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London Desk, Delhi Magazine: Earl Spencer, 60, shared a post on his Instagram account on August 31, the 27th anniversary of his sister’s death in Paris. Diana and Dodi al-Fayed were in a car that crashed into one of the tunnels under the French capital, killing them both. The driver also died, with the only survivor being the princess’s bodyguard.
Charles shared a photo showing various images and newspaper headlines about Princess Diana, including an article about her christening and a photo of the late royal as a little girl. He let the post speak for itself, without adding any description.
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Spencer was the youngest of five children born to John Spencer and Frances Kidd. He grew up with his three older sisters—Sarah, born in 1955, Jane in 1957, and Diana in 1961. The family also had another boy, John, who was born in 1960 but died hours later.
Princess Diana, born Diana Frances Spencer on July 1, 1961, had a childhood marked by both privilege and challenges. She was born into British aristocracy as the third daughter of John Spencer, Viscount Althorp (later the 8th Earl Spencer), and Frances Spencer (née Roche). The family resided at Park House, a mansion on the royal estate at Sandringham, Norfolk, where Diana spent her early years.
Early Life and Family Dynamics of Princess Diana
Diana’s childhood was marked by the dynamics within her family, which were complex and often difficult. Her parents’ marriage was troubled, leading to their separation when Diana was just seven years old, and their subsequent divorce in 1969. The separation had a profound impact on young Diana, who was already described as shy and sensitive. After the divorce, her mother moved to London, and Diana, along with her siblings, initially lived with their father at Althorp, the Spencer family estate in Northamptonshire. Custody battles further strained her relationship with her mother.
Education and Growing Up
Diana’s education began at home with a governess, and at the age of nine, she was sent to Riddlesworth Hall, a boarding school in Norfolk. Later, she attended West Heath Girls’ School in Kent, where she was known for her compassion and helpful nature rather than academic excellence. Diana was not a strong student academically, but she excelled in sports, particularly swimming and diving.
At the age of 16, Diana left West Heath and briefly attended Institut Alpin Videmanette, a finishing school in Switzerland, before returning to London. There, she shared an apartment with friends and worked various jobs, including as a nanny and a nursery assistant at the Young England Kindergarten in Pimlico. It was during this period in London that Diana began dating Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, whom she had met several years earlier through family connections.
Character and Interests
As a child, Diana was known for her kindness and sensitivity. She had a natural affinity for children and animals, traits that would later become central to her public persona as the “People’s Princess.” Despite her aristocratic background, Diana was known for her down-to-earth personality and her desire to help others. These qualities were evident even in her childhood and teenage years.
Diana’s early life, marked by the challenges of her parents’ troubled marriage and her own struggles with shyness, shaped the woman she would become—a compassionate and empathetic figure who used her public platform to advocate for those less fortunate.