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Browse Search Dictionary Quizzes One Good Fact Subscribe Login Diana, princess of Wales Table of Contents Diana, princess of Wales * Introduction & Top Questions * Early life and education * Marriage and divorce * “The People’s Princess” and charity work * Death and funeral Fast Facts * 2-Min Summary * Facts & Related Content * Quizzes Media * Videos * Images More * More Articles On This Topic * Contributors * Article History Related Biographies * Camilla, duchess of Cornwall British duchess * See All Home World History Historic Nobility DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES British princess Actions Cite Share Give Feedback External Websites Print Cite Share Feedback External Websites Alternate titles: Lady Diana Frances Spencer By The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica • Last Updated: Aug 12, 2022 • Edit History -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents Diana, princess of Wales See all media Born: July 1, 1961 Sandringham England ...(Show more) Died: August 31, 1997 (aged 36) Paris France ...(Show more) Notable Family Members: spouse Charles, prince of Wales son Prince William, Duke of Cambridge son Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex ...(Show more) See all related content → Top Questions WHERE WAS DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES, BORN AND RAISED? Diana was born at Park House, the home that her parents rented on Queen Elizabeth II’s estate at Sandringham and where Diana’s childhood playmates were the queen’s younger sons, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. Diana was the third child and youngest daughter of parents who belonged to the British nobility. WHO WAS DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES? Diana, princess of Wales, was the former consort (1981–96) of Charles, prince of Wales; the mother of the heir second in line to the British throne, Prince William, duke of Cambridge (born 1982); and one of the foremost celebrities of her day. WHAT WAS DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES, KNOWN FOR? Diana, princess of Wales, was known for her natural charm and charisma and for using her celebrity status to aid charitable causes. Diana’s unprecedented popularity both in Britain and abroad continued after her divorce from Charles, prince of Wales. Her death, in a car accident in 1997, was followed by unprecedented expressions of public mourning. Summary READ A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THIS TOPIC Diana, princess of Wales, original name Diana Frances Spencer, (born July 1, 1961, Sandringham, Norfolk, England—died August 31, 1997, Paris, France), former consort (1981–96) of Charles, prince of Wales; mother of the heir second in line to the British throne, Prince William, duke of Cambridge (born 1982); and one of the foremost celebrities of her day. EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION Diana was born at Park House, the home that her parents rented on Queen Elizabeth II’s estate at Sandringham and where Diana’s childhood playmates were the queen’s younger sons, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. She was the third child and youngest daughter of Edward John Spencer, Viscount Althorp, heir to the 7th Earl Spencer, and his first wife, Frances Ruth Burke Roche (daughter of the 4th Baron Fermoy). Her parents’ troubled marriage ended in divorce when Diana was a child, and she, along with her brother and two sisters, remained with her father. She became Lady Diana Spencer when her father succeeded to the earldom in 1975. Riddlesworth Hall (near Thetford, Norfolk) and West Heath School (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. Britannica Quiz Princess Diana She was often in the public eye, but how much do you know about the life of this beloved royal? Test your knowledge with this quiz. MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE Charles, prince of Wales, and Diana, princess of WalesPress Association/AP Images Charles, prince of Wales, and Diana, princess of Wales© Shutterstock.com She renewed her contacts with the royal family, and her friendship with Charles grew in 1980. On February 24, 1981, their engagement was announced, and her beauty and shy demeanour—which earned her the nickname “Shy Di”—made her an instant sensation with the media and the public. The couple married in St. Paul’s Cathedral on July 29, 1981, in a globally televised ceremony watched by an audience numbering in the hundreds of millions. Their first child, Prince William Arthur Philip Louis of Wales, was born on June 21, 1982, and their second, Prince Henry (“Harry”) Charles Albert David, on September 15, 1984. John Travolta and Princess DianaCourtesy Ronald Reagan Library “Princess Di” rapidly evolved into an icon of grace, elegance, and glamour. Exuding natural charm and charisma, she used her celebrity status to aid numerous charitable causes, and her changing hairstyles and wardrobe made her a fashion trendsetter. Behind the scenes, however, marital difficulties between the princess and prince were growing. Diana struggled with severe postnatal depression, low self-esteem, eating disorders, and the mounting strain of being constantly pursued by both the official media royal-watchers and the tabloid press, particularly the paparazzi. The marital breakdown became increasingly apparent amid mutual recriminations, tell-all biographies, and admissions of infidelity on both sides, and the couple formally separated in 1992. Diana presented her side in Andrew Morton’s controversial book Diana: Her True Story (1992) and in an unusually candid television interview in 1995. After prolonged negotiations that left Diana with a substantial financial settlement but without the title Her Royal Highness, the couple’s divorce became final on August 28, 1996. “THE PEOPLE’S PRINCESS” AND CHARITY WORK Diana, princess of Wales: land-mine victimsJoao Silva/AP Images Witness the efforts for an international campaign to ban landmines and the signing of the Ottawa Treaty ICBLSee all videos for this article 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, and AIDS patients. She also was involved in efforts to ban land mines. 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 privilege, 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 AND FUNERAL Diana, princess of Wales: car crashJerome Delay/AP Images Long one of the most-photographed women in the world, Diana’s unprecedented popularity both in Britain and abroad continued after her divorce. Although she used that celebrity to great effect in promoting her charitable work, the media (in particular the paparazzi) were often intrusive. It was while attempting to evade pursuing journalists that Diana was killed, along with her companion, Dodi Fayed, and their driver, Henri Paul, in an automobile accident in a tunnel under the streets of Paris in 1997. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now Though the photographers were initially blamed for causing the accident, a French judge in 1999 cleared them of any wrongdoing, instead faulting Paul, who was found to have had a blood alcohol level over the legal limit at the time of the crash and to have taken prescription drugs incompatible with alcohol. In 2006 a Scotland Yard inquiry into the incident also concluded that the driver was at fault. In April 2008, however, a British inquest jury ruled both the driver and the paparazzi guilty of unlawful killing through grossly negligent driving, though it found no evidence of a conspiracy to kill Diana or Fayed, an accusation long made by Fayed’s father. Elton John performing at the funeral of Diana, princess of WalesRota/Camerapress/Retna Ltd. Her death produced unprecedented expressions of public mourning, testifying to her enormous hold on the British national psyche. The royal family, apparently caught off guard by the extraordinary outpouring of grief and by criticism of their emotional reticence, broke with tradition in arranging the internationally televised royal funeral. The image of Prince William, then age 15, and Prince Harry, then age 12, walking solemnly with their father behind Diana’s casket in her funeral cortege became iconic. At Diana’s funeral Sir Elton John performed a version of his classic song “Candle in the Wind” (originally written about actress Marilyn Monroe) with lyrics that had been revised by his songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin, to reflect on the life and death of Diana, including > Goodbye England’s rose; > May you ever grow in our hearts. > You were the grace that placed yourself > Where lives were torn apart. The recording of that version of the song became the most successful pop single in history to date, selling more than 30 million copies. New from Britannica During World War II, sales of sliced bread were banned to conserve steel used in industrial slicing machines. The ban proved so unpopular that it was lifted after two months. See All Good Facts Diana’s life, and her death, polarized national feeling about the existing system of monarchy (and, in a sense, about British identity), which appeared antiquated and unfeeling in a populist age of media celebrity in which Diana herself was a central figure. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn. Prince William, duke of Cambridge Table of Contents Prince William, duke of Cambridge * Introduction Fast Facts * Facts & Related Content * Quizzes Media * Videos * Images * Interactives More * More Articles On This Topic * Contributors * Article History Related Biographies * Catherine, duchess of Cambridge consort of Prince William * See All Home World History Historic Nobility PRINCE WILLIAM, DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE British prince Actions Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Prince-William-duke-of-Cambridge Give Feedback External Websites Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Join Britannica's Publishing Partner Program and our community of experts to gain a global audience for your work! External Websites * The Home of the Royal Family - Biography of Duke of Cambridge * English Monarchs - Prince William, Duke of Cambridge * The Canadian Encyclopedia - Biography of Prince William (HRH The Duke of Cambridge) Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. * Prince William - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11) * Prince William, duke of Cambridge - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) Print Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Prince-William-duke-of-Cambridge Feedback External Websites Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Join Britannica's Publishing Partner Program and our community of experts to gain a global audience for your work! External Websites * The Home of the Royal Family - Biography of Duke of Cambridge * English Monarchs - Prince William, Duke of Cambridge * The Canadian Encyclopedia - Biography of Prince William (HRH The Duke of Cambridge) Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. * Prince William - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11) * Prince William, duke of Cambridge - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) Alternate titles: Prince William of Wales, William Arthur Philip Louis, Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus By The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica • Last Updated: Aug 12, 2022 • Edit History -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents Prince William See all media Born: June 21, 1982 (age 40) London England ...(Show more) Notable Family Members: spouse Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge father Charles, prince of Wales mother Diana, princess of Wales brother Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex ...(Show more) Role In: British Royal Wedding of 2011 ...(Show more) See all related content → Prince William, duke of Cambridge, in full William Arthur Philip Louis, duke of Cambridge, earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus, formerly Prince William of Wales, (born June 21, 1982, Paddington, London, England), elder son of Charles, prince of Wales, and Diana, princess of Wales, and second in line (after Charles) to the British throne. Prince WilliamShutterstock.com William received his early education at Wetherby School in London and later attended Ludgrove School in Berkshire (1990–95) and Eton College in Windsor (1995–2000). Before enrolling at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where he studied art history and, later, geography, William spent a year traveling. Having been exposed to charitable activities early in his life by his mother, he volunteered in Chile. He also worked at a British dairy farm and visited Belize and countries in Africa. In 2005 William graduated from St. Andrews, and the following year he entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Despite his willingness to join British forces in Iraq, military officials suggested that neither William nor his younger brother, Harry, should serve, because they could become specific targets of attack, thereby putting their fellow soldiers at risk (Harry later served two tours of duty in Afghanistan). In 2008 William went on attachment to the Royal Air Force and then to the Royal Navy, so that he could gain experience in all three major branches of the armed services. In 2010 he completed his training as a helicopter pilot in the RAF Search and Rescue Force and began a tour of duty in Wales. He reportedly participated in more than 150 operations before ending his military service in September 2013. William later served as an air ambulance pilot from July 2015 to July 2017. Britannica Quiz William and Catherine Their lives make headlines all over the world--how much do you know about the Duke and the Duchess of Cambridge? Test your knowledge with this quiz. Prince Harry, Prince William, and Catherine, duchess of Cambridge© Mr Pics/Shutterstock.com Learn the origin of Prince William and Kate Middleton's love story Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.See all videos for this article William ranks among the most popular figures of the royal family. He was admired for his public poise and grace following his mother’s death in a car crash in Paris in 1997. Ten years later William and Harry organized a London memorial service to mark the anniversary of her death. Much like his father, William is also an avid sportsman and active in environmental issues. In 2020 he announced the creation of the Earthshot Prize, which was inspired by U.S. Pres. John F. Kennedy’s “Moonshot” initiative to send a man to the Moon. It was to be awarded in five categories over 10 years, and the goal was to “repair the planet.” New from Britannica During World War II, sales of sliced bread were banned to conserve steel used in industrial slicing machines. The ban proved so unpopular that it was lifted after two months. See All Good Facts Prince William and Catherine, duke and duchess of CambridgeTom Hevezi/AP Images Elizabeth II: Diamond JubileeOli Scarff/Getty Images Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge: christeningMichael Dunlea—Barcroft Media/Landov Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of CambridgeKirsty Wigglesworth/AP Images In November 2010 it was announced that William would marry his longtime girlfriend, Catherine (Kate) Middleton, whom he had met at St. Andrews. The royal wedding took place on April 29, 2011, at Westminster Abbey in London. The couple’s first son, Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge, was born on July 22, 2013, and their daughter, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge, was born on May 2, 2015. Catherine gave birth to a second son, Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge, on April 23, 2018. The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen. Load Next Page Ask us a question Feedback Corrections? 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Join Britannica's Publishing Partner Program and our community of experts to gain a global audience for your work! verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Diana, princess of Wales". Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Aug. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Diana-princess-of-Wales. Accessed 17 August 2022. 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