Princess Diana Timeline

(July 1, 1961 – August 31, 1997)

Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–1997), known as 'the People's Princess,' was a beloved member of the British royal family. She married Prince Charles in 1981, became a global icon through her charity work and compassion, championed causes like AIDS awareness and landmine removal, and tragically died in a car accident in Paris in 1997. More Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Early Life

Birth of Diana Spencer

Jul 1, 1961

Diana Frances Spencer was born on July 1, 1961, at Park House on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England. She was the fourth of five children born to John Spencer, Viscount Althorp, and his wife Frances. Her birth into the aristocratic Spencer family placed her in close proximity to the British royal family from an early age.

Parents' divorce

1969

Diana's parents divorced in 1969 after years of marital difficulties, a painful event that deeply affected her childhood. Her mother left the family home, and Diana and her siblings were raised primarily by their father, who won custody following the contentious separation.

Image source: Diana, Princess of Wales

Attends West Heath boarding school

1974 - 1977

Diana attended Riddlesworth Hall before moving to West Heath School in Sevenoaks, Kent, in 1974. Though she was not academically distinguished, she showed talent in music, dance, and swimming, and was known for her warm and caring personality among classmates.

Works as a kindergarten assistant in London

1979 - 1981

After finishing school, Diana moved to London and worked various jobs, including as a nanny and cleaner, before becoming an assistant at the Young England Kindergarten in Pimlico. This period gave her a taste of relative independence before her life changed dramatically with royal engagement.

Marriage and Family

Engagement to Prince Charles announced

Feb 24, 1981

Buckingham Palace announced the engagement of Lady Diana Spencer to Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, in February 1981. The couple had known each other for only a few years, and their engagement captivated the world, making Diana an instant global celebrity.

Image source: Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer

Wedding to Prince Charles at St Paul's Cathedral

Jul 29, 1981

On July 29, 1981, Diana married Prince Charles at St Paul's Cathedral in London in a ceremony watched by an estimated 750 million people worldwide. Wearing an iconic David Emanuel gown with a 25-foot train, she became Princess of Wales and one of the most famous women in the world.

Image source: Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer

Birth of Prince William

Jun 21, 1982

Diana gave birth to her first son, Prince William Arthur Philip Louis, on June 21, 1982, at St Mary's Hospital in London. His birth was celebrated nationwide, and Diana was determined to raise him with more personal attention than traditional royal upbringing allowed.

Image source: William, Prince of Wales

Birth of Prince Harry

Sep 15, 1984

Diana's second son, Prince Henry Charles Albert David, was born on September 15, 1984, also at St Mary's Hospital. Diana doted on both boys, famously taking them to schools, amusement parks, fast-food restaurants, and homeless shelters to give them a broader view of life.

Image source: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex

Royal Duties and Charity Work

Royal tour of Australia and New Zealand

Mar 20, 1983 - Apr 25, 1983

Diana undertook her first major overseas tour with Prince Charles, visiting Australia and New Zealand in spring 1983, bringing baby William along. Her warmth, beauty, and ease with crowds made the tour a triumph and cemented her status as the 'People's Princess' in the public imagination.

Image source: British royal family

Becomes patron of the Royal Marsden Hospital

1985

In 1985, Diana became patron of the Royal Marsden Hospital, reflecting her deep interest in health-related causes. She visited cancer patients regularly, offering comfort and compassion, helping to reduce stigma around illness and demonstrating a hands-on approach to charity work that redefined royal philanthropy.

Image source: Royal Marsden Hospital

Visits AIDS patients, shaking hands without gloves

Apr 1987

In April 1987, Diana opened Britain's first dedicated AIDS ward at Middlesex Hospital and shook hands with an HIV-positive patient without wearing gloves. At a time of widespread fear and misinformation about AIDS, this simple gesture had enormous impact, challenging stigma and changing public perceptions of the disease.

Supports campaign against landmines begins to take shape

1991

During the early 1990s, Diana grew increasingly involved with humanitarian causes, including work with leprosy patients and children's charities like Centrepoint. Her interest in landmine victims developed during this period, eventually becoming one of her signature causes later in the decade.

Speaks at Harvard on eating disorders

Dec 1995

During a visit to the United States, Diana delivered a speech at Harvard University about eating disorders, drawing on her own experience with bulimia. Her willingness to speak openly about mental health issues helped destigmatize these conditions at a time when such topics were rarely discussed publicly.

Continues charity work after divorce

Sep 1996 - Aug 1997

Following her divorce, Diana retained patronages of key organizations including the National AIDS Trust and Centrepoint, and continued championing causes close to her heart. Freed from royal constraints, she adopted a more independent approach to humanitarian work and public appearances.

Walks through Angolan minefield for HALO Trust

Jan 15, 1997

In January 1997, Diana toured Angola with the HALO Trust, walking through an active minefield in protective gear and meeting landmine victims. The dramatic images drew international attention to the landmine crisis and pressured governments toward supporting a global ban, though critics accused her of political meddling.

Image source: HALO Trust

Meets Mother Teresa in New York

Jun 18, 1997

In June 1997, Diana met Mother Teresa in the Bronx, New York, where they spent time together discussing humanitarian issues. The meeting between two of the world's most famous charitable figures attracted global attention, and Mother Teresa later prayed for Diana after her death.

Image source: Mother Teresa

Auctions dresses for charity at Christie's

Jun 25, 1997

In June 1997, Christie's New York auctioned 79 of Diana's iconic gowns, raising approximately $3.25 million for AIDS and cancer charities. The auction symbolized her shedding of her former royal identity while generating substantial funds for the causes she cared about most.

Visits Bosnian landmine survivors

Aug 10, 1997 - Aug 12, 1997

Just weeks before her death, Diana traveled to Bosnia to meet landmine survivors and support demining efforts. Her final humanitarian mission reaffirmed her commitment to the anti-landmine cause and demonstrated her enduring dedication to the world's most vulnerable people until the very end of her life.

Divorce

Andrew Morton's tell-all biography 'Diana: Her True Story' published

Jun 1992

Andrew Morton's explosive biography revealed Diana's struggles with bulimia, depression, self-harm, and her unhappy marriage. It was later revealed that Diana had secretly cooperated with Morton through friends, making it an unprecedented act of a senior royal communicating grievances directly to the public via the press.

Image source: Diana: Her True Story (book)

Tampongate phone call transcript published

Nov 1992

In November 1992, transcripts of an intimate 1989 telephone conversation between Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles were published, humiliating Diana publicly. The scandal, coming shortly before the separation announcement, intensified media coverage of the deteriorating marriage and damaged the monarchy's reputation.

Image source: Charles III

Separation from Prince Charles announced

Dec 9, 1992

In December 1992, Prime Minister John Major announced to Parliament that Prince Charles and Diana were formally separating. The marriage had been troubled for years, strained by incompatibility, press scrutiny, and mutual unhappiness, marking the beginning of the end of the royal fairy tale.

Image source: Diana, Princess of Wales

Panorama interview with Martin Bashir

Nov 20, 1995

Diana gave a landmark television interview to BBC's Panorama on November 20, 1995, watched by over 20 million people. She spoke candidly about the affair, bulimia, and her feelings, famously saying she wanted to be 'a queen of people's hearts.' Years later, it emerged journalist Martin Bashir used deceptive tactics to obtain the interview.

Image source: Panorama (British TV programme)

Divorce from Prince Charles finalized

Aug 28, 1996

Diana and Charles officially divorced on August 28, 1996, ending nearly 15 years of marriage. She received a settlement reportedly worth around £17 million but lost the style 'Her Royal Highness,' remaining formally styled as 'Diana, Princess of Wales,' a change she found hurtful.

Death and Legacy

Summer vacation with Princes William and Harry in Saint-Tropez

Jul 1997 - Aug 1997

In summer 1997, Diana vacationed with her sons aboard Mohammed Al-Fayed's yacht Jonikal in the Mediterranean, accompanied by Al-Fayed's son Dodi Fayed. The paparazzi frenzy surrounding the romance and holiday foreshadowed the tragic events to come in Paris weeks later.

Death in Paris car crash

Aug 31, 1997

Diana died in the early hours of August 31, 1997, from injuries sustained when her car crashed in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris while fleeing paparazzi photographers. Driver Henri Paul and companion Dodi Fayed also died; the sole survivor was bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones. Her death shocked the entire world.

Public mourning and sea of flowers at Kensington Palace

Aug 31, 1997 - Sep 6, 1997

Following Diana's death, millions mourned publicly, leaving an unprecedented sea of flowers outside Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace. Criticism mounted against the royals for their initially muted response, forcing Queen Elizabeth II to address the nation and fly flags at half-mast, highlighting tensions between monarchy and public sentiment.

Image source: Death of Diana, Princess of Wales

Funeral at Westminster Abbey

Sep 6, 1997

Diana's funeral took place at Westminster Abbey on September 6, 1997, watched by an estimated 2.5 billion people worldwide. Her brother Charles Spencer's emotional eulogy criticized the media and the royal family, while Elton John performed a rewritten version of 'Candle in the Wind' in her honor.

Image source: Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales

French investigation concludes crash caused by drunk driving and speeding

Sep 1999

In 1999, French investigators concluded that the crash was caused by driver Henri Paul's intoxication and excessive speed, compounded by pursuing paparazzi. Subsequent British inquests in 2004-2008 confirmed accidental death, rejecting conspiracy theories that continued to circulate for decades afterward.

Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain opens in Hyde Park

Jul 6, 2004

Queen Elizabeth II unveiled a memorial fountain in Hyde Park honoring Diana in July 2004, designed by Kathryn Gustafson as a circular stream symbolizing Diana's openness and accessibility. The fountain remains a popular pilgrimage site for admirers remembering the beloved princess.

Image source: Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain

Statue of Diana unveiled by Princes William and Harry

Jul 1, 2021

Princes William and Harry reunited to unveil a statue of their mother in Kensington Palace's Sunken Garden on what would have been her 60th birthday. The statue honored Diana's legacy of compassion and marked a rare moment of unity between the estranged brothers in tribute to her memory.

Image source: Statue of Diana, Princess of Wales

Key Facts

Diana Frances Spencer was born on July 1, 1961, in Sandringham, England, into an aristocratic family.
She married Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, on July 29, 1981, in a wedding watched by an estimated 750 million people worldwide.
Diana had two sons, Prince William (born 1982) and Prince Harry (born 1984), both of whom are in the line of succession to the throne.
Her marriage to Charles ended in divorce in 1996, following their widely publicized separation announced in 1992.
Diana died on August 31, 1997, from injuries sustained in a car crash in Paris, prompting an unprecedented global outpouring of grief.

Source

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