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Before there was Meghan, before there was Kate, and way before TikTok could dissect every awkward royal wave, there was Diana. A princess who didn’t exactly sign up for the fairy tale but somehow managed to sparkle like a diamond while the entire British monarchy melted down around her. Lady Di was a style icon, a tabloid obsession, and a global inspiration for millions. But behind every photo op was a far more complicated truth — one the palace couldn’t polish.
She Was a Distant Cousin of Her Husband, Prince Charles
Nothing screams “British aristocracy” quite like marrying your distant cousin and calling it destiny instead of genealogy-fueled awkwardness. Diana and Charles were 16th cousins once removed.
That’s right—two Tudors, one modern love story, and several centuries of “Are we related or just nobles with matching cheekbones?”
Apparently in royal circles, family trees are less about roots and more about convenient pruning with bonus titles.
Queen Elizabeth II Disliked Diana For a Time
Early on, Queen Liz wasn’t exactly Diana’s biggest fan. “She’s not like the rest of us,” she allegedly said, and no lies were detected.
The Queen preferred “pleasant” charities. Diana chose AIDS awareness, landmines, and emotional transparency. That didn’t scream “approved royal hobbies.”
Eventually, respect grew—but not before years of tension, press leaks, and one princess outshining the entire royal family just by blinking.
Their Relationship Was… Diplomatically Frosty
Diana once said she got “no support” from the Queen during her crumbling marriage. Her Majesty preferred emotional repression and well-timed gardening, apparently.
They weren’t enemies, but they also weren’t bonding over Bake Off. Diana was all tears and compassion; the Queen was trained in stoicism and silence.
When Diana died, the Queen was criticized for staying silent. The people mourned. The palace blinked. Eventually, she caved—out of duty, not warmth.
She Recorded Her Honest Thoughts on Tape and Sent Them to the Press
Tired of the palace narrative, Diana spilled her own tea via cassette tapes delivered sneakily to journalist Andrew Morton like royal espionage with emotional baggage.
She spoke openly about her bulimia, suicidal thoughts, and Charles’s affair, documenting what the tabloids could only guess through grainy zoom lenses.
Those tapes became the bestselling book Diana: Her True Story, flipping public sympathy like a Buckingham pancake. No palace PR could compete.
She Openly Blamed Camilla for Destroying Her Marriage
Diana versus Camilla was the royal version of Mean Girls, except Camilla didn’t wear pink and Diana dropped quotes that burned like royal fire.
Diana famously said, “There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.” Mic drop in front of 22 million viewers.
She confronted Camilla at a party, straight-up telling her to back off. Camilla’s response? Vague, awkward, and emotionally beige. Classic villain energy.
Prince Charles Dated Her Older Sister first
Diana first met Prince Charles in November 1977 at her family home, Althorp, during a grouse shooting party. At the time, she was 16 and Prince Charles was 29.
Sarah, Diana’s sister, and Charles had a fling in the late ’70s, and instead of running, Diana thought, “Yes, let’s double down on this family awkwardness.”
Sarah later joked she played Cupid. Spoiler: This was the worst game of matchmaking in royal history—unless you count Anne Boleyn’s family drama.
She Had Only Met Charles 13 Times Before the Wedding
Most people spend more time picking a sofa than Diana spent getting to know her future husband before saying “I do” on global television.
They met 13 times before engagement in 1981—because nothing says “fairy tale romance” like, “Who are you again?” and a diamond ring the size of a crumpet.
Royal insiders say Prince Philip pressured Charles to propose. Apparently, love is optional but public duty is forever.
She Battled Bulimia for Years, Beginning Just After Her Engagement
Diana revealed that her bulimia began shortly after Charles made a cruel comment about her waist before their wedding. Romantic? Nope. Deeply damaging? Absolutely.
The pressure of royal life, public scrutiny, and emotional neglect pushed her into a cycle of bingeing and purging that became a hidden cry for help.
In interviews, she called it “a secret disease.” It gave temporary comfort, but fed the loneliness, not the body. The palace mostly looked the other way.
She Was the First Royal Bride to Have a Paying Job
When Diana married Prince Charles in 1981, she wasn’t just young and photogenic—she was a working woman with a CV and actual job references.
She broke royal precedent by being the first future princess to earn her paycheck. Before getting married, she worked both as a nanny and a kindergarten teacher, not just inherited a tiara collection.
Take notes, aristocrats: real-world experience beats family crest embroidery lessons any day.
Her Relationship with Charles Was More Press Tour than Partnership
From the start, Charles seemed more into abstract duty than actual affection. Diana, meanwhile, was emotionally starved and increasingly suspicious of Camilla-shaped shadows.
They clashed in private, smiled in public, and dodged each other emotionally like it was an Olympic sport in a very expensive castle.
Charles reportedly said he wouldn’t be the first Prince of Wales not to have a mistress. Romantic, right? Someone give that man a muzzle.
She was rumored to be romantically linked with JFK Jr. and Dodi Fayed
Before her tragic death, Diana was dating Dodi Fayed, son of a billionaire. The relationship? Tabloid catnip. Speculated engagement? Tabloid overdose.
Some even whisper that she briefly met JFK Jr.—two icons of doomed dynasties. Sparks allegedly flew. The world went into fanfiction overdrive.
Were they just rumors? Maybe. But with Diana, even a conversation became legend. The woman couldn’t blink without igniting global speculation and six unauthorized biographies.
She May Have Anticipated Her Own Death
Diana wrote a letter in 1993 claiming someone was plotting to cause a fatal car crash. Brake failure, head injury—full conspiracy starter pack.
She gave the note to her butler, Paul Burrell, probably because palace staff had become her unofficial emotional support group.
Her eerie prediction added fuel to endless theories about whether her death was an accident or royal sabotage in Chanel sunglasses.
Dodi’s father, Mohamed Al Fayed, Publicly Questioned The Accident That Took The Couple’s Lives
Following the 1997 death of Dodi Fayed in a car crash with Princess Diana, his father, Mohamed Al Fayed, publicly questioned the circumstances and promoted conspiracy theories.
He alleged a cover-up orchestrated by the Royal Family and other individuals. While investigations concluded the crash was an accident due to the driver’s negligence and paparazzi pursuit,
Al Fayed maintained his claims until he passed away in August 2023.
She Once Snuck into a Gay Bar with Freddie Mercury
Yes, Diana went full disguise—military jacket, hat, sunglasses—and partied at a London gay bar with Queen’s actual frontman. And she loved it.
They got her in unnoticed, where she enjoyed the night incognito. For once, no flashbulbs—just freedom and laughter with iconic company.
Freddie reportedly said she looked like “a rather eccentrically dressed gay male model.” She considered it a compliment. So do we.
She Was a Breakthrough Activist for HIV Awareness
Diana made history in April 1987 when she was photographed shaking an HIV patient’s hand without wearing gloves, shocking the public and the monarchy.
The photo helped spread the message of HIV awareness and educate the public’s perception of the illness. She held hands, hugged patients, and made the press take note that compassion was not contagious.
Opening the UK’s first HIV/AIDS unit was groundbreaking. The photo of her touch changed public perception more effectively than any policy ever could.
She Fell Deeply for a Heart Surgeon Named Hasnat Khan
Diana met Dr. Hasnat Khan in 1995—a shy, brilliant Pakistani heart surgeon who didn’t care about fame, fashion, or being photographed leaving Harrods.
He was private, principled, and totally uninterested in royal nonsense—which, ironically, made Diana fall harder than a queen fainting in a corset.
She called him “Mr. Wonderful.” They’d meet in secret, using backdoors and disguises. It was rom-com meets hospital drama with emotional realness and better tailoring.
She Was the Fourth of Five Children
Diana Frances Spencer was child number four in a Spencer family lineup that had more kids than most royal scandals. Yes, she had two sisters and two brothers.
Her sisters, Lady Sarah and Lady Jane, had the kind of names that sound like they come with a free manor house. Her younger brother Charles got the title.
Another brother, John, passed away shortly after birth, which is tragically sad, but also explains why Diana’s family had such a complicated emotional history from the start.
Her Parents Divorced When She Was 7
If you thought your parents’ divorce was messy, imagine growing up in a palace while your folks threw down like a soap opera with coronets.
Diana’s parents split when she was just seven, setting the stage for her lifelong theme of emotional whiplash and unwanted press attention.
She later revealed that infidelity and abuse were the main plot twists in her parents’ marriage, and honestly, the drama was worthy of its own BBC mini-series.
Her Grandmother Was a Lady-In-Waiting to the Queen Mother
Diana’s maternal grandmother, Ruth Roche, Baroness Fermoy, was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
Diana’s grandmother wasn’t just a family friend—she was a walking royal Rolodex, she was a social butterfly.
She organized regal tea parties, bossed around lesser nobles, and likely dished out the best palace gossip this side of Buckingham.
She Grew up on the Sandringham Estate Leased from Queen Elizabeth
While most of us grew up arguing over the TV remote, Diana was raised on a royal estate that screams “Do Not Touch” in antique gold letters.
Sandringham House was basically the Queen’s holiday Airbnb, and Diana’s family rented out Park House—because apparently even aristocrats lease.
Just like her mother back in 1936, Diana was born there in 1961, which means her childhood was more stately home than starter home, and Christmas was probably catered.
She Worked as a Nanny and a Teacher
Before she met Prince Charles and became a princess, Diana worked many odd jobs. She was folding laundry and wiping jam off toddlers as a part-time nanny, earning barely enough for eyeliner.
She also worked as a kindergarten assistant in London, which makes her the first future princess to endure glitter, nap time, and snack-based tantrums.
Let it be known: she was changing diapers and lives long before she changed the monarchy forever, and she was paid only $5 an hour to do so.
She Confronted Camilla Face-to-Face
In the ultimate showdown of side-chick versus wife, Diana told Camilla, “Don’t treat me like an idiot,” at a party. Yes, a literal party.
Camilla replied with vague guilt and uncomfortable rich-lady energy. “You’ve got two lovely boys,” she said, because what else do you say after stealing a prince?
It was a defining moment. Diana’s inner Beyoncé activated and Camilla’s facial muscles likely froze from shock and secondhand scandal.
She Was the First to Give Birth in a Hospital
It was royal tradition for heirs of the throne to be born at home. However, Diana gave birth to both William and Harry at the Lido Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital.
Prince William was born in a hospital, forever changing the way royal babies arrive—less castle chamber, more sterile lighting and birthing gowns.
Some say it was modern. We say she just wanted an epidural and an exit that didn’t involve palace wallpaper.
Her Activism Against Landmines
Princess Diana’s activism against landmines significantly raised global awareness of the issue and contributed to the creation of the Ottawa Treaty.
Her iconic 1997 visit to Angola and her subsequent advocacy, despite facing criticism, helped mobilize public opinion and increased funding for demining efforts.
Even after her death, her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, continued her advocacy, supporting organizations dedicated to demining and landmine awareness.
Against the Queen’s Desires, Her Parenting Style Was Very Unconventional for a Royal
According to her former chief of staff, Diana made sure her boys did regular-kid things, like queuing for movies and screaming on roller coasters.
She sent William and Harry to public schools, rode the Tube with them, and didn’t flinch at Happy Meals. They even went to McDonald’s!
This might’ve horrified the Queen, but the public? They loved it more than corgis love leftover scones.
She Had a Lot of Famous Friends
Diana’s Rolodex could cause a paparazzi heart attack: Elton John, George Michael, Liza Minnelli… basically, her dinner parties were just Grammy after-parties with china.
She hung out with Hollywood royalty and actual royalty, blurring the lines between tiaras and tank tops in the Colorado Rockies.
One time, she literally hid at Goldie Hawn’s ranch to dodge the paparazzi. Cowgirl chic meets royal escape artist.
She Coined the Term “Cleavage Bags”
Diana was getting out of cars in short dresses with paparazzi aiming low. Solution? A clutch purse held high—a modesty move dubbed the “cleavage bag.”
She used the dainty satin bag as a literal boob shield, a tactic both genius and fashion-forward. That’s multitasking, majesty-style.
Designer Anya Hindmarch confirmed they called them “cleavage bags” and laughed while designing them. Modesty has never been this cheeky—or this chic.
She Had an Affair with Her Bodyguard
Bodyguard Barry Mannakee was more than security—he was her alleged great escape plan. Diana said she was willing to give up royalty for love.
Transferred after rumors flew, Barry died mysteriously in a motorcycle crash. Diana later implied she didn’t believe it was just an accident.
Their rumored affair still fuels conspiracy lovers and hopeless romantics. Honestly, The Crown writers probably fainted when they first read the transcripts.
In fact, Diana Allegedly Had Multiple Affairs—Yes, Plural
While Charles had Camilla on speed dial, Diana reportedly had a few steamy side-quests of her own. Equal opportunity infidelity? Possibly. Messy? Extremely.
Her lovers allegedly included James Hewitt (a redheaded army officer, just saying), her bodyguard Barry Mannakee, and heart surgeon Hasnat Khan.
The tabloids had a field day, but Diana claimed she was searching for connection—not headlines. The palace? Pretended like nothing happened. Standard procedure.
Her Engagement Ring Was Chosen From a Catalogue
When it came to bling, Diana skipped royal heirlooms and picked her sapphire ring straight from a Garrard catalogue like she was ordering from Etsy.
The 12-carat stunner, surrounded by diamonds, caused aristocratic gasps. Royals expected custom jewels, not mass-market sparkle.
The ring now belongs to Kate Middleton. Prince William proposed with it, saying it kept his mother close. Cue collective sob across the Commonwealth.
Her Title Was Revoked After Her Divorce
After her divorce, Diana lost the title “Her Royal Highness.” Queen Elizabeth was cool with her keeping it—Charles, the human cold front, said nope.
Petty? A bit. Symbolic? Extremely. Royal? Unfortunately, yes. The press still called her Princess Diana anyway, because the people pick queens, not technicalities.
Despite losing HRH, she remained globally adored and instantly recognizable—because public love doesn’t need a crown, just character.
Her Dresses Raised Millions for Charity
Before Marie Kondo made it trendy, Diana cleaned out her closet—and raised $3.25 million for AIDS and cancer charities by auctioning her iconic dresses.
Christie’s hosted the sale, including the famous navy blue “Travolta dress” she twirled in at the White House with Danny Zuko himself.
It was elegance, generosity, and a masterclass in using fashion for good. Runway royalty with a heart of philanthropic gold.
She invited Cindy Crawford to Kensington Palace
Yes, Diana invited actual supermodel Cindy Crawford over—because what else do you do when your teenage sons are hitting peak hormone and Vogue obsession?
Prince William was apparently “mortified,” which is code for “sweating profusely in the presence of superhuman cheekbones.” Diana, meanwhile, was cool mom-ing it perfectly.
Crawford said Diana was instantly warm, charming, and “like talking to a girlfriend”—because Diana didn’t do formality, just fabulosity in a palace with snacks.
She Was Buried on Her Family’s Island
After her tragic death in 1997, Diana was laid to rest on a secluded island at Althorp Estate, surrounded by swans and silent reflection.
The burial site is off-limits to the public, but fans can pay tribute from across the lake—basically royal grief tourism with better landscaping.
The family estate’s Oval Lake holds her island grave, proving Diana didn’t need Westminster Abbey to be eternally majestic. Nature > marble.
She Left a Big Inheritance for Prince Harry
Diana left Harry and William around £21 million each, proving that even in death she was the ultimate provider of emotional and financial security.
Harry later used his inheritance to fund his post-palace independence—aka “Project Megxit: The Netflix Sequel No One Saw Coming But Everyone Watched.”
He told Oprah, “It’s like she saw it coming,” and honestly, she probably did. Diana always knew how to plan a royal escape.
She Has a Statue in Her Memory
William and Harry unveiled a statue of Diana in Kensington Palace’s Sunken Garden, a peaceful spot she once loved and Instagram would now ruin.
The statue shows Diana with three children, representing her humanitarian legacy, iconic shoulder pads, and unshakeable love for the next generation.
Though the brothers weren’t speaking much, they put aside the royal beef for their mother—because nothing unites like bronze and maternal pressure.
She Never Wanted to be the Queen
Diana famously said, “I’d like to be queen of people’s hearts,” while subtly side-eyeing the royal establishment like it was soggy toast at tea.
She didn’t crave the throne. She craved connection, compassion, and not being managed like a PR liability in a floral blouse.
Turns out, she got her wish. No crown, no title, just eternal reign over public affection and candlelit memorials worldwide.
She Refused One Royal Wedding Vow
Diana straight-up skipped the word “obey” in her wedding vows, giving traditionalists heart palpitations and future royal brides a new playbook for feminist ceremonies.
She promised to love, honor, and comfort Charles, but draw the line at blind submission. Clap if you agree, 1662 Church of England.
Both Kate and Meghan followed suit. Diana didn’t just ditch a word—she rewrote the bridal script with a smile and subtext.
She Loved Astrology and Had Her Own Personal Astrologer
Forget official advisors—Diana consulted the stars like it was the original group chat. Her astrologer, Penny Thornton, became one of her most trusted confidantes.
Penny even told Diana not to marry Charles, but Diana replied, “Too late, darling, the invitations have been sent.” That’s peak royal denial.
She was fascinated by astrology, perhaps because palace logic never explained her heartbreaks, but retrograde Mercury? Oh, that made total sense.
She Wanted to be a Ballerina, but Was too Tall
Diana dreamed of dancing across stages in pink satin slippers, but genetics had other plans and turned her into a six-foot swan among ducklings.
In 2017, Diana’s ballet teacher, Anne Allan, mentioned in an interview that the princess “had dance in her soul.” According to her, dancing “helped to alleviate her emotional life.”
Either way, throughout her entire life, dancing gave Diana joy and a break from the royal chaos that would soon engulf her life like a tulle tutu in a hurricane.
She became Lady Diana after her father inherited a title
Before she was the People’s Princess, she was Lady Di—a title she earned when her dad upgraded to Earl Spencer like it was a Netflix subscription.
In 1975, her father inherited the title and Diana instantly got a fancy prefix that made her sound like she owned land, cattle, and political opinions.
The media adored the name “Lady Di” so much that it stuck around even after she married into royalty and technically outranked it.
School was not her strong suit
Diana wasn’t exactly top of the class—unless you count charm as an academic discipline. She was homeschooled until she was 9, before attending boarding school for the rest of her education.
She flunked her O-Level exams not once, but twice, proving you don’t need algebra to steal international headlines and wear tiaras convincingly.
She dropped out at 16 but gave it one last try when she attended school in Switzerland for one semester before she met Prince Charles.
She Kept a Secret Diary Filled with Poems and Personal Thoughts
Some kept their trauma in therapy. Diana kept hers in handwritten poems tucked between stationary and sadness, hidden from the eyes of royal protocol.
Her diary included emotional reflections, metaphors about feeling trapped, and dreams of escape. Not Shakespeare, but raw, real, and heartbreakingly beautiful.
Only parts have surfaced publicly—but they paint a picture of a woman grasping for peace, one page at a time.
She Sent Her kids to School with Secret Handwritten Notes in Their Lunchboxes
While other royal kids got silver spoons, William and Harry got napkins with heartfelt scribbles from Mum. Emotional? Yes. Crumbs included? Most likely.
Diana tucked secret notes into their lunchboxes—because even future kings need a mid-day morale boost between math class and dodgeball with aristocratic surnames.
The boys treasured these notes. Because behind every great prince is a mom who knows snacks and handwritten encouragement can defeat any day’s stress.
She Called Prince William “Wombat”
After a family trip to Australia, Diana started calling toddler William “Wombat.” Not because he looked like one—though baby royalty can get squishy—but because, well… Australia.
William later joked that the nickname stuck whether he liked it or not. You don’t argue with Diana, not even in onesies.
It was weird, adorable, and totally her brand: royal affection filtered through animal-themed sass. Honestly, we love a wombat mom moment.
