Known as the People’s Princess because of her nurturing and compassionate nature, as well as love for the ordinary citizens, Lady Di will forever be remembered as the woman who changed Britain and the Monarchy.
This incredible Princess rose to prominence upon her engagement to Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II’s eldest son and heir apparent to the British throne. Ever since the world learned of her, she was under the spotlight. The paparazzi followed her every move, and according to many, pushed her to her death.
The following photos show a different side of Diana and remind us once again why we all loved her so much.
Unlike the rest of the engagement rings of the British royals, which are custom made, Diana’s 12-carat sapphire ring surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds set in white gold was ordered from a Garrard jewelry collection catalog. Upon her passing, the ring went to Kate Middleton after William proposed to her with it.
According to her brother Charles Spencer, Diana had a hard time wearing the tiara at the beginning because it caused her headaches.
“In the evening we all went to a sort of semi-private party and she was there and I just remember she had a cracking headache also since she wasn’t used to wearing a tiara all morning,” he said in an interview
As much as it was very special, Diana’s wedding dress caused her some trouble as the designers of the 25-foot train failed to take into an account how challenging it would be to walk in. When she entered the carriage, Lady Di’s dress slightly crushed and appeared wrinkled as a result.
When asked whether they were in love with each other shortly after their engagement, Charles replied, “Whatever ‘in love’ means,” to Diana’s “Of course
As one of the most photographed women in the world, it is rare today to still be finding unseen pictures of Diana, Princess of Wales. Yet this is the promise given by a new exhibition at Kensington Palace later this month, as a never-before-seen sitting of the late royal with David Bailey has been included in the show.
Shot in 1988, the black and white portrait shows the People’s Princess in profile, wearing a one-shoulder dress and simple drop earrings. It was commissioned for the National Portrait Gallery, but didn’t make the final cut. There is still a hint of ‘shy Di’ in the expression on the princess’s face, a nickname she was particularly known for in the 1980s press. By the 1990s, and certainly after her separation from Prince Charles, she had a newfound confidence, epitomized by her agenda-setting fashion choices and slicked back hairstyle.
Photo: David Bailey
The photograph is on display as part of the Life Through a Royal Lens exhibition, opening on March 4. Focusing on royal portraiture through the ages – as well as images taken by the public on official walkabouts and tours – it starts with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s adoption of the art form, moving through to the family members who later took up amateur photography (most notably Princess Alexandra, Victoria’s daughter-in-law, and the Duchess of Cambridge). Key themes are how photography allows the Royal Family to appear ‘just like us’ with a focus on family life.
Other key images in the exhibition include annotated photo albums from the Royal Family’s personal archive from the 19th and early 20th centuries, including illustrated images taken by Queen Alexandra. There is also a fabulous portrait of Princess Margaret by her ex-husband, Lord Snowdon, as well as photographs taken by a young Duke of Windsor when he was a teen.
