Princess Diana was indeed one of the most photographed figures of her time, and her life, marked by both glamour and difficulty, was constantly in the public eye. Her death, which shocked the world, is often attributed to the relentless pressure of the tabloid culture that surrounded her. While her every move was scrutinized, some rare and intimate moments offer a deeper insight into the woman behind the headlines. Here are a few moments that highlight her life:
Ski Trip: A beautiful snapshot of Diana enjoying a ski trip with her sons, William and Harry, in Austria. This moment captures the warmth and joy of family life, with Harry, at only 9 years old, looking particularly adorable.

A Whirlwind Romance: The early days of Diana and Prince Charles’ relationship were brief but intense. After just twelve dates, they announced their engagement in 1981, and their wedding became a national holiday in the UK. The extravagance of their union was celebrated by millions, but it was also complicated by the couple’s lack of deep personal knowledge of each other.

Wedding Details: Diana’s wedding to Charles was filled with grandeur. The couple had 27 wedding cakes, with the official cake created by the Royal Naval cooking school’s lead baker, David Avery. Even after 33 years, a piece of the wedding cake was sold at auction for $1,375 in 2014.

Engagement Ring: Diana’s choice of engagement ring was quite unconventional. Unlike the custom-designed rings most royals receive, Diana chose her 12-carat sapphire ring from a catalog. It later became iconic and was passed down to Kate Middleton.

Independent Woman: Diana made history on her wedding day by taking out the word “obey” from her vows, a bold departure from royal tradition. This decision was groundbreaking, and Kate Middleton later followed Diana’s example during her own wedding to Prince William in 2011.

Wasting Away: The pressure of the wedding and the media frenzy surrounding it took a visible toll on Diana’s appearance. She began losing weight, likely due to stress and nerves. Despite 15 fittings for her iconic wedding dress, Diana continued to lose weight, making it difficult for the dressmakers to keep up with her changing size. On the morning of the wedding, she was even sewn into the dress to ensure it fit perfectly.

Early Troubles: Prince Charles was reportedly dealing with his own internal turmoil in the lead-up to the wedding. According to biographer Sally Beddel Smith, Charles was still in love with his former mistress, Camilla Parker-Bowles, and was pressured by his family to marry Diana. He reportedly shed tears the night before the wedding, indicating the emotional strain he was under.

Just Like Cinderella: Diana’s height created additional concerns for her wedding day. At 5’10”, she was taller than Charles, and she wanted to avoid overshadowing him. To address this, she wore custom-made silk slippers with low heels. The slippers were beautiful and detailed, adorned with 542 sequins, 132 pearls, and a “C” and “D” with a love heart on the hidden arch, symbolizing her love and connection with Charles.

The Nerves: On top of everything, Diana was so nervous that she made a blunder during the wedding ceremony. When she arrived at the altar, she accidentally called Prince Charles by his full name, “Philip Charles Arthur George,” instead of “Charles Philip,” which only added to the tension of the day.

Watched by Millions: Diana and Charles’s wedding became an unprecedented global spectacle. It was broadcast live in 74 countries, and a staggering 750 million people around the world tuned in to watch. With over 3,500 guests in attendance, it remains the most-watched royal wedding in history, solidifying its place as an iconic moment.

The Forgotten Kiss: In a traditional royal wedding, the kiss that seals the vows is one of the most memorable moments. However, on their wedding day, Prince Charles was so nervous that he forgot to kiss Diana after the vows. Fortunately, the couple made up for the missed moment when they appeared on the balcony for a kiss that was cheered by millions of onlookers.

Working Girl: Before Diana became the Princess of Wales, she lived a relatively ordinary life, which made her relatable to many. She worked as a kindergarten teacher’s assistant, marking a rare instance of a royal bride having a job before her engagement. Her independence and normalcy were aspects of her personality that endeared her to the public.

Ex in Attendance: Diana was aware of Charles’s ongoing relationship with Camilla Parker-Bowles, and while Camilla was invited to the wedding, Diana made it clear that she didn’t want her at the more private and exclusive wedding breakfast. This decision showcased Diana’s awareness of the complexities surrounding her marriage.

Train Troubles: One of the most iconic aspects of Diana’s wedding dress was its enormous 25-foot train, which proved to be quite problematic on the day. The dress designers had not anticipated how difficult it would be to navigate with such a long train, particularly in the carriage that Diana traveled in. When she exited the carriage, the dress had wrinkles, which showed the challenges of handling such a grand gown on the big day.

Tiara in Training: Diana’s wedding tiara, the Spencer Tiara, was a significant part of her bridal look, but it came with its own set of challenges. Her brother, Charles Spencer, revealed that the tiara gave Diana a headache as she wasn’t used to wearing such an elaborate piece for long periods. Despite this discomfort, she wore the tiara with grace, as it had been a family heirloom for nearly a century.

Red Flag: There were signs of tension in the marriage early on. When asked about being “in love,” Diana responded with “Of course,” but Charles’s response, “Whatever ‘in love’ means,” indicated some uncertainty about the relationship. This moment, along with others, suggested that their marriage might not have been as harmonious as it appeared on the surface.

Another Love (Perfume Mishap): Diana experienced a wedding day mishap when she accidentally spilled an entire bottle of her favorite perfume, Quelques Fleures, on her dress. The resulting stain was something she discreetly covered up with her bouquet during the ceremony. Despite the slip-up, she managed to maintain her composure throughout the day.

Heightened Security: Given the immense public interest and the security threats surrounding the royal wedding, the couple had to implement extraordinary security measures. The security reportedly cost around $110 million, ensuring that the day would go off without any interruptions or incidents.

Safety First (Dress Design Security): To protect the secrecy of her wedding dress, Diana and her designers took significant precautions. They even placed a safe in the studio to keep the designs under wraps and prevent anyone from sneaking a peek. The lengths they went to kept the dress a surprise until the big day.

Wedding Gifts: The royal couple received numerous luxurious gifts from around the world. Among them were an engraved Steuben glass bowl and a handmade porcelain centerpiece from the Reagans, a special bottle of whiskey from Scotland, matching diamond and sapphire watches, and even 100-year-old silk mittens. These gifts were a testament to the global admiration the couple received.

Misery Uncovered: Despite the external image of joy, Diana later expressed her unhappiness in private. Footage released in 2017 showed her saying that her wedding day was “the worst day of my life,” referring to the pain caused by Charles’s ongoing connection to Camilla Parker-Bowles. In a private conversation with a friend, Diana wished her husband would leave with Camilla and never return, revealing the deep emotional toll the marriage took on her.

Distant Relations: After their marriage, a surprising detail emerged: Diana and Charles were distant cousins! They were both 16th cousins once removed, as they both descended from King Henry VII of the Tudor dynasty. This familial connection added an unexpected layer to their already complicated relationship.

The Honeymoon: After the wedding, the couple embarked on their honeymoon, a Mediterranean cruise that offered them a chance for some private time together. However, given the complexities of their relationship, it’s unclear how much the honeymoon was able to provide the quality time they both needed.

These details, from the tiara discomfort to the secret footage of Diana’s unhappiness, paint a more nuanced picture of the royal wedding and the challenges that Princess Diana faced in her marriage to Prince Charles. While the world watched with awe, there were personal struggles behind the scenes that would come to shape her story.