Diana, Princess of Wales (photo posted later in the article) - ex-wife Prince Charles and mother of the second in line to the British throne, Prince William. When she seemed to have found new love, died tragically along with her new friend.

Diana, Princess of Wales: biography

Diana Frances Spencer was born on 07/01/1961 at Park House, near Sandringham, Norfolk. She was the most youngest daughter Viscount and Viscountess Elthrop, the now late Earl Spencer and Mrs Shand-Kydd. She had two older sisters, Jane and Sarah, and a younger brother, Charles.

The reason for Diana's lack of self-confidence should be sought in her upbringing, despite her privileged position. The family lived at the Queen's estate at Sandringham, where the father rented Park House. He was the royal equerry to the king and the young Queen Elizabeth II.

The Queen was the chief guest at the wedding of Diana's parents in 1954. The ceremony that took place at Westminster Abbey became one of the social events of the year.

But Diana was only six when her parents divorced. She will always remember the sound of her mother's footsteps walking down the gravel road. The children became pawns in a bitter custody dispute.

Lady Diana was sent to boarding school, and eventually ended up at West Heath School. Here she excelled in sports (her height of 178 cm helped this), especially in swimming, but failed all her exams. However, she subsequently remembered her school days fondly and supported her school.

After completing her studies, she worked in London as a nanny, cook, and then as an assistant teacher in kindergarten Young England in Knightsbridge.

Her father moved to Althrop near Northampton and became the 8th Earl Spencer. Her parents divorced and a new Countess Spencer emerged, daughter of the writer Barbara Cartland. But Diana soon became a family celebrity.

Engagement

Rumors spread that her friendship with the Prince of Wales had developed into something more serious. The press and television besieged Diana at every turn. But her days at work were numbered. The palace tried in vain to cool the speculation. And on February 24, 1981, the engagement became official.

Wedding

The wedding took place at St Paul's Cathedral on a perfect July day. Millions of television viewers around the world were mesmerized by the event, and a further 600,000 people gathered along the route from Buckingham Palace to the cathedral. Diana became the first Englishwoman in the last 300 years to marry the heir to the throne.

She was only 20. Under the gaze of her mother, leaning on her father’s hand, Diana of Wales (photo posted in the article) prepared to take her wedding vows. The only time she showed nervousness was when she was trying to put her husband's many names in the correct order.

Welcomed the newcomer. It was a moment of special satisfaction for the Queen Mother, who herself came from a simple family and had also walked this path 60 years ago.

Popularity

After the wedding, Diana, Princess of Wales, immediately began to take an active part in the performance of official duties of the royal family. She soon began making visits to schools and hospitals.

The public noted her love for the people: she seemed to sincerely rejoice in her stay among ordinary people, although she herself was no longer like that.

Diana brought her own fresh style to the mix that was the House of Windsor. The idea of ​​royal visits was nothing new, but it added a spontaneity to it that captivated almost everyone.

On her first official trip to the United States, she provoked near-hysteria. There was something special about someone other than the American president becoming the center of attention, especially among Americans. Since her dazzling appearance during her first public appearance with her husband, Diana's wardrobe has become a constant focus of attention.

Charity

Princess Diana of Wales, whose rise to popularity owes much to her charity work, played an important role in raising awareness of the plight of people with AIDS. Her speeches on this issue were frank, and she put an end to many prejudices. Simple gestures, such as Diana of Wales shaking hands with an AIDS patient, proved to society that social contact with patients was safe.

Her patronage was not limited to boardrooms. Sometimes she went to tea at the charities she supported. Abroad, Diana, Princess of Wales, spoke about the plight of the disadvantaged and marginalized. During her visit to Indonesia in 1989, she publicly shook hands with lepers, dispelling widespread myths about the disease.

Family life

Diana always dreamed of big family. A year after her marriage, on June 21, 1982, she gave birth to a son, Prince William. In 1984, on September 15, he had a brother, Henry, although he was better known simply as Harry. Diana advocated raising her children as normally as royal circumstances could allow.

William became the first male heir to be raised in kindergarten. Private teachers did not teach their sons; the boys went to school with others. Their mother insisted that their education be as normal as possible, showering them with love and providing entertainment during the holidays.

But by the time Prince Harry was born, the marriage had become just a façade. In 1987, when Harry entered kindergarten, the couple's separation became public. It's a holiday for the press.

During an official visit to India in 1992, Diana sat alone at the Taj Mahal, the great monument to love. It was a graphic public announcement that, although the couple technically remained together, they had in fact broken up.

Revealing book

Four months later, the publication of the book “Diana: Her true story Andrew Morton is done with the fairy tale. The book, based on interviews with some of the princess's closest friends, and with her own tacit consent, confirmed that the relationship with her husband was cold and distant.

The author recounted the princess's half-hearted suicide attempts during the early years of her marriage, her struggle with bulimia, and her obsession with the belief that Charles continued to love the woman he had dated several years before her, Camilla Parker Bowles. The prince later confirmed that he and Camilla were indeed having an affair.

During a state visit to South Korea It was clear that Diana, Princess of Wales, and Charles were moving away from each other. Soon after, in December 1992, the divorce was officially announced.

Divorce

Diana continued her charitable activities even after the disagreement. She spoke about social issues, and sometimes, as in the case of bulimia, her donations were based on personal suffering.

Wherever she went, on public or private business, often with her children to whom she devoted herself, the media was present to document the event. It became something of a PR battle with her ex-husband. After her divorce, Diana, Princess of Wales, showed her skill in using the media to present herself in a favorable light.

She later spoke about what she thought the camp had done to her ex-husband to make her life more difficult.

On November 20, 1995, she gave an unprecedented and surprisingly open interview to the BBC. She told millions of television viewers about her post-natal depression, the breakdown of her marriage to Prince Charles, her tense relationship with the royal family in general and, most shockingly, she claimed that her husband did not want to be king.

She also predicted that she would never become a queen and that she would instead like to become a queen in people's hearts.

Diana, Princess of Wales and her lovers

The pressure is on her popular newspapers was unforgiving, and stories about male friends destroyed her image of an offended wife. One of these friends, army officer James Hewitt, became the source of a book about their relationship, to her horror.

Diana of Wales accepted the divorce only after insistence from the Queen. When things came to a head on August 28, 1996, she said it was the saddest day of her life.

Diana, now officially Princess of Wales, abandoned most of her charitable work and began to seek new area activities. She had a clear idea that the role of “queen of hearts” should remain hers, and she illustrated this with visits abroad. In June 1997, Diana visited who was in poor health.

In June, she auctioned off 79 dresses and ballgowns that appeared on magazine covers around the world. The auction raised £3.5 million for charity and also symbolized a break with the past.

Tragic death

In the summer of 1997, Diana of Wales was spotted with Dodi Fayed, the son of millionaire Mohammed Al-Fayed. Photos of the princess with Dodi on a yacht in the Mediterranean Sea appeared in all tabloids and magazines around the world.

The couple returned to Paris on Saturday August 30 after another holiday in Sardinia. After dinner at the Ritz that evening, they left in a limousine and were pursued by photographers on motorcycles who wanted to take more pictures of the couple in love. The chase led to tragedy in an underground tunnel.

Princess Diana of Wales was a breath of fresh air and brought glamor to the House of Windsor. But she became a sad figure for many when the truth about her failed marriage was revealed.

Critics accuse her of stripping the monarchy of the mysticism so important to its survival.

But by the strength of her character in difficult personal circumstances and the unflagging support she provided to the sick and disadvantaged, Diana of Wales earned respect for herself. She remained a figure of public admiration and love to the end.

Diana Frances Spencer, Her Highness Princess of Wales, was born on July 1, 1961 in Norfolk into an English aristocratic family. Her father John Spencer, holder of the title Viscount Elthorp, came from the ancient Spencer-Churchill family, bearers of royal blood descended from Charles the Second, famous as the “Merry King”. Karl had 14 recognized illegitimate sons who received the title, a large number of unrecognized children and not a single heir born in an official marriage. However, thanks to this king, the list of aristocratic families in England has significantly expanded.

The dynasty to which Princess Diana belonged can be proud of such eminent sons as Sir and the Duke of Marlborough. The ancestral home of the Spencer family is Spencer House, located in the Westminster quarter of central London. Diana's mother Frances Shand Kydd also comes from an aristocratic family. Diana's maternal grandmother was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.

The biography of the future princess was also beyond claims. Elementary education the future Princess Diana received it at Sandringham, where she spent her childhood. Lady Di's first teacher was Gertrude Allen, a governess who had previously taught the girl's mother. Diana received further education at private school Sealefield and later studied at Riddlesworth Hall. As a child, the character of the future princess was not difficult, but she was always quite stubborn.

According to the teachers’ recollections, the girl read and drew well, dedicating her drawings to her mother and father. Diana's parents divorced when she was 8 years old, which was a great shock for the child. As a result of the divorce proceedings, Diana remained with her father, and her mother went to Scotland, where she lived with her new husband.

The next place of study for the future Princess of Wales is the exclusive West Hill School for Girls in Kent. Here Diana did not prove herself to be a diligent student, but music and dancing became her hobbies, and, according to rumors, in her youth Lady Di was not good at exact sciences, and she even failed her exams several times.

In 1977, Diana and Prince Charles met in Althorp, but at that time the future spouses did not pay serious attention to each other. In the same year, Diana studied in Switzerland for a short time, but returned home due to severe homesickness. After completing her studies, Diana began working as a nanny and kindergarten teacher in the prestigious London area of ​​Knightsbridge.

Prince Charles and the wedding

In 1980, Diana again entered the social circle of Prince Charles. The single life of the heir to the throne at that time was a serious cause for concern for his parents. Queen Elizabeth was especially worried about her son’s relationship with a noble married lady, a relationship with whom the prince did not even try to hide. In the current situation, the candidacy of Diana Spencer for the role of the princess was happily approved royal family, Charles and, according to some rumors, even Camilla Parker Bowles.

The prince first invited Diana to the royal yacht, after which an invitation was received to Balmoral Castle to meet the royal family. Charles proposed at Windsor Castle, but the engagement was kept secret for some time. The official announcement took place on February 24, 1981. The symbol of this event was the famous ring of Princess Diana - a precious sapphire surrounded by fourteen diamonds.

Lady Di became the first Englishwoman in 300 years to marry the heir to the throne.

The wedding of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer became the most expensive wedding ceremony in British history. The celebration took place at St. Paul's Cathedral in London on July 29, 1981. The wedding ceremony was preceded by a ceremonial passage through the streets of London of carriages with members of the royal family, a march of Commonwealth regiments and the “Glass Carriage” in which Diana and her father arrived.

Prince Charles was dressed in the full uniform of a Commander of Her Majesty's Fleet. Diana wore a dress with an 8-meter train costing 9,000 pounds, designed by young English designers Elizabeth and David Emanuel. The design of the dress was kept in the strictest confidence from the public and the press, and the dress was delivered to the palace in a sealed envelope. The head of the future princess was decorated with a family heirloom - a tiara.

Diana and Charles's wedding has been called a "fairytale wedding" and "the wedding of the century." According to experts, the audience watching the broadcast of the celebrations in live on the world's main television channels, amounted to more than 750 million people. After a gala dinner at Buckingham Palace, the couple traveled by royal train to the Broadlands estate and then flew to Gibraltar, from where Charles and Princess Diana began their cruise Mediterranean Sea. At the end of the cruise, another reception was given in Scotland, where members of the press were given permission to photograph the newlyweds.

The wedding celebrations cost taxpayers almost three million pounds.

Divorce

The personal life of the crowned family was not so fabulous and soon attracted public attention with several scandals in which, according to the press, various lovers and mistresses constantly appeared. According to rumors, even at the time of Charles’ marriage proposal, Diana knew about his relationship with Camilla Parker-Bowles. Subsequently, it became increasingly difficult for the princess to contain her jealousy and protect the family’s reputation, since Prince Charles not only did not interrupt the extramarital affair, but also openly admitted it. The situation was complicated by the fact that in the person who took her son’s side in this conflict, Princess Diana received an influential opponent.

By 1990, the delicate situation could no longer be hidden and the situation became widely publicized. During this period, Princess Diana also admitted her relationship with riding coach James Hewitt.

In 1995, according to rumors, Diana met her true love. While visiting a friend in the hospital, the princess accidentally met cardiac surgeon Hasnat Khan. The feelings were mutual, but the constant attention of the public, from which the couple even fled to Khan’s homeland, Pakistan, and the active condemnation by Khan’s parents of both his role as the princess’s de facto lover and the freedom-loving views of the woman herself, did not allow the romance to develop and, perhaps, deprived a chance for happiness between two people truly in love.

At the insistence of Queen Elizabeth, Charles and Diana officially divorced in 1996, four years after the effective breakup of their family. Her marriage to Prince Charles produced two sons: Welsh and Welsh.

After the divorce, Diana, according to journalists, begins a relationship with film producer, the son of Egyptian billionaire Dodi al-Fayed. This connection was not officially confirmed by any of the princess's close friends, and in the book written by Diana's butler, the fact of their relationship is directly denied.

Death

On August 31, 1997, Princess Diana died in a car accident. During Diana's visit to Paris, a car, in which, in addition to the princess herself, there were Dodi al-Fayed, bodyguard Trevor Rhys Jones and driver Henri Paul, driving in the tunnel under the Alma bridge, collided with a concrete support. The driver and Dodi al-Fayed died instantly at the scene. Princess Diana died two hours later in the Salpêtrière hospital. The princess's bodyguard survived, but received severe head injuries, as a result of which he does not remember anything about the moment of the accident itself.

The death of Princess Diana was a shock not only for the people of Great Britain, but also for the whole world. In France, mourners turned a Parisian replica of the Statue of Liberty's torch into a spontaneous memorial to Diana. The princess's funeral took place on September 6. Lady Di's grave is on a secluded island on Althorp Manor (the Spencer family estate) in Northamptonshire.

Among the causes of the car accident, many factors are cited, starting with the version according to which the princess’s car tried to break away from the car with the paparazzi pursuing them, and ending with the version regarding. There are still many rumors and theories about the causes of the death of everyone's favorite princess.

A Scotland Yard report published ten years later confirmed the fact that the investigation found that the speed limit for driving on the section of road under the Alma Bridge was twice the speed limit, as well as the fact that the driver had alcohol in his blood that was three times the legal limit.

Memory

Princess Diana enjoyed sincere love residents of Great Britain, who affectionately called her Lady Di. The princess did a lot of charity work, donating significant funds to various foundations, was an activist in the movement that sought to ban anti-personnel mines, and provided people with material and moral assistance.

Sir dedicated the song “Candle in the Wind” to her memory, and the song “Privacy”, in which he not only expressed grief for the princess, but also talked about the burden constant attention and gossip, which may have been indirectly to blame for Lady Di's death.

10 years after her death, a film was made dedicated to the last hours of the princess’s life. The songs “Depeche mode” and “Aquarium” are dedicated to her. Issued in her honor stamps in many countries of the world.

According to a BBC poll, Princess Diana is one of the most popular people in British history, ahead of other English monarchs in this ranking.

Awards

• Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown
• Order of Virtue Special Class

Lady Diana. Princess of human hearts Benoit Sophia

Chapter 19. DIANA'S LOVERS, or AN ENGLISH LADY PREFERING MUSLIMS

Princess Diana had sisters, but she called her favorite “sister” a man - her butler Paul Burrell, whom she met in 1980, when she was first invited to the palace as the bride of Prince Charles. Then Diana Spencer looked very shy and frightened, and he - one of the personal servants of Queen Elizabeth II, who called him “Little Paul” - considered it his duty to reassure the young guest. As if adopting the ancient tradition of surrounding the women of the palace with eunuchs, the new generation of European monarchs surrounded themselves with half-men, gays, capable of being good advisers and secret girlfriends. Subsequently, the Princess of Wales trusted Burrell with her love secrets, and he fulfilled all her intimate requests. Details intimate life, known only to Paul Burrell, were discovered after Diana’s death, during various judicial investigations. Diana’s ex-butler even wrote the book “A Royal Duty,” opening many secret doors to the intimate life of his “ward” and the entire royal family.

Burrell became not only Diana's butler, but also a friend, assistant, adviser, keeper of secrets and secret spy. When she had doubts about her husband’s fidelity, he reported to her about the prince’s movements and meetings, about the gifts he made, and even about the personal letters he sent. It was thanks to him that the princess learned the subtlest, most intimate details about Charles’ affair with Camilla, who took her place after Diana’s death.

Diana with her butler Paul Burrell

When Charles and Diana began to live separately in 1993, Burrell became even closer to the princess. The butler knew almost everything about his mistress. He brought her lovers to Kensington Palace, hiding them in the trunk of his car so that the security would not see. He bought her dozens of pregnancy testers: Diana dreamed of getting pregnant, and at the same time she didn’t care from whom. At her insistence, the lovers did not use condoms. The same housekeeper of Diana, Wendy Berry, testified to her boundless love for children: “In the same good mood Diana stayed during a visit from her sister Jane with her children. The house was filled with noise and children's voices, and the princess, hugging several children at once, seemed happier than ever before. Diana seemed to forget about herself in the presence of her own and other people’s children, returning to the quiet life before her marriage, when she was a kindergarten teacher.”

The press actively started talking about Lady Di’s love affairs after the princess’s death. Journalists and biographers began counting all possible candidates for the role of lovers of the ex-wife of the heir to the British throne. Not long ago, a monograph was even published, the author of which scrupulously collected information about all the intimate relationships of the deceased. According to him, total number The Princess of Wales's number of lovers during her marriage and after her divorce from Charles could be fourteen. In addition to five real and six alleged lovers, three names are given that were only rumored, for example, Hollywood star Kevin Costner or rock star Bryan Adams.

Among others, there are rumors that back in 1989, while married to the Prince of Wales, Diana fell under the spell of a certain car dealer named James Gibley. And since at that time Dee’s dream of fabulous royal happiness had already shattered, and “the prince’s heart turned out to be colder than a poorly heated British estate,” our princess became an easy prey for the ardent merchant.

Millionaire Oliver Hoare

This hobby, or even earlier, was replaced by a great and passionate feeling that she experienced with her riding instructor, Major James Hewitt. Meanwhile, he was the only lover with whom Diana, rejected by her husband, openly admitted her relationship. The whirlwind romance lasted five years, until 1992. Hewitt, having published a book of his frank memoirs, instantly became a millionaire, bought a house in rural areas and opened an equestrian school. This love affair has already been discussed in more detail above.

It is believed that in 1994, Diana found solace in the person of the millionaire art dealer Oliver Hoare. Their relationship continued until this married man got tired of anonymous phone calls with which Lady Di pestered him out of jealousy. Having counted 300 such calls, the Choir turned away from her. Could this really happen? It is quite likely, if we recall the revelations of the healer and psychic Diana, whom she constantly and often called for no reason.

In 1995, the captain of the British national rugby team, Will Carling, became the successor to the art connoisseur in Lady Di's bed; he is described as having the rugged charm of the British working class. love affair lasted only a short time, but information about his secret meetings with Princess Diana became public knowledge. Carling's wife filed for divorce.

Diana’s love affairs with real estate dealer Christopher Valley, aristocratic Philip Dunne, and handsome blond Major David Waterhouse proceeded with almost the same success. None of them became for her the only one who could protect her from adversity and love her for who she is - without regard to the title and previous role in society.

Rugby star Will Carling

This list of lovers included the son of the late President John Kennedy, already mentioned in the book, with whom Diana of Wales had a fleeting affair. The younger Kennedy, a fashion magazine publisher, came to ask her for an interview. The conversation ended in bed. Moreover, they met in the very hotel where the American president spent time with actress Marilyn Monroe. They liked each other, but there was no continuation of the love story... I’ll add this amazing nuance: the famous British performer Elton John dedicated the song Candle in the Wind 1997 to Princess Diana, which is a remake of the original song from 1973, dedicated in turn to Marilyn Monroe. This is such a sad continuity.

One of Lady Di's most striking and impressive romances is her romance with Pakistani surgeon Hasnat Khan. They carefully hid their relationship from the press, although Hasnat often lived with her in Kensington Palace, and she stayed for a long time in his apartment in the prestigious Chelsea district of London. Khan's parents approved of their son's choice, but he himself told his father that there were deep cultural differences between him and his mistress, and therefore the marriage with Diana could not take place, because he was looking for harmony in the relationship. In addition, the man emphasized that Diana is “independent and freedom-loving,” she likes to be in the public eye, and he, as a Muslim, does not accept such behavior from his chosen one.

Not long ago, politician Imram Khan (Hasnat Khan's namesake) said that Diana asked him to act as a “marriage mediator” between Hasnat and her because she was “very much in love.” And the same butler Paul Burrell recalled how he was looking for the surgeon Hasnat Khan, with whom Diana was in love, who was at times hiding from the annoying princess.

Diana wanted to marry Pakistani surgeon Hasnat Khan

According to the princess's biographers, she told her close friends that for the sake of have a good marriage she would sacrifice a lot, and even, if necessary, she would change her faith. However, Hasnat did not need such a sacrifice; perhaps he did not believe in the sincerity of the feelings of the eccentric, capricious and spoiled British Princess of Wales. After all, whatever one may say, she was made from a different cloth and went through a completely different school of life than each of us. And “blue blood” not only left its mark on her behavior and preferences, but also on her inner essence. Such women are those same fairy-tale “princesses and the pea” who really exist in “our” world, but to which you and I are categorically denied entry...

Only Paul Burrell knew how the princess celebrated her penultimate birthday, meeting Khan, brought in the trunk, wearing a fur coat over his naked body (if we remember, Diana’s idol, actress Marilyn Monroe, did exactly the same thing). “Only Burrell knew the names of all her partners and he strange fact that a noble English lady preferred Muslims in bed. Khan was replaced by Gulu Lalwani, director of Binatoun. After him there were millionaire Omar Harulli and a dozen others whom Burrell has not yet named. And, finally, Dodi al-Fayed, with whom Diana tried cocaine and then crashed in a Paris tunnel,” Express Gazeta journalist Andrei Nevsky reported in one of his materials.

Diana and Hasnat Khan separated in the summer of 1997; The suddenly broken feelings again brought only pain and disappointment. And after some time, one of the most charming, enviable brides in the world began an affair with the son of billionaire Mohammed al-Fayed.

Diana's last love - Dodi al-Fayed

This text is an introductory fragment.

39. THE LADIES OF LENGOLLEN: Lady Eleanor Butler (1755–1831) and Sarah Ponsonby (1739–1829) Lady Eleanor Butler was born into a family of Irish Catholic aristocrats and raised in a convent school in France. Upon returning to Ireland, Eleanor showed no interest in marriage,