Diana, Princess of Wales, was a shy kindergarten assistant who married the heir to the British throne at 20 and became one of the most photographed women in the world. She spent the next 16 years redefining what a royal could do in public: holding the hand of an AIDS patient, walking through a minefield, and telling millions of viewers about her unhappy marriage on live television. She died in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, at age 36. Nearly three decades on, she is still in the news, and this week the reason is a new memoir by her brother.
What Was Princess Diana’s Real Name?
She was born Diana Frances Spencer. She was known as Lady Diana Spencer from 1975, when her father inherited the earldom, until her wedding in 1981. After her 1996 divorce, she lost the title “Her Royal Highness” and was styled Diana, Princess of Wales.
How Old Would Princess Diana Be?
She was born on July 1, 1961, so she would have turned 65 in July 2026. She was 36 when she died.
Where Was Princess Diana From?
She was born at Park House on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England, a property leased from the royal family. Her father was John Spencer, then Viscount Althorp and later the 8th Earl Spencer, and her mother was Frances Roche. She had two older sisters, Sarah and Jane, and a younger brother, Charles, who later became the 9th Earl Spencer. Her parents divorced when she was a child, and she grew up largely in her father’s household. In 1975 the family moved to Althorp in Northamptonshire, the estate where she is now buried.
Early Life and Education
Diana attended Riddlesworth Hall and then West Heath School in Kent. She was not a strong student and left school without academic qualifications, though she was known for swimming and dance. A brief stint at a Swiss finishing school followed. In London, she worked as a nanny and cleaner and then as an assistant at the Young England Kindergarten in Pimlico, the job she held when the world first noticed her.
The Royal Engagement and Wedding
She began dating Prince Charles in 1980. Their engagement was announced on February 24, 1981, and they were married on July 29, 1981, at St Paul’s Cathedral. The ceremony drew a television audience in the hundreds of millions. Her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, were born in 1982 and 1984.
The marriage came apart in public. Their separation was announced in December 1992, and the divorce was finalized on August 28, 1996.
Breaking the Royal Mold: Charity Work
Diana’s most lasting work happened away from ceremonial duty. In April 1987, she shook hands, without gloves, with a patient at a new HIV/AIDS unit at Middlesex Hospital. At a time when fear and stigma around the disease were high, the moment was widely credited with challenging the myth that it spread through casual touch.
She supported causes including Great Ormond Street Hospital, the Royal Marsden, the homelessness charity Centrepoint, and leprosy care. In January 1997, she visited landmine clearance sites in Angola with the HALO Trust, and she returned to the subject with a visit to Bosnia that August, weeks before her death. In June 1997 she auctioned off dresses in New York to raise money for charity.
Diana and the Media
She had a complicated relationship with the press. She courted it when she needed publicity for a cause, and she was hounded by it constantly. Two moments defined that dynamic. In 1992, Andrew Morton’s book Diana: Her True Story drew heavily on her own cooperation and laid out the pain of her marriage. Then, on November 20, 1995, she sat down with the BBC’s Martin Bashir for the Panorama interview, watched by a huge British audience. A 2021 inquiry later found that Bashir used deceitful methods to secure it, and the BBC apologized.
There was also the “revenge dress,” a black off-the-shoulder gown she wore to a Serpentine Gallery event in June 1994, the same night a documentary featuring Charles aired. It became one of the most talked-about outfits in modern fashion history.
Her Death and Funeral
Diana died in the early hours of August 31, 1997, after a crash in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris. Her companion, Dodi Fayed, and the driver, Henri Paul, also died. A 2008 British inquest jury ruled that the deaths were unlawful killing, caused by the grossly negligent driving of Paul and of the vehicles pursuing them.
Her funeral was held at Westminster Abbey on September 6, 1997. Her brother gave a widely remembered tribute, and Elton John performed a reworked version of “Candle in the Wind,” which became one of the best-selling singles of all time. She was buried on an island in a lake at Althorp.
Diana on Screen
Diana has been played by several actors, and the portrayals are a big part of why she stays in the public eye.
- Diana (2013): Naomi Watts starred as the princess, in a film directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel that focused on her last years.
- The Crown (Netflix): Emma Corrin played the young Diana in season four (2020), winning a Golden Globe for the role. Elizabeth Debicki took over for the fifth and sixth seasons.
- Spencer (2021): Kristen Stewart earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for a film set over a single Christmas weekend in 1991, directed by Pablo Larraín.
- Diana: The Musical: it played on Broadway in 2021, and a filmed version reached Netflix.
- The Princess (2022): a documentary built entirely from archival footage.
Legacy and Honors
Diana did not receive traditional industry honors, but her memory has been marked in several ways. The Diana Award was created in her name in 1999 to recognize young people doing humanitarian work. A memorial fountain opened in Hyde Park in 2004. In July 2021, William and Harry unveiled a statue of their mother in the gardens at Kensington Palace.
Latest News: A New Book and a Royal Rebuttal
Status: publication date confirmed, September 22, 2026.
The biggest Diana story this week is Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, a memoir by her brother, Charles Spencer. The book is being published by Michael Joseph in the UK on September 22, 2026, ahead of the 30th anniversary of Diana’s death in August 2027.
Extracts have already caused a stir. Spencer claims that King Charles reacted angrily on the phone after Diana’s death and said she would soon be forgotten, an allegation Buckingham Palace has firmly rejected. This is Spencer’s account of a private call, and the Palace disputes it. A Penguin Random House spokesperson has confirmed that the passages published by the Daily Mail are accurate to the book, and other extracts describe Spencer’s view of Diana’s unhappy relationship with Charles, including a claim that she tried to end the engagement.
There was also a major book last year on the Panorama scandal. Dianarama by former BBC reporter Andy Webb re-examines the interview and draws on internal BBC documents. And this month, a new Princess Diana floral exhibition is being held in support of The Diana Award.
Frequently Asked Questions About Princess Diana
What was Princess Diana’s real name? Diana Frances Spencer.
When was she born and how old would she be? July 1, 1961. She would have turned 65 in July 2026.
How did she die? In a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, at age 36. A 2008 inquest ruled it unlawful killing.
Did she have children? Yes, two sons: William and Harry.
Where is she buried? On an island in a lake at Althorp in Northamptonshire.
Who has played her on screen? Among others, Naomi Watts, Emma Corrin, Elizabeth Debicki and Kristen Stewart.