Princess Diana was and still is one of the most famous women in the world. She was one of the most popular members of the British Royal family, known for her outstanding beauty and style, but more than that she was loved for her humility, warmness, cheeky sense of humor and contributions during her years as an activist.
It may have been 22 years since a tragic accident took Princess Diana’s life, but even after all these years, millions of fans from all over the world are still honoring the wonderful legacy the Princess left behind. In memory of the Princess, we have rounded up 7 facts about Princess Diana of Wales that made her so special.
This may be also be a good read for the younger generations about the life and legacy of the People’s Princess.
1. She Had A Series Of Low-Paying Jobs Before Becoming A Royal Bride
When she relocated to London, she took on a series of low-paying jobs which included a dance instructor, a nanny, and even did some cleaning work for her sister, Sarah and her friends. Following her engagement to Prince Charles, she left her job as a kindergarten assistant, making her the first-ever royal bride to have had a paying job prior to becoming engaged to an heir.
2. Her Wedding To Prince Charles Is Known As The Wedding Of The Century
On Wednesday, July 29th 1981, Princess Diana married British heir Prince Charles. The wedding was the most anticipated wedding of the century, attended by 3,500 guests at St Paul’s Cathedral, 2 million spectators lined the route of the procession, and watched by over 750 million people all around the world. Her ivory silk taffeta wedding dress was adorned with antique lace and over 10,000 sequins and pearls and included a 25ft long train, making it the longest train in royal history. The wedding was estimated to cost over $48 million.
3. Her Engagement Ring Was Chosen From A Catalogue
Her amazing engagement ring like the ones at moissanite rings store was one of a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon Sapphire, surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds set in 18-carat white gold. While it is uncustomary of royal brides, Princess Diana selected her ring from a Garrard jewelry catalogue. It became one of the most popular rings nonetheless, and now belongs to Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge’s finger.
4. She Had A Wicked Sense of Humor
Her younger son, Prince Harry opened up about what his mother, Princess Diana was like behind closed doors in the ITV documentary Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy. “Behind closed doors, she was a loving mother and an incredibly funny person, all I can hear is her laugh in my head,” the Prince said as he shared fond memories of his mother.
5. She Was Famous For Writing “Thank You” Cards
Despite being spoiled with the glits and glam of a royal life, Princess Diana never take anyone for granted. She had a thoughtful habit of writing thank you cards and would take time out to prepare them before attending events. When her son Prince William was born, she wrote thousands of thank you notes to the thousands of people who sent the newborn Prince gifts.
6. She Destroyed AIDS Stigma
Princess Diana was a very passionate HIV/AIDS activist. In April 1987, she shook the world by shaking an HIV patient’s hand without wearing gloves during her visit to the London Middlesex Hospital. This ended the stigma against HIV/AIDS patients and educated the world that AIDS is not transmittable by handshakes.
7. She Was An Iconic Humanitarian Figure Who Was Involved In Multiple Charities
Princess Diana supported over 100 charities, with one of the most famous ones being the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, which won the Nobel Peace Prize a few months following her death. This legacy is lived through her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry to this day.
Princess Diana passed away in a tragic car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, and was laid to rest on an island in an ornamental lake on her family’s estate, Althorp Park. Her funeral was watched by 2.5 billion people worldwide.
What are your favorite things about Princess Diana of Wales? Leave a comment!
Header Source: The Australian | HELLO Magazine | Extra.IE | CNN | Brides.com
