On the 27th anniversary of her death… secrets you may not know about Princess Diana
Princess Diana Spencer, who died at the age of 36 in a car accident in Paris in August 1997, remains an icon of beauty and humanity.
The young aristocratic Diana Spencer married Prince Charles, who was 12 years older than her, at the age of 20, in July 1981. However, their relationship did not last long, and the British press followed news of the scandals that permeated their marriage, which ended in divorce in 1996.
These are some of the secrets of Princess Diana, who has been dead for 25 years, according to the Business Insider website, which was mostly based on Andrew Morton’s book “Diana: Her True Story”:
Her parents divorce
Diana’s parents, mother Frances Shand Kydd and father Edward John Spencer, separated after years of a turbulent and unhappy relationship, and she ended up living with her father after her parents divorced when she was 7 years old, and a fierce custody battle broke out between her father and mother over Diana and her three siblings.
*Dream ballet
When Diana was a child, she wanted to become a ballerina. However, her dreams never became a reality, as she soon became too tall for the career and she was forced to give it up. Princess Diana was 5 feet 10 inches tall (about one meter and 80 centimeters). But she was also an accomplished diver, and even invented her own signature move while at school.
Princess Diana from her visit to Melbourne, Australia in 1988 (AFP)
*Limited meetings
Despite their age difference of nearly 13 years, Prince Charles and Princess Diana decided to get married quickly. According to reports, the couple met in person about 13 times before they tied the knot. Diana married when she was only 20 years old.
*Engagement ring
Princess Diana chose the engagement ring from a catalog of Royal Jewelers Gerard, which means that technically anyone can buy a sapphire and diamond ring. According to Vogue, the royal family did not agree to this, and did not want the general public to be able to purchase a ring similar to what a member of the royal family has. At the time of its original purchase in 1981, the ring was estimated to cost $36,000. But today the ring is priceless.
Princess Diana wearing an engagement ring with Prince Charles in London in 1981 (AP)
*Wedding dress
The dress was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel and included lace, sequins, 10,000 pearls and a 25-foot train. It costs about 115 thousand dollars.
Princess Diana and Prince Charles during their wedding (Getty)
Privacy for childbirth
Princess Diana is the first woman in the royal family to give birth in a hospital. On June 21, 1982, Princess Diana broke with royal tradition when she gave birth to Prince William, and later Prince Harry, in the Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital in London. Before Princess Diana became a mother, it was common for women in the royal family to give birth in the palace.
Kate Middleton later gave birth to her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, in the same hospital. Archie, the son of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, was born in Portland Hospital in London, while their daughter Lilibet was born in a hospital in California.
*The names of her two children
According to Princess Diana herself, as mentioned in Andrew Morton’s book, “Diana: Her True Story,” she chose the names of her two children herself, as Prince Charles originally wanted William to be named Arthur, and he wanted Prince Harry to be named Albert.
Princess Diana and Prince Harry in Spain (Reuters)
* “Diana Fever”
Princess Diana became one of the most famous members of the royal family in modern history, due to her charming personality, and became world famous. She was nicknamed “Diana Fever” or “Diana Fever.” Princess Diana was always keen to meet people of all ages and backgrounds while traveling, and she refused to wear gloves when meeting people, which was a custom for members of the royal family.