Princess Diana was best known for her charitable work and style. Credit: Alamy
The royal, born Diana Frances Spencer, was from British nobility and first became acquainted with King Charles at Althorp, the Spencer family home, in 1977, per People magazine.
King Charles, who was 29 when they met, said: “I remember thinking what a very jolly and amusing and attractive 16-year-old she was.
“I mean, great fun, and bouncy and full of life and everything.”
When Princess Diana was asked about her first impressions of King Charles, she responded: “Simply amazing.”
King Charles and Princess Diana divorced after fifteen years of marriage. Credit: Alamy
Princess Diana and King Charles tied the knot in 1981 and one year later welcomed Prince William. In 1984, the former couple announced the arrival of their second son, Prince Harry.
After fifteen years of marriage, the royals divorced in 1996.
A representative for the princess released a statement: “The Princess of Wales has agreed to Prince Charles’s request for a divorce.
“The Princess will continue to be involved in all decisions relating to the children and will remain at Kensington Palace with offices in St. James’s Palace.
“The Princess of Wales will retain the title and be known as Diana, Princess of Wales.”
In July 1997, Princess Diana seemingly began dating Dodi Al Fayed, a film producer and the son of Egyptian billionaire businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed.
Just one month later, the 36-year-old, alongside Fayed and their chauffeur, Henri Paul, tragically died following a high-speed car crash in Paris. The princess’s bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, was left seriously injured.
Princess Diana died in the early hours of August 31, 1997. Credit: Alamy
In the late hours of August 30, Princess Diana and Fayed checked out of the Ritz in Paris – its head of security Paul drove them from the hotel.
The car was followed by photographers and the press on motorcycles, with their every move being tracked.
Moments later, the car crashed, killing Paul and Fayed.
CNN reported that Princess Diana died in the early hours of August 31 after suffering massive internal injuries.
She reportedly suffered lung damage and severe head injuries, as well as a cardiac arrest.
Dr. Bruno Riou, head of Paris’ Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital’s intensive care unit, stated: “We could not revive her.”
Princess Diana tragically died as a result of a car crash. Credit: Alamy
It would be found that Paul was over the alcohol limit, reports the BBC. The Guardian reports that a French judge later ruled that Paul was responsible for the crash, not the photographers and the press pursuing the car.
The BBC reported that millions of people around the world watched Princess Diana’s funeral.
Her youngest son, Prince Harry, told Newsweek: “My mother had just died and I had to walk a long way behind her coffin, surrounded by thousands of people watching me while millions more did on television.
“I don’t think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances. I don’t think it would happen today.”
Despite over 26 years having passed since Princess Diana’s tragic death, there’s still much confusion surrounding the events of the evening.
One of the people at the scene on that fateful night was firefighter Xavier Gourmelon, who didn’t initially realize who the princess was.
Firefighter Xavier Gourmelon has shared Princess Diana’s final words. Credit: ITV
The firefighter said Princess Diana’s eyes were open and she was conscious.
He recounted to The Sun: “I could see she had a slight injury to her right shoulder but, other than that, there was nothing significant. There was no blood on her at all.”
Gourmelon also claims she spoke her final words to him, which heartbreakingly were: “My God, what’s happened?”