After a whirlwind romance, Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer married in a fairy-tale 1981 Royal Wedding. However, after welcoming Prince William and Prince Harry, their marriage became a nightmare, with the Prince and Princess of Wales cheating on each other.
Diana famously said there were three people in their marriage. To hear all about the royal drama and the intrusion of a third party, keep reading!
A Prince Is Born
Prince Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor was born in Buckingham Palace on November 14th, 1948, during the reign of his grandfather, King George VI. When the reigning king passed away in 1952, his eldest daughter became Queen Elizabeth II, and Charles became first in line to the throne.
Charles became Prince of Wales in 1958, as most heirs apparent had been since Edward II in 1301. He was not invested until he was 21 in an elaborate ceremony at Caernarfon Castle in 1969.
Diana’s Early Years
Diana Frances Spencer was born on Sandringham Estate on July 1st, 1961. Her parents were John and Frances Spencer, Viscount and Viscountess of Althorp. She was born into nobility, and all four of Diana’s grandmothers were ladies-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. Diana was also a distant cousin of legendary British wartime Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.
Around the time Prince Charles became Prince of Wales, Diana’s parents divorced, although she continued to live at Sandringham Estate, which her noble family leased from the royal family.
Bachelor Charles
Prince Charles joined the Royal Navy and, believe it or not, was a bit of a ladies’ man. He dated Georgiana Russell, the daughter of Sir John Russell, who was the British ambassador to Spain, Lady Jane Wellesley, the daughter of the 8th Duke of Wellington, Davina Sheffield, and Camilla Rosemary Shand, whom he was besotted with.
Camilla was the love of his life, but he returned from a naval posting to find out she had married Andrew Parker Bowles, becoming Camilla Parker Bowles. More on her later…
princess diana in bikini
Princess Diana was photographed on multiple occasions in chic swimwear, capturing the attention and admiration of the public and media alike. The image you’ve shared shows her wearing a colorful, patterned bandeau bikini, reflecting her personal style that often blended elegance with casual ease.
This particular photo was likely taken during one of her many vacations, a time when the Princess could step away from the public eye and enjoy private moments, although such privacy was often fleeting due to her immense popularity and the ever-present paparazzi.
Prince Charles Meets Lady Diana
In November 1977, 29-year-old Charles was dating Diana’s older sister, Lady Sarah Spencer. When he visited Sarah at their Althorp Estate family home, he was rather smitten with Diana, a 16-year-old schoolgirl.
Diana later admitted, “We sort of met in a plowed field […] I made a lot of noise, and he liked that, and he came up to me after dinner, and we had a big dance.” Charles joked, “I remember thinking what a very jolly, amusing, and attractive 16-year-old she was.”
