DianaPRINCESS OF WALESDiana, Princess of Wales died on 31 August, 1997.
Even before her tragic death, aged 36, her beauty, royal status and charity work combined to make her one of the most iconic figures of the 20th century.
Marrying into the Royal family at the age of 19, she became by far the most popular member among the Windsor household and her death created an outpouring of public grief never before seen in Britain.
Diana Frances Spencer was born on 1 July 1961, the youngest daughter of Edward John Spencer, Viscount Althorp, and his first wife, Frances. Her childhood was marked by a key event of her parents’ acrimonious divorce.
The Spencers had been close to the British Royal Family for centuries. Lady Diana's maternal grandmother Ruth, Lady Fermoy, was a long-time friend and a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother .
Her sister, Sarah, had been a girlfriend of Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana was drawn naturally into his social circle.
She was seen as the perfect bride for the Prince and they were married at St Paul's Cathedral to great public acclaim in 1981.
But the marriage was difficult from the start and, despite the birth of two sons, William and Harry, would end in 1993 in bitterness.
Despite all her personal difficulties, the Princess worked tirelessly over the years for charities and good causes.
Many people have touching stories to tell about how the Princess took time to talk to them, write letters to them, befriend them and support them in their struggles. Her caring and compassion shone through in so many of her public duties.
After her divorce,the Princessbecame more involved inwhat could be seen as“political” issuessuch as her passionate campaigningfor a ban on landmines.
In her last days, she appeared to have found happiness in her personal life with Dodi Al Fayed, son of the Harrods proprietor Mohammed Al Fayed.
The Princessand Dodi, together with their driver Henri Paul, were killed when their car crashed in a Paris underpass in the early hours of 31 August, 1997 while trying to evade photographers.
Princes William and Harry held a concert in memory of their beloved mother on 1 July 2007, which would have been her 46th birthday.
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