Diana Spencer-Princess of Wales

           

                               Diana Spencer-Princess of Wales 
 

                                       

          
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

   Contents

   Introduction 3

   CHAPTER 1 Childhood and teenage years 5

   1.1 Birth of a princess 5

   1.2 Diana’s education 6 

    CHAPTER 2 Marriage and family life 8

   2.1 The first meeting and the beginning of the romance 8

   2.2 The Royal wedding 9

   2.3 A member of the Royal family 11

   2.4 Dark sides of marriage 14

   CHAPTER 3 The tragic death 18

   3.1 The fatal accident 18

   3.2 Conspiracy theories 21

   3.3 Charities and patronage 24

   Conclusion 26

   Literature 27 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Introduction 

    The course paper is devoted to probably one of the most extraordinary and outstanding people in the history of Great Britain - Princess Diana Spencer. She was an angel of light; people from all over the world loved her and saw her as a glamorous leader of fashion, a caring mother and more recently as the undisputed champion of the under-privileged, the handicapped and the elderly. She did more than had ever been done before to focus attention on what were previously unmentionable subjects, and the practical and constructive way in which she displayed her compassion and sympathy was a fine demonstration of modern royalty at work.

    The problems described in the research are: Diana’s life, her charity and her unexpected death. The accent is made on the biography of the Princess which helped us to know more about everything what had happened in her life and analyze this or that decision she had made. All these will be written below.

    The object of the study is British Royal Family.

    The subject of the research is Diana’s public role and her tragic fate.

    The main purpose of the course paper is to describe and analyze Diana’s life and the problems she had to face during it.

    The following tasks are set up:

    1. To look through and study the books on the topic;

    2. To give the precise description of Diana’s life and the situation in the family;

    3. To define Diana’s relationship with her husband and the reasons of their separation.

    4. To find out more about the theories concerned with the death of the Princess.

     The main methods used to achieve the aim are: description, analysis, synthesis.

    The novelty of the work lies in the fact that some aspects of Diana’s biography, in particular her relations with the family, are not fully studied and thoroughly examined by other researchers.

    The topicality of the theme of this course paper is determined by the increasing interest in society towards the Royal Family in Britain and Diana Spencer as a member of it.

    The course paper consists of 3 parts. In chapter 1 attention is given to Diana’s childhood, her parents and siblings. Chapter 2 describes Princess’s family life with Charles, their wedding and children. Chapter 3 analyses Princess Diana’s death, her charity and public role.

    The work is based on the research of American, British authors such as Martin Gitlin, Sherry Beck Paprocki, Andrew Morton and others. The theoretical basis of the research was also formed by the material of the Internet sources, encyclopedias and educational supplies. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

    CHAPTER 1 Childhood and teenage years 

    In this chapter attention is given to little Diana. Here will be said about her relationship with parents, siblings. We‘ll find out about the problems Diana had to face in her childhood, about her education and career. 

    1.1 Birth of a princess 

    Diana Frances Spencer was born on 1 July 1961 at Park House near Sandringham, Norfolk. A simple note in the local newspaper announced her birth a few days later, before her parents had even given her a name. She was the youngest of three daughters of Edward John Spencer (most commonly referred to as “Johnnie”) and first wife Frances. Though Johnnie marveled that the baby was ideal physically, he felt a distinct sense of disappointment that yet another birth had failed to produce a male heir to carry on the Spencer name.

      In fact, the couple was so hopeful that Frances would give birth to a boy that they hadn’t considered what to name a girl. Only a week after the birth they chose Diana Frances, which combined the names of the infant’s mother and an eighteenth-century Spencer ancestress who died in her childhood. Johnnie’s frustration at the lack of a male child had reached its zenith. He and Frances had already begun raising daughters Elizabeth Sarah and Cynthia Jane when a boy was born in their family. But infant John was so horribly deformed and ill that he survived a mere 10 hours. The baby was taken from Frances upon birth with little explanation. It was the last time she set eyes on her son. A lung malfunction had taken his life. However, the depression over the death of her baby didn’t prevent Frances from immediately trying to become pregnant again. The result was the birth of Diana and heightened disappointment over the lack of a male heir. When Diana came along, it has been said that she was nearly overlooked because her parents were so focused on producing a male heir. Finally, in 1964, Diana’s younger brother, Charles, was born and became the official heir to the earldom [5, p.1-2].

  In her childhood, Diana lived with her parents and siblings in a large Victorian home, known as Park House, which was located in northern England. The girl enjoyed fun-filled days playing on the Sandringham Estate with her siblings and other royals who showed up to vacation there—including the queen’s son Prince Andrew, who was only a year older than Diana.

  Although Diana started riding horses when she was three years old, a fall several years later made her afraid to ride. She also developed a fondness for animals of all sizes. She had a cat named Marmalade, as well as hamsters, rabbits, and goldfish. Diana and her siblings learned the basics of reading and writing in a schoolroom on the house’s first floor, where their governess taught them.

  Despite happiness and prosperity young Diana had to face some problems. The marriage between her parents began to deteriorate. Years later, the Spencer children, including Diana, recalled fights between their parents. When Diana was six years old, her mother gave up her title and left Park House. She assumed that the girl and her brother would be living with her, and she enrolled them in a London school [1, p.40]. But Diana’s father went to court and received custody of the children. He brought them back to Park House. What began as a carefree childhood became one that was scattered between two homes and infected with sadness. Pretty soon Frances married a wealthy man named Peter Shand Kydd and Diana’s father married a woman named Raine Legge. Neither of her parents had any children from their second marriages. Diana also did not get along with either her stepmother or stepfather. 

  1.2 Diana’s education 

  Lady Diana was educated first at a preparatory school, Riddlesworth Hall at Diss, Norfolk, and then in 1974 went as a boarder to West Heath, near Sevenoaks, Kent. At school she showed a particular talent for music (as an accomplished pianist), dancing and domestic science, and gave maximum help to the school and her school fellows. At West Heath, Diana developed a fascination with history and English, but she also learned about serving those who were less privileged by participating in the school’s programs that visited the elderly and the handicapped. In fact, she seemed to excel at working with people who were less fortunate. As the future princess finished her education at West Heath, she was given a special award for her community service. She left West Heath in 1977 and went to finishing school at the Institute Alpin Videmanette in Rougemont, Switzerland, where she was supposed to learn French and the finer skills of sewing and cooking but she left it after the Easter term of 1978. The following year she moved to a flat in Coleherne Court, London. There Diana attended a cooking school for three months. For a short time, she taught ballet to toddlers at a school run by her former West Heath teacher. At home, she was a tidy young woman who made sure that the apartment was kept clean and the dishes were done. In the fall of 1979, Diana became an assistant teacher at a school called the Young England Kindergarten. Several months later, she began to work as a nanny two days a week for an American family [12]. 

  Most people think that Diana had easy and carefree childhood. In this chapter it was said about the divorce of the Princess’s parents and difficult relationship with her stepmother and stepfather. All this led to her great affection towards siblings. And to the fact that young Diana from her earliest years tried to help other people. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

CHAPTER 2 Marriage and family life  

   In this chapter will be said about Diana and her husband Prince Charles. The Royal wedding and Diana’s life after the ceremony will be described. Diana will appear as caring mother and loving wife. 

  2.1 The first meeting and the beginning of the romance 

  Although she had met him briefly as a child, Diana officially met Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, when she was 17 years old. Her sister Sarah brought him home for a hunting weekend at Althorp. The Spencer family hosted a dinner and dance in his honor, and, although he became acquainted with Diana, Sarah was his official date. Several months later, the romance cooled off when Sarah told a magazine reporter that she would never marry anyone she did not love.

  In 1979 both Sarah and Diana were invited to Charles’s thirtieth birthday party at Buckingham Palace. Although Charles had another date for the evening, Diana was happy to be there with him. Prince Charles had known Diana for several years, but he first took a serious interest in her as a potential bride during the summer of 1980 when Diana was invited to a house party by some of the prince’s friends. More events and activities followed in the fall. Charles invited Diana to attend a performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem, and her grandmother went along as a chaperone. After the performance, the three of them went to Buckingham Palace for dinner [6, p.70].

  Their relationship developed and some years later Charles took Diana to the house he had just purchased. It was another sprawling home, called Highgrove, with nine bedrooms that sat on 347 acres. Diana was surprised when Charles asked her to decorate it.

  On February 6, 1981, Charles invited Diana to join him for a quiet dinner at Windsor Castle. It was there that he proposed and reminded her that, if she accepted, she would one day become the Queen of England. At first, Diana giggled. Then she quickly accepted his proposal.

   Their engagement became official on 24 February 1981, after Diana selected a large ring consisting of 14 diamonds, similar to her mother's engagement ring. The ring was made by the crown jewellers Garrard but unusually, for a member of the Royal Family, the ring was not unique and was, at the time, featured in Garrard's jewellery collection. The ring was later used in 2010 as the engagement ring of Kate Middleton, the fiancée of Diana's elder son Prince William [13].

   Diana’s fairy tale life, it seemed, was about to begin. In a matter of months, she would ride in a historic glass coach to St. Paul’s Cathedral, where she would marry the man of her dreams. 

  2.2 The Royal wedding 

  After the engagement Diana moved into her own apartment at Buckingham Palace but she felt lonely and isolated in the palace. Because each member of the family had a private apartment and Diana saw little of the royal family. She no longer worked as a nanny or a kindergarten teacher; her new job was to learn how to be a member of the royal family—and she found the days long and often boring. Sometimes she wandered the palace halls, chatting with staff or visiting the kitchen for a snack. According to royal protocol, this behavior was considered extremely inappropriate. Living inside the palace was very different from what she had originally imagined.

  In the meantime, preparations for the royal wedding continued. Although the Queen sent thousands of invitations, Diana was allowed only 100 invitations for friends. Her parents each received 50 invitations for their close friends and family members. Even Charles was only allowed 300 for his personal use [2].

  Everyone waited with great anticipation for the wedding of the century. Despite all of the media attention, little was known about Diana’s feelings of anxiety in the days leading up to the big event. In public, she generally looked happy. In private, she was in turmoil. She was unsure of the role she needed to play as the new Princess of Wales. She felt very alone, even though she was about to marry one of the most sought-after men in the world.

  Nearly a week before the wedding, Diana and Charles gave a television interview. Charles mentioned that more than 3,000 gifts and 100,000 letters had arrived since their engagement was announced. U.S. president Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy, sent an expensive glass bowl made by the Steuben glass company. From her home in Texas, the former American ambassador to Britain, Ann Armstrong, sent western boots for Charles and chaps for Diana.

  All of London seemed caught up in the wedding preparations. Two young designers named David and Elizabeth Emanuel worked on Diana’s dress, which featured antique lace embroidered with pearls and sequins; a thin, body-hugging waist; and a memorable 25-foot train. The royal baker worked hard to create the massive fruitcake, milliners worked diligently on hats ordered by royal guests.

  The evening before their wedding, Charles sent Diana a kind note that said, “I am so proud of you and when you come up the aisle I’ll be there at the altar for you tomorrow. Just look ’em in the eye and knock ’em dead” [1, p.167-168].

  On the morning of July 29, 1981the crowd began to grow out on the Mall. People had come from near and far to watch the royal procession, which would include Diana in a glass carriage as well as other carriages to take the royal family to the church. A hairstylist, a make-up artist, and the dress designers were there to help her prepare for the event that 750 million people around the world would watch [6, p.94].

  The bell in the church tower struck 11:00 a.m., and the organist started to play a song called “Trumpet Voluntary.” Diana, the fairy-tale princess, began her slow procession to the altar. She was focused on Charles; her prince was waiting for her at the altar in the full dress of a Royal Navy commander.

  The ceremony was broadcasted to television stations around the world by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) from 21 cameras set up inside the church. Translators provided commentary for the ceremony in 34 languages.

  The wedding party departed the church, and this time Diana rode with Prince Charles as they proceeded back to Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s planned breakfast. Close family participated in the Queen’s breakfast, while other guests were invited to a lunch given by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Later that day, a soiree was thrown by Lady Elizabeth Shakerly, a friend of the royal family. Around London and the English countryside, other, smaller events also were planned, including an English barbecue in an Oxfordshire village and a reenactment of the royal wedding in Tetbury [9, p.46].

  After the breakfast Charles and Diana headed off for a two-week Mediterranean cruise on the royal yacht Britannia. But soon all her dreams of a fairy tale honeymoon, of being alone with her husband, of simply feeling happy, were dashed. The clash in personality and interests between Diana and Charles became apparent during their honeymoon. So did the vast age difference. The prince was most comfortable fishing or reading. Diana, meanwhile, spent much of her time with the crew, with whom she had more fun. She even thrilled the sailors with an impromptu performance on the piano. Diana would have preferred spending more time with her new husband, but Charles hoped she would develop an interest in what he enjoyed. When it became apparent that he wasn’t about to give her his undivided attention, Diana felt spurned. Diana’s unhappiness both frightened and frustrated Charles. He had no answers. She wanted him near, but remaining close to his unhappy wife wasn’t his idea of fun and it certainly didn’t seem to help. Yet when he left her alone, she felt abandoned. Charles felt sorry for her, but he had always preferred strong women in his life. Diana’s weaknesses only served to prevent his feelings for her to grow [5, p.47-49].

  2.3 A member of the Royal family 

  After the wedding, Diana and Charles moved into an apartment in Kensington Palace in London. Diana much preferred to spend time in London than at the rural Highgrove Estate. She was frequently bored at Highgrove, even though the spacious home had been redecorated and its garden newly landscaped. Charles loved to ride his horses or work in his garden, but Diana preferred their London apartment at Kensington Palace [2].

  Certainly, the young princess stayed busy. It was estimated that she had approximately 170 official royal obligations a year, including her attendance at the opening of the British Parliament, the Royal Ascot race, the Chelsea Flower Show, the Wimbledon tennis tournament, and more garden parties than anyone could count [3].

  When she traveled abroad, Diana took a lot of luggage. Princess Diana did not need to work; her job was to make special appearances on behalf of the royal family. By some press accounts, during her first year of marriage, Diana spent about $2,500 a week on clothes. She even convinced Charles to begin wearing brighter ties and less somber suits. Women all over the world loved Diana. They started to style their hair the same way that Diana did. They admired the young princess’s clothing, her jewelry, and her worldwide status. Although Diana was extremely popular during their travels around the world, when she was back at the palace no one seemed to pay much attention to the newest member of the royal family. The attention the media gave Diana continued to grow, but the young princess received little advice from the palace about how to deal with it. In public, Diana was a shining star. In private, however, she still faced many challenges.