The Story of Princess Diana: A Quarter-Century Scandal

61 years ago on this day, July 1, the girl who was destined to become everyone’s favorite, Princess Diana, was born. She was such a charismatic person that even many years after her death, she remained alive in the hearts of millions of people.

This story started with the fact that the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and the heir to the throne, Prince Charles, while still a student, fell in love with a girl named Camilla. But even though she came from a noble family, she was not a model of virtue: she was cursed, smoked, and drank. However, the son was still going to tie his life with this cynical person.

 And what? Camilla refused the future king and married officer, Andrew Parker Bowles! But after a couple of years, their romance flared up again, and Charles begged Camilla to become his wife, though she was already expecting her second child.

The queen and her husband became desperate and started urgently looking for a wife for their son. Soon a worthy candidate was found: 19-year-old aristocrat Diana Spencer had a beautiful pedigree and happened to be a relative of Winston Churchill.

 At first, Diana's childhood was like that of all girls from good families. Basic home education, private schools... But then the parents were divorced, the children stayed with the father, and he brought a stepmother into the house. Here, for the first time, the rebellious trends of the future princess manifested themselves.

Lady Diana Spencer 10 years old, 1971

Stepmother Rayne McCorquodale, Diana, and her brothers and sisters nicknamed her Acid Rain (Acid Rain - a play on words), organized boycotts of her, and didn't eat at the same table Having just become an adult Diana reconciled with Rein.

14-year-old Diana Spencer and her pony Scuffle

At school, Diana Spencer didn't have enough stars. Where did she have talent in music and especially in dancing? She also always loved children. And, having finished school and received an apartment as a gift, she started to earn extra money as a nanny in a kindergarten.

Diana, Princess of Wales with stepmother Raine Spencer, 1983

For the first time, Diana saw Prince Charles at the age of 16 and was not at all impressed He was then dating her older half-sister Sarah. But a few years later, the queen strongly recommends that Charles take a closer look at the young Diana.

 Miss Spencer, as befits the bride of the prince, was a virgin, and probably loved the 32-year-old Charles.

 In any case, in the TV show, where she and the prince were invited after the engagement when asked by the host if they love each other, Diana answered:

 - Of course!

 But Charles thoughtfully said:

 - Depending on the sense in which the word "love" is understood.

Lady Diana and Prince Charles with Queen Elizabeth II. On this day, the queen gave her official consent to their marriage. Buckingham Palace, 27 March 1981

Their marriage was called the most beautiful marriage of the 20th century. True, at the altar, the bride was unable to utter the full name of the groom in one breath, and he stumbled, pronouncing the oath of marital fidelity.

 Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother were upset. But even in their nightmares, they could not imagine what a disaster for their family would be Timid Dee, so nicknamed by the tabloids for her ability to blush.

 The young princess became the darling of the whole country. Everywhere her charm and purity were excitedly discussed. And when she gave birth to the heirs to the throne, William and Harry she completely became a national heroine.

Charles and Diana's wedding, July 29, 1981

The queen could not stand the enthusiasm of her family members and still hoped that her son would find happiness with Diana. Indeed, for several years they have been considered a wonderful couple. and then on the horizon, like a pirate ship, Camille surfaced again.

 It turns out that neither their spouses nor children overshadowed their feelings for Charles, they secretly met either on the prince's estate or in her mansion. Upon learning of this, Diana, at one of the receptions, retired with Camilla and immediately attacked her opponent:

 "I know everything about you and Charles!"

"But you're adored by the people and millions of men," Camilla defended herself.

 "But I need my husband!" Leave us alone!

However, the situation only escalated. Diana sobbed, threw tantrums, and tried twice to cut her veins. To Elizabeth II, such stormy suffering seemed to be deliberate, almost theatrical, because a member of the royal family must bear the blows of fate with honor And when the daughter-in-law came for sympathy, she advised her to humble herself: Charles is incorrigible!

Diana with her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, 1984

Meanwhile, Diana's popularity skyrocketed. It was considered very contemporary and contrasted with the old-fashionedness of the royal family. Did Prince William go to regular school? Oh, so Lady Di has won yet another! She said that she would not raise her children as coldly as their father was raised, but would hug her every evening. Here’s a smart woman, don’t mess with these prudish Windsors! Did she help those in need around the world? Angel!

Princess Diana and Prince Charles in Australia, 1983

Against the background of his enchanting wife, Prince Charles seemed to be mediocre to many. Although he was the first of all the heirs to the throne of England to graduate from Cambridge, he was well versed in politics, economics, art, and architecture, played the piano, trumpet, and cello beautifully, and painted magnificent watercolors. And he has been involved in charity no less than Diana. I only did it without connecting the press and TV channels...

 One far from a perfect day, Princess Diana found Camilla's letters to Charles - and immediately passed them on to the press: "My precious, don't torment yourself with guilt for Diana's treason. .." A wave of popular anger fell on the "divorce", Camille was called a Rottweiler and pelted with buns at the store. Charles was despised and the queen and the rest of the Windsors were listed as enemies of the princess.

Diana was considered an innocent victim by the British. And despite the fact that her intimate telephone conversation with her close friend James Gilba, in which he called Dee "my squid" and confessed his love to her, soon became known to the whole world. And an affair with Barra Manneka’s bodyguard? It lasted for an hour until the lovers were caught...

When Charles confessed to being unfaithful to his wife, she answered by giving a shocking interview. Lady Di said that she was bulimic, that she had an affair with a riding teacher, and that the prince was not worthy to be a king. Elizabeth advised her daughter-in-law to divorce her son.

 Diana did just that. Having lost the title, she understood that she had become even more popular and began to enjoy freedom. The press now and then reported on new novels: a politician, an artist, an athlete, an art distributor. Finally - the Egyptian millionaire Dodi al-Fayed.

Princess Diana in Saint-Tropez on Doda al-Fayed's yacht, July 1997.

The whole world knew the details of their relations. Moreover, as it turned out later, it was Diana She always maintained close contact with journalists, she informed them herself about the weekend with Doda on the yacht and even organized a spicy photo session.

Princess Diana on her last, 36th birthday

The royal family was shocked by the scandals around Diana. And peace still idolized her. And when she died in a car accident at the age of 36, thousands of people mourned their loved ones and carried bouquets to Buckingham Palace. The queen arrived there only a few days later, and the flags on the building were lowered a week later. And when Diana's brother accused the royal family of his sister's death at the funeral, the crowd applauded him ...