01of 16The Bride-to-BeRex USADiana – then, in 1980, a kindergarten teacher at the exclusive Young England school in Pimlico, London – keeps a close hold on two of her students in one of the first shots of the future princess, which would also be among her first controversies. The backlit Diana didn’t realize her skirt was transparent.
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The Bride-to-Be
Rex USA
Diana – then, in 1980, a kindergarten teacher at the exclusive Young England school in Pimlico, London – keeps a close hold on two of her students in one of the first shots of the future princess, which would also be among her first controversies. The backlit Diana didn’t realize her skirt was transparent.
02of 16The Royal EngagementHulton Archive/GettyIn the first photograph of the royal couple, Charles, Prince of Wales, then 32, poses with his fiancée, Lady Diana Spencer, 19, outside Buckingham Palace on Feb. 24, 1981 – just moments after announcing their engagement to the world. Nearly three decades later, Diana’s sonWilliamproposed to longtime girlfriendKate Middletonwith his late mother’siconic engagement ring.
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The Royal Engagement
Hulton Archive/Getty
In the first photograph of the royal couple, Charles, Prince of Wales, then 32, poses with his fiancée, Lady Diana Spencer, 19, outside Buckingham Palace on Feb. 24, 1981 – just moments after announcing their engagement to the world. Nearly three decades later, Diana’s sonWilliamproposed to longtime girlfriendKate Middletonwith his late mother’siconic engagement ring.
03of 16The Princess BrideAnwar Hussein/GettyThe train of Princess Diana’s Emmanuel ivory taffeta and antique lace wedding gown was 25-feet long, and it took her three and a half minutes to walk down the carpeted aisle at St. Paul’s. The planning of the dress was a lonely affair, as designer Elizabeth Emanuel recalled, “Nobody really came to fittings with her.”
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The Princess Bride
Anwar Hussein/Getty
The train of Princess Diana’s Emmanuel ivory taffeta and antique lace wedding gown was 25-feet long, and it took her three and a half minutes to walk down the carpeted aisle at St. Paul’s. The planning of the dress was a lonely affair, as designer Elizabeth Emanuel recalled, “Nobody really came to fittings with her.”
04of 16The Big EventRex USAMore than 600,000 people crowded the streets of London to see Lady Diana Spencer andPrince Charlesmake their way through the streets of London on July 29, 1981, their wedding day. Their international audience was even larger: Almost 1 billion people watched from home.
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The Big Event
More than 600,000 people crowded the streets of London to see Lady Diana Spencer andPrince Charlesmake their way through the streets of London on July 29, 1981, their wedding day. Their international audience was even larger: Almost 1 billion people watched from home.
05of 16Sleeping BeautyTim Graham/AP"I felt compelled to perform," Diana had said, “To do my engagements and not let people down.” Still, she filled her schedule – but couldn’t help but fall asleep during a 1981 event. (It was later revealed that, at the time, she was pregnant with William.
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Sleeping Beauty
Tim Graham/AP
“I felt compelled to perform,” Diana had said, “To do my engagements and not let people down.” Still, she filled her schedule – but couldn’t help but fall asleep during a 1981 event. (It was later revealed that, at the time, she was pregnant with William.
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Jim Bennett/Camera Press/Retna
07of 16A Full Dancing CardTim Graham/APDuring the royal couple’s first visit to the U.S., in 1985, Princess Diana danced at the White House with John Travolta, while then-Prince Charleschatted up Nancy Reagan. Later that night, the Princess waltzed with Neil Diamond and Clint Eastwood.
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A Full Dancing Card
During the royal couple’s first visit to the U.S., in 1985, Princess Diana danced at the White House with John Travolta, while then-Prince Charleschatted up Nancy Reagan. Later that night, the Princess waltzed with Neil Diamond and Clint Eastwood.
08of 16The Game’s AfootDavid Levenson/GettyAmid rumors of living separate lives within their troubled marriage, Princess Diana openly flirted with polo players while her husband looked the other way at a November 1985 polo match in West Palm Beach, Fla.
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The Game’s Afoot
David Levenson/Getty
Amid rumors of living separate lives within their troubled marriage, Princess Diana openly flirted with polo players while her husband looked the other way at a November 1985 polo match in West Palm Beach, Fla.
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Reaching Out
John Redman/AP
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A Vision in White
11of 16No Storybook EndingAP"Here was a fairy story that everybody wanted to work," Diana had said about her marriage toPrince Charles. But relations between the two were visibly frosty on Nov. 3, 1992, at a memorial service in Korea. A month later, on Dec. 9, Prime Minister John Major announced their separation. “I desperately wanted it to work,” Diana later said. “I desperately loved my husband.”
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No Storybook Ending
AP
“Here was a fairy story that everybody wanted to work,” Diana had said about her marriage toPrince Charles. But relations between the two were visibly frosty on Nov. 3, 1992, at a memorial service in Korea. A month later, on Dec. 9, Prime Minister John Major announced their separation. “I desperately wanted it to work,” Diana later said. “I desperately loved my husband.”
12of 16Time to Go Yet?Tim Graham/APWhile their parents looked the other way, Prince William and Prince Harry checked their watches during a lengthy veteran’s parade on April 12, 1995.
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Time to Go Yet?
While their parents looked the other way, Prince William and Prince Harry checked their watches during a lengthy veteran’s parade on April 12, 1995.
13of 16In Danger for a CauseTim Graham/APThe Princess famously donned a flak jacket and a face shield while touring an Angolan mine field, on behalf of the Red Cross, on Jan. 15, 1997. Diana later said that land mines – and the destruction they cause – is “something to which the world should urgently turn its conscience.”
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In Danger for a Cause
The Princess famously donned a flak jacket and a face shield while touring an Angolan mine field, on behalf of the Red Cross, on Jan. 15, 1997. Diana later said that land mines – and the destruction they cause – is “something to which the world should urgently turn its conscience.”
14of 16Sisters in CharityBebeto Matthews/APMother Teresa and Princess Diana – both active champions for human rights – met on June 18, 1997, at the Missionaries of Charity in the south Bronx. “Diana is my daughter,” the nun often said.
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Sisters in Charity
Bebeto Matthews/AP
Mother Teresa and Princess Diana – both active champions for human rights – met on June 18, 1997, at the Missionaries of Charity in the south Bronx. “Diana is my daughter,” the nun often said.
15of 16A Doomed RomanceBauer-Griffin"Diana is besotted," PEOPLE reported when the Princess was photographed with her beau, Dodi Fayed, on his father’s $32 million yacht off the coast of Sardinia. It would be one of the last photos taken of the couple, who died in a fatal car crash in Paris the following day, Aug. 31, 1997.
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A Doomed Romance
Bauer-Griffin
“Diana is besotted,” PEOPLE reported when the Princess was photographed with her beau, Dodi Fayed, on his father’s $32 million yacht off the coast of Sardinia. It would be one of the last photos taken of the couple, who died in a fatal car crash in Paris the following day, Aug. 31, 1997.
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Peter Dejong/AP
More than a million people lined the streets on Sept. 6, 1997, as Princess Diana’s casket made the four-mile-long journey from London’s Westminster Abbey to the Spencer family home in Northamptonshire. A card addressed to “Mummy” from Harry, then 12, rested among the flowers.
source: people.com
