PRINCESS DIANA Early life Diana Princess of Wales

PRINCESS DIANA

Early life • Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales. Diana was born into an aristocratic British family with royal ancestry. Diana became Lady Diana Spencer after her father later inherited the title of Earl Spencer in 1975. She became a public figure with the announcement of her engagement

Charity work • From the mid-1980 s, the Princess of Wales became increasingly associated with numerous charities. • As Princess of Wales, she was expected to make regular public appearances at hospitals, schools and other facilities. • She was the patroness of charities and organisations working with the homeless, youth, drug addicts and the elderly.

Charity work • The Princess developed an intense interest in serious illnesses and health-related matters outside the purview of traditional royal involvement, including AIDS and leprosy. • She did a lot of charity works, visiting terminally ill people over the world, leading campaigns for animal protection, AIDS awareness and against the use of inhumane weapons.

Princess Diana’s speech on HIV

Death • On 31 August 1997, Diana was fatally injured in a car crash in Paris, which also caused the deaths of her companion Dodi Fayed and the driver. • The sudden and unexpected death of an extraordinarily popular royal figure brought statements from senior figures worldwide and many tributes by members of the public. People left public offerings of flowers, candles, cards and personal messages outside Kensington Palace for many months. • Her coffin, draped with royal flag, was brought to London from Paris by Prince Charles and her two sisters on 31 August 1997. • It is said that "She proved in the last year that she needed no royal title to continue to generate her particular brand of magic. “