place of Frances.
Raine was tall and imposing. She also had a gaudy and overstated dressing style. The children did not welcome her. In fact, none of them got along well with her because of Raine's arrogant nature. Thus, while the children adored their father, they showed open opposition to the new woman in their house.
Charles' Childhood
On November 14, 1948, the future Prince of Wales was the first royal to be born in Buckingham Palace in 62 years. As a child, Charles was very emotionally attached to his mother. He was sensitive and had artistic leanings. But he was forced to follow a strict code of conduct that often deprived him of his mother's affection and care.
Charles was also not bright in his studies but he took keen interest in outdoor games. He had his schooling at Hill House. In 1969, he became the colonel-in-chief of the Royal Regiment of Wales. In the same year, on July 1, 1969 to be precise, he was crowned the Prince of Wales and this day coincided with Diana's eighth birthday. In 1971, Charles entered the Royal Navy and three years later became a helicopter pilot of the Royal Navy Air Station, Somerset. A major influence in his early life was of great uncle, Lord Mountbatten.
Charles' Friends
Before his marriage with Diana, Charles had friendly relations with several women. He had a few confidants, too. His first close relationship was with Lucia Santa Cruz during his days at the Trinity College. In the long list of his female companions then were Susan George, Sheila Ferguson, a leading singer, Dale Tryon and Camilla Parker-Bowles (who was already married), Georgian Russell, daughter of a former Miss Greece, Laurato Watkins, Jane Ward and also Diana's elder sister, Sarah Spencer.
Charles-Diana Meeting
When Diana met Charles met for the first time, his romantic relationship with her sister was continuing. Di happened to join Sarah at one the meetings where the shy 16-year-old student at West Health was introduced to her husband-to-be. Charles was then said to be the world's most famous and eligible bachelor. The two, who were to be marital partners later, again met in November 1977 in the middle of a ploughed field near Nobottle Wood on the Althorp Estate.
Shortly before, Charles' 30th birthday, his relationship with Sarah was almost over even as pretty Di was attracted to him unknowingly. But, by and large, Charles was happy leading a bachelor's life. He was an independent-minded prince, a lover and, perhaps, not inclined to a stable relationship.
Having met Diana over a period of time, the prince felt that she was the right girl for him. He also presumed that Diana would be able to shoulder well the royal responsibilities after marriage.
Engagement Ring
On February 6, 1981, Prince Charles proposed to Diana Spencer and the engagement ceremony was performed with much fanfare on February 24, 1981. The engagement ring, which the prince gave to his would-be wife was worth £28,500 (then $54,150). It contained a large oval sapphire as its centerpiece and was surrounded by 14 diamonds set in white gold.
The duo seemed to enjoy each other's company and nobody ever thought that this relationship would end in disaster. But the discomfort of Diana was visible, when just two days before her wedding, she found a bracelet initialed FG, standing for "Gladys" and "Fred", the nicknames with which Charles and Camilla called each other. This was an indication, perhaps, for Diana to realize that the prince would not solely her possession. But young Di hoped that all would end well and married the prince of her dreams.
Wedding Preparations
The entire country was waiting for the Big Day. Diana herself was a bit nervous; she practised the bridal walk and also rehearsed on getting in and out of her glass coach. The wedding gown, it is said, had to be altered repeatedly over several months before the wedding because Diana had lost considerable weight.
For the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana, the Lord Chamberlain had sent out 2,650 invitations. The wedding ceremony was to be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie.
Pompous Marriage
On July 29, 1981 the beautiful Diana and ebullient Charles were married at the St. Paul's Cathedral. Twenty-year-old Diana Frances Spencer married Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales, then 33.
Prince Charles was dressed in a dark suit with striped shirt and had put on a gray tie. While David and Elizabeth Emanuel designed Lady Diana's wedding dress, Clive Shilton made the matching footwear. Her make-up was done by world renowned Barbara Daly. Kevin Shanley took care of Diana's hairstyle.
The bride looked radiant in snowy silken ruffles and lace, pearls and mother-of-pearls sequins embroidered on her new dress that had a V-shaped neckline. Diana's wedding gown was made of ivory-colored silk, a skinny crinoline with a tight bodice, full shirt and ruffles round the neck and elbows. A horseshoe studded with diamonds was sewn to her waistband. She wore a fine silk veil with sequins completed by a diamond tiara belonging to the Spencer family. The five bridesmaids wore matching ivory-colored dresses and two pageboys donned royal navy cadets' uniforms dating back to 1863, the year of the last state wedding of the Prince of Wales. Diana also kept a veil over her face for most part of the wedding ceremony, which lasted 70 minutes.
Precious Gifts
Many great personalities from all over the world either came personally or sent gifts to Prince Charles and Lady Diana. These gift were costly and befitting their stature. The US President, Mr Ronald Reagan, and his wife, Nancy, gave a glass vase valued at $75,000 and the Arab Sheiks offered gold ornaments and jewelry. The school children all over the United Kingdom sent their paintings and good luck messages. All the gifts, totaling over 10,000, were exhibited at St. James' Palace and the money raised went for charity.
Lady Diana's dress had a 25-feet-long train that made her extremely difficult for her to walk or get into the wedding coach. She arrived by the side of Prince Charles and the new couple exchanged words of reassurance, which implied that perseverance leads to success in marriage. But little did they know then that their marriage was not to last very long.
The carriage carrying Lady Diana and Prince Charles crossed Westminster Bridge near Big Ben with boats below in the Thames river. At the Waterloo station, Diana kissed Lord McLean, the Queen's Lord Chamberlain, who had made immaculate wedding arrangements. The couple then rode in their private train to spend the night away from the intense attention that had been focused so far.
Royal Honeymoon
After the grand and pompous wedding, Prince Charles and Lady Diana left by train for Romsey and then traveled to Broadlands for the start of the royal honeymoon. From Broadlands, they boarded the royal yatch Britannia for a Mediterranean cruise. The photographers were successfully prevented from this trip. During those days, Lady Diana developed a more intimate relationship with her husband.
After a few days, the couple was back at Balmoral on the banks of river Dee. They had some nice time together. But it is noteworthy that even during the honeymoon, Prince Charles is said to have maintained his bachelor-time habits and often kept away from Diana. But she did not explicitly voice her resentment.
Shocking Incident
The worst and severe jolt, however, came during the honeymoon itself when Diana overheard a conversation between Prince Charles and Camilla over the phone. He was reassuring Camilla that his love for her was not lost. The new royal lady was shocked to learn that her husband was bent on continuing his close relationship with another woman. Prince Charles is also said to have worn cufflinks on his shirt-sleeves with the alphabet C standing for Camilla. A dreamy and dedicated Diana had married a prince who obviously reciprocated little in terms of either love or attention.
Despite this, Diana soon blossomed into a highly attractive and gracious royal lady; she performed several duties in the palace with involvement and care.
Media Intrusion
Lady Diana was always unhappy when the media people, particularly photographers, kept on peeping into her personal life. At her wedding function, she was very uncomfortable with a plethora of cameras focusing on her. On one occasion, when she was keenly watching a Polo match in which Prince Charles participated, the photographers kept a non-stop watch on her. Finally, Lady Diana left the place in tears. At another match, she was so uncomfortable and nervous that she retreated most of the time to the back of the royal enclosure or kept half-hidden in the doorway to shun the photographers. Thus, ironically Diana, who earlier was the most photographed person in the world, detested media peeping into her private life and avoided the paparazzi.
Camilla's Case
Mrs Camilla Parker-Bowels (maiden name Camilla Shand) knew Charles even before he married Diana. She is not very pretty but her open-mindedness and outgoing nature impress men. She made her first public appearance at a cocktail party in 1960s. Both before and after her divorce with husband Andrew Parker-Bowles, she has been quite intimate with Charles.
Diana was a young and beautiful princess who believed that the fairytale marriages do come true. Having come from a broken family - her parents had separated - Diana desired to make her own marriage a success. But it was in vain. At the honeymoon, Lady Diana discovered the affair between her husband and Camilla Parker-Bowels, a socialite who was 13 years older to her.
It was shocking to the newly wed Diana to realize that her dream of a happy married life had been shattered by the Charles-Camilla escapades. As she could not found happiness in her childhood, Di tried to seek a perfect marital bliss but in vain.
With untold riches at her fingertips and an adoring nation virtually behind her, the glamorous princess frequently impressed the masses in a manner and on a scale that the royal family had not done before. Lady Diana's affable personality enchanted almost everybody. The most striking feature of the beautiful princess was her height - almost six feet. Her blonde hair and crystal blue eyes, an endearing smile and a sharp sense of humor impressed many. But there were others who found Diana as extremely stubborn and unreasonably demanding at times.
Strict Royal Code
When Diana was married, she was a coy and pretty girl just out of her teens. She was, by nature, a free bird. But after marriage, Lady Diana was under constant pressure. She had to observe the protocol and strict traditions of the royal family. But following the strict code was, perhaps, too difficult for the new princess.
Lady Diana's popularity grew more over a period of time. At first, Prince Charles was pleased with the press glare being focused on his new and more glamorous life. But this glee soon turned into disappointment when he found that his carefully prepared speeches were relegated to the back pages by the print media while her latest outfit made it to the first page.
Suicide Attempts
When Lady Diana was expecting her first child in 1982, she again overheard a conversation between her husband and Camilla on the phone. In this, the prince openly professed his love to Camilla. The princess was highly upset, so much so that she attempted suicide (and killing the baby in the womb) by throwing herself down the stairs. But fortunately both Diana and her child emerged safe. This was the first of several attempts she made in ending her distraught life.
The royal marriage that was launched with great fanfare 11 months back was on the rocks by the time the couple's first child was born. The first son of Prince Charles and Lady Diana was born on June 21, 1982 just 10 days before her 21st birthday. Having been deprived of her mother's love at a very tender age, Lady Diana managed to nurture the infant William well but her relationship with Prince Charles took a further downturn.
Despite an outward life full of glamour and royal luxury, Lady Diana's real life was marked by despondency. In state of acute depression after realizing that her husband had been continuing his relationship with Camilla, Lady Diana made several attempts to kill herself after the birth of her first son. She tried to cut herself by piercing a penknife into the chest, wrist and thighs and also by throwing herself on to a glass cabinet.
Lady Diana then had to undergo a psychiatric treatment for a few months. But the battle-lines inside the palace between the royal couple had been clearly drawn : the prince's amorous escapades and a volatile temper against his wife's faithfulness and iron will.
Rift To The Fore
A typical example of the royal rift was visible in November 1982 when both Prince Charles and Lady Diana were expected to attend the Annual Festival of Remembrance in honor of Britain's dead soldiers at the Royal Hall in London. On this particular day, Lady Diana announced that she had spent several sleepless nights looking after her infant son and was too exhausted to attend the function. But Prince Charles insisted that she change her mind keeping in view the significance. The princess was, however, was unrelenting. An irate prince later stormed into the function alone and told other members of the party that his wife was not well and her seat be forthwith removed from the royal box.
In a strange manner, Lady Diana then decided to attend the same function, perhaps, feeling that her absence would mean disrespect to objective of the gathering. She arrived for the function 15 minutes late and this further infuriated Prince Charles. He lost his temper because it was against the tradition of the royal family to come late in such a manner. He believed that his wife had shown lack of awareness and duty for an important event. This incident was one of the many which added fuel to the fire in their souring relationship.
It has also been known that soon after the royal wedding, some people were whispering about the mismatch. The prince was 12 years older than his wife, university educated, quite intelligent and interested in classical music, arts, architecture, environment and medicine. On the other hand, Lady Diana was moody, loved solitude and was interested in charity work. Lady Diana was a person driven by her heart. She was madly in love with her husband but refused to accept his continuing affair with Camilla, whom she called 'The Rottweiler'. She also liked shopping. In fact, she spent over $4,000 a week on clothes and accessories, according to an unauthorized biographer Andrew Morton. She accumulated numerous outfits, evening gowns and many pairs of shoes. She had two full-time dressers. Lady Diana's hair-stylist who visited Kensington Palace every morning, was told not to make use of any hair spray because the prince had banned all products with chloro-flouro-carbons in the royal precincts.
Lady Diana is said to have brought glamour, excitement and even sex appeal to the staid royalty. She was not a born princess but made one.
Second Pregnancy
On the Valentine's Day in 1984 came the official announcement that the Princess Diana was pregnant again. The second pregnancy was an emotionally trying time for the young and delicate princess.
The second son of the royal couple was born on September 15, 1984. He was named Harry Charles Albert David. Lady Diana felt then that it was not appropriate to delegate the responsibility of her children to a nanny and that the two kids deserved her personal attention. The Queen consented to this more so because she thought it could improve the souring relations between Prince Charles and his wife.
Sons' Education
After Harry's birth, it had become increasingly clear to his mother that the marriage with Prince Charles would not last long. The views of Lady Diana on parenthood and education contradicted with those of her husband. Prince Charles' perception of his two sons was that since they belonged to the royal family they had to be brought up as per the palace traditions. He wanted his children to be educated for a couple of years in the palace with privacy. But the princess wanted them to be trained in as normal a way as possible.
Initially, both William and Harry were sent to Mrs Mynor's nursery school in central London and then to the nearby Wetherby School in Notting Hill. Lady Diana did not want her sons to go to a boarding school but Prince Charles, who though having had bitter experiences at the boarding, insisted that the duo be sent to a hostel as per the royal norms. Consequently, though Lady Diana was not happy with the decision, the two boys were sent to Ludgrove School in Berkshire at a tender age.
Lady Diana was a very loving mother. She loved her children more than anything else. She played a very vital role in the lives of both William and Harry. Earlier, she personally took them to the school, played with them and provided comfort when they were gloomy. But above all, she gave them pure and extensive love. Being a part of the royal family, it was against the tradition to show such personal affection with one's children. Even Charles was very much attached to his mother in his childhood but was kept at a distance as part of the royal code. Can one forget the picture of the Queen returning to England after a six-month-long tour and meeting her lovable son by just a formal handshake ?
Succor To The Needy
As a child, Di faced many emotional problems, As she grew up, she became a compassionate lady especially attached to children. She was activity involved in helping the poor, needy and the afflicted.
One of the first organizations with which Lady Diana took active interest was Malcolm Sergeant Cancer Fund for Children. She was a patron of the organization from February 1982 and regularly attended concerts and other functions focussing on some cause. She also agreed to be the patron of the Preschool Play Group Association.
In 1984, Lady Diana was made president of Dr Barnardo's, Britain's largest childcare charity. She then became the royal president of Dr Barnardo's, Australia chapter and the international president of Dr Barnardo's, New Zealand. She also became patron of the Institute for the Study of Drug Dependence, The Fresh Field Service in drug counseling. She involved herself actively in Turning Point, an organization that provides residential, daycare and on-the-spot counseling for those suffering from mental health, alcohol or drug-related problems. In 1987, she amazed the world when she opened the AIDS unit at London's Middlesex Hospital.
"Nothing gives me more pleasure now than being able to love and help those in our society who are vulnerable," she remarked.
Visit to India
In June 1997, Diana was on a visit to India. In Kolkata, she met Mother Teresa whom she admired greatly and supported her humanitarian efforts. Diana also sent money when Mother Teresa needed it the most for her charity organization.
Rift Widens
Prince Charles and Lady Diana were already having teething troubles in their married life. Rumors spread far and wide as the rift between them kept on widening. By 1986, both started making separate appearances and had separate vacations and beds, according to a former security guard at High Grove. The press began to speculate on when the royal duo will part ways.
Lady Diana started going to social and political functions and visiting charity organizations alone. Prince Charles and the royal family became increasingly aware of the princess getting extensive attention and publicity worldwide than other members. This also annoyed Prince Charles and the royal family.
Diana's Affairs
Even as Lady Diana's relationship with her husband had been taking a downswing, her circle of confidants and companions grew. The list included King Juan Charles of Spain, Sergeant Barry Mannakee and Princess Alexandra's godson, Philip Dunne. The long-distance friendship with King Juan Carlos stretched for a long time but with Mannakee it was for a short period.
Philip Dunne was a well-to-do merchant-banker. Lady Diana started accompanying her husband and Dunne on the ski slopes at Klosters. Dunne once invited her to stay at his family home at Gatley Park in Herefordshire when his parents were away. She accepted the invitation and it became a spicy ingredient for the gossip columnists. Dunne was also seen enjoying himself at a wedding party for the Marquis of Worcester. Here, Lady Diana was seen running her fingertips through his hair and kissing him on the cheek before dancing at night together.
Directive to Dunne
The Queen was seriously concerned about his eldest son's marriage going haywire. Philip Dunne was contacted by the Palace authorities and told not meet the Princess of Wales.
Lady Diana's next confidante was Captain James. He was a member of the Life Guards and met the princess while giving horse-riding lessons at Combermere barracks near Windsor to William, Harry and their mother. Lady Diana liked his humorous nature and dignified manners. In a way, it helped her to fight depression.
The boys also liked the attention they got from Captain James as they could not see their father frequently. The four of them had a nice time but the royal family resented this development.
On another occasion, while Prince Charles and his wife were attending a banquet at Lisbon's Ajuda Palace, Lady Diana is said to have flirted with a top leader. One often wondered why she resorted to such an unbefitting behavior. She clearly knew that she was overstepping the mark set for her but she probably did it to make the Prince jealous and revive his attention. But the prince was too involved with Camilla and took no serious notice of this flirting.
The Queen, however, could not be a silent spectator. When the rift took alarming proportions, the Queen summoned both privately and ordered them to put on a happy face in the public. She is said to have told them that they should be seen together even if they are not favorable to each other. While trying to follow the Queen's orders, Prince Charles tried to plant a kiss on his wife's cheek at the end of a polo match and ended up looking at the back of her neck. This was an innocuous incident but the photographers capitalized on it.
The Final Blow
Once a party was thrown in 1988 to celebrate the fortieth birthday of Annabel Elliot, Camilla's sister. Lady Diana had no intention of attending it but she changed her mind. There she met Camilla and threatened her angrily against pursing any relationship with Prince Charles. On way back, Lady Diana and the prince had heated exchanges. After this incident, both Lady Diana and Prince Charles realized that it was a loveless marriage.
The distraught life of Prince Charles and Lady Diana received a bigger jolt in 1991 when the former publicly scolded and embarrassed the princess in front of the media. The trouble became more intense with every passing day. On December 9, 1992, British Prime Minister John Major ended the speculation, rumors and reports about the royal disharmony by announcing the separation of Charles and Diana. But Di's father vainly asked her to save the marriage. And in 1993, the print media published the romantic tapes of Charles and Camilla as also Diana and James Hewitt.
In the following year, Prince Charles was so fed up his wife getting media attention that he shocked the world by confessing his affair with Camilla and also admitting that he never loved Diana. This infuriated Lady Diana but she wept after seeing placards from people proclaiming 'We love you, Diana'.
Diana now realized that she should dedicate all her life to the wellbeing and interests of her children. She did everything to make their childhood happy. On one occasion, she made the necessary arrangements so that Prince William could meet the famous supermodel Cindy Crawford whom he admired.
She was annoyed with the pressures imposed on her by the royal family. Now she wanted to lead a normal life with her children. The three went to theme parks, etc. and had great fun.
In 1995, Diana finally broke her silence in public. On a television interview watched by several million people, she spoke of her failed marriage, depression and the adultery committed by her and the prince. Immediately after the interview, the Queen asked her son to divorce Diana.
Divorce, At Last
The fairytale marriage came to a tragic end - the prince and his wife were to separate legally for ever. In July 1996, both announced that they were getting divorced. But Diana was apprehensive about losing her children's custody. The divorce was finalized on August 28, 1996 and Diana received $26 million, remained a member of the royal family, got equal rights over her children with Charles and was allowed to keep her jewelry. She was also allowed to retain her title of Princess of Wales.
On the other hand, she lost the title of 'Your Royal Highness', all her military honors and significantly an opportunity to become the queen of England.
The masses were infuriated because they thought Diana deserved to retain her title. They said even if Diana remarries, they would equally love her. On the other, Charles' condition was different. The people wanted him to renounce his throne and pass it on to his son.
Post-divorce Scenario
After the divorce, Diana started leading an active life. She participated in charitable work, crusaded against AIDS and looked after the needy and underprivileged children. The Princess of Wales then became the 'Princess of People'.
In November 1996, Diana is said to have developed interest in a 39-year-old Pakistani surgeon, Dr Hasnat Khan. They spent some time at the Royal Brompton Hospital. She is also known to have added Pakistani silk dresses to her wardrobe.
Meeting Dodi Al-Fayed
Diana's quest for love was unending. She was looking for someone with whom she can be extremely frank and on whose shoulder she could lean. In 1986, Diana first met Dodi Al-Fayed at a polo match. Charles was in the rival team.
Dodi Al-Fayed was born in Alexandria, Egypt as Imad Mohammed Fayed in 1955. He was the eldest son of a billionaire. Dodi had graduated from the British Army's elite Sandhurst Military Academy and, for some time, served as a junior officer in London for the United Arab Emirates. In 1979, he worked as an assistant producer for Chariots of Fire, which became an Oscar-winning movie. He married American model Suzanne Gregard in 1987 but they divorced in just eight months.
Dodi and Diana had known each other for over 10 years. He had remained single for a long time till Diana entered his life. Dodi and Diana met through his father, Mohammed Al-Fayed who was close to the Spencer family.
After their introductory meeting in 1986, Di and Dodi met at various parties and slowly their relationship blossomed. Dodi was then 41. He was very rich and owned the Ritz Hotel in Paris. He also financed films while working as a real estate magnate. His likes included fast moving cars and beautiful women.
During their 10-year friendship, Dodi and Diana were never linked romantically. But after Di's divorce, she got more involved with Dodi.
In July 1997, Mohammed, father of Dodi, invited Diana and her children to the Mediterranean. She spent some happy days there - enjoying the peaceful environment and more importantly getting affection. Dodi also took good care of Diana's children.
Icon of Fashion
In the beginning, Diana led a simple life with Prince Charles. But gradually she changed. She began to wear revealing clothes that showed her sexy side. Di started wearing dresses made by famous fashion designers. Earlier she was criticized for her modesty but later Diana became icon of world fashion. She was, at one time, considered the world's most fashionable lady. In June 1997, she auctioned over 80 dresses in New York. All the money collected from it went for AIDS and cancer patients. She confessed that by getting rid of her dresses, she had symbolically left her past. Though Diana was one of the wealthiest women in England with a fortune of over $65 million, she was very choosy about spending her money.
A famous magazine People is said to have featured her on the cover 51 times. Some of the best-selling covers those of wedding preparations and before the birth of Prince William.
Accident in Paris
Finally, Diana and Dodi had realized that both had reciprocal love. The duo left for Paris in August 1997. Diana was, perhaps, spending the happiest days after her divorce with the prince. But no one knew that this happiness was again not to last longer.
On the afternoon of August 30, 1997, Di and Dodi went for shopping after the latter gave her a ring worth $206,000 early in the day. In the evening, Diana had a talk on phone with Richard Kay of the Daily Mail. She told Kay that she was planning to wind up her charity work and devote more time to personal affairs.
Around 10:30 that night, Dodi and Di dined at Ritz L'Espadon restaurant. While taking dinner, Dodi was informed that about 30 photographers had lined up outside the hotel. Both then went to their suite and planned a getaway. They decided to go to Dodi's nearly apartment. At about 11:45 p.m., Dodi's chauffeur got into the Range Rover and sped away in order to serve as a decoy to photographers. But this ploy didn't work.
At 12:20 a.m., tired after a long wait, the duo got into the hotel's armor-plated Mercedes 5280. The photographers immediately clicked a few shots. Ritz's assistant director of security and a former French Air Force commando, Henri Paul, drove the car. At 7:30 same evening, Henri had gone out but returned at 10:10 p.m. as a substitute for Dodi's regular chauffeur. Little did Dodi know that in the intervening hours, Henri had consumed too much alcohol. The test reports later showed that his blood alcohol level was between three and four times higher than the French legal limit or it was roughly equivalent to about 10 glasses of wine.
Tragic End
Sitting next to the driver was Dodi's Welsh bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones. Di and Dodi were on the rear seat. The car sped away towards an expressway running alongside the River Seine with the bike-riding photographers in close pursuit.
After stopping at a red signal, the car again accelerated at a high speed and hurled into a narrow tunnel not far from the Eiffel Tower. The speed was, as per the records, 120 miles per hour.
It was 12:35 a.m. The motorbikes were a few hundred yards behind. The Mercedes driver lost control at a slight curve on the road hitting the tunnel's 13th concrete support column. The vehicle dangerously spun around and slammed the facing wall. The front of the car was mangled. The famed Mercedes radiator grille was pushed virtually into the front seat, the roof totally collapsed and the windshield flew in every direction. Henri slumped stonily into his seat and the horn kept on blaring inside the tunnel after the road mishap. The driver was dead. And so was Dodi.
The paparazzi arrived on the scene within seconds. One of the photographers immediately tried to call an ambulance from his cellular phone. But it took about 15 minutes for the ambulance to arrive in the French tunnel. Till then, the photographers could only click a bleeding, moaning, semi-unconscious Diana, who they said, was hard to recognize. Nobody tried to help her come out of the mangled Mercedes. The photographers were busy snapping the last few priceless pictures of the beautiful blonde. Diana and Trevor Ress-Jones were rushed to one of Paris' best hospitals, La Pitie Salpetriere. Rees-Jones, the only one of the four passengers to have worn the seat belt, was seriously injured.
Futile Efforts
Diana had sustained major head injuries and a severe blow in her left lung. On arrival at the hospital, Diana suffered a cardiac arrest due to profuse bleeding from the chest cavity. Thoracotomy (opening the chest) was performed and a serious wound in the left pulmonary vein that carried blood from the heart was found. The wound was soon sealed and efforts made to restart Diana's blood and respiratory systems by repeatedly massaging her heart, both internally and externally. But it was in vain.
At 4 a.m. local time on Sunday, August 31, 1997, Diana was pronounced dead. The French Interior Minister, Mr Jean-Pierre Chevenement, made the shocking announcement.
The next morning, most people in Britain, nay, the entire world were in a melancholic mood; they were listening to the Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, giving details of Diana's demise. The entire nation plunged into gloom and shock.
Prince Charles and his sons were on a vacation in Balmoral. Though he informed about the tragic event, the most difficult task for Charles then was breaking the news of Diana's death to her sons. William and Harry learnt about the tragedy even as Charles planned to flying to Paris with Diana's two sisters. After the necessary formalities, he brought back Diana's body to UK.
The masses could not bear the loss of their lovable 'queen'. Sorrow engulfed the Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace, the Althorp Mansion, British embassies, everywhere…
The Queen proposed a private funeral for Diana to which the masses opposed. They wanted to bid a befitting farewell to their beloved 'Queen of Hearts'.
Last Journey
Diana's last journey through London was unique. There was a mixture of somber and melancholic mood of the multitude. The Prime Minister was among the main mourners. It was not a state funeral but the Union Jack flew at half-mast over Buckingham Palace.
On September 6, 1997, the day of the funeral, people filled the streets of Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace and the Althorp Mansion with tons of flowers. Diana's dead body was dressed in a black dress designed by her favorite Catherine Walker. In her hand was a rosary given to her by Mother Teresa of Kolkata. Her casket was taken to Westminster Abbey through the streets of London.
Before reaching the Abbey, the body passed through Buckingham Palace, where the Queen and the royal family paid the last respects. For the first time in royal history, the Queen bowed to a person who had left the main palace in a not-so-happy manner.
Outside St. James Cathedral, the Princes of England, Philip, Charles, William and Harry joined the cortege. Diana was buried in the Althorp Residence in the middle of a lake. The people named the lake 'The Princess Lake'. The funeral was telecast on television as a worldwide event. Earlier, the sound of 'We love you, Diana' rent the air.
"Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them," these Shakespearean phrases probably portray well the character of Diana. Popularly known as Di, she grew up from a shy and pretty little girl to a gorgeous-looking young lady who charmed the hearts of many not only by her looks but also the style. She achieved eminence particularly due to her philanthropic work.
Diana could not live long to be the Queen of England but she endeared many people in the world. She was the uncrowned beauty queen.
The leitmotif of Diana's life was love. She loved almost all whom she met and expected reciprocation. Two personalities played a key role in her life - Prince Charles and Dodi Al-Fayed.
Diana loved, married and finally divorced Prince Charles. The other person who came into her life at a later stage was Dodi Al-Fayed, a multimillionaire from Egypt. She met an accidental death while traveling with Dodi in France. But Diana, after her distraught life with Prince Charles and the tragic death with Dodi, has become a legend now.
She is also known for charitable work. Her contribution in fighting the AIDS menace and the anti-mine campaign is noteworthy. Diana's name is now synonymous with one who cared for almost all and looked after the poor and the afflicted.
July 1, 1961
Birth of Diana.
1965
Education begins
April 1969
Parents' divorce
1972
Admitted to West Health School
July 14, 1976
Father's remarriage
1977
Leaves West Health
November 1977
First meeting with Prince Charles
January 1978
Enrolls at Alpin Videmanette Institute
September 1978
Joins Elizabeth Russell's cooking classes
July 1, 1979
Inherits property from great grandmother.
1980
Dating with Prince Charles
February 6, 1981
Accepts proposal for marriage from Prince Charles
February 24, 1981
Engagement with Prince Charles
July 29, 1981
Marriage with Prince Charles
June 21, 1982
Birth of first son William
September 15, 1984
Birth of second son Harry
December 22, 1985
Diana dances at a party for 'Up Town Girl'
1988
Diana confronts Camilla openly
1991
Prince Charles humiliates Diana publicly
March 29, 1992
Death of father Johnnie
December 9, 1992
Prime Minister officially announces separation of Diana and Charles
December 3, 1993
Announces retirement from public life
1995
Diana breaks silence in public about problems in personal life.
February 28, 1996
Diana agrees to divorce Prince Charles
August 28, 1996
Divorce of Diana and Charles
August 1997
Trip to the Mediterranean with Dodi Al-Fayed
August 31, 1997
Death in road mishap in France
September 6, 1997
Funeral in UK
• Being a princess isn't all it's cracked up to be.
• I understand people's suffering, people's pain, more than you will ever know yourself.
• I wear my heart on my sleeve.
• I don't even know how to use a parking meter, let alone a phone box.
• There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.
• HIV does not make people dangerous to know. So you can shake their hands and give them a hug: Heaven knows they need it.
• I'm as thick as a plank.
• I think the biggest disease the world suffers from in this day and age is the disease of people feeling unloved. I know that I can give love for a minute, for half an hour, for a day, for a month, but I can give. I am very happy to do that, I want to do that.
Affection: "Yes, I do touch. I believe that everyone needs that."
Aid and Assistance: "I've always thought that people need to feel good about themselves and I see my role as offering support to them, to provide some light along the way."
Communication: "It's vital the monarchy keeps in touch with the people. It's what I try and do."
Destiny: "I knew what my job was; it was to go out and meet the people and love them."
Fights and Fighting: "I will fight for my children on any level so they can reach their potential as human beings in their public duties."
Heart: "I wear my heart on my sleeve."
Kindness: "The kindness and affection from the public have carried me through some of the most difficult periods, and always your love and affection have eased the journey."
Love: "I adore him… I have never been so happy. I have real love."
Marriage: "I think like any marriage, especially when you've had divorced parents like myself, you'd want to try even harder to make it work."
Parents and Parenting: "I wish all the mothers, fathers and children out there realize how much I need them and how much I value their support."
Reputation: "I'd like people to think of me as someone who cares about them."
Rules: "I don't go by the rulebook. I lead from the heart, not the head."
Service: "Everyone needs to be valued. Everyone has the potential to give something back."
Spirit and Spirituality: "I'm aware that people I have loved and have died and are in the spiritual world looking after me."
Understanding: "I understand people's suffering, people's pain, more than you will every know yourself."
"I haven't felt well since day one. I don't think I'm made for the production line."
--1984, when pregnant with Prince Harry.
"I hope you can find it in your hearts to understand and give me the time and space that has been lacking in recent years."
--December 3, 1993 announcing her withdrawal from most of the public duties.
"There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded."
--BBC TV interview, November 1995 referring to Camilla.
"Yes, I adored him. Yes, I was in love with him."
--BBC TV interview referring to affair with Capt. James Hewitt.
"I'd like to be a queen in people's hearts but I don't see myself being queen of this country."
--BBC TV interview.
"Any sane person would have left long ago. But I cannot. I have my sons."
--Interview in Le Monde published on August 25, 1997.
