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Birth
Diana, princess of Wales (born July 1, 1961, Sandringham, Norfolk, England -
Early life and education
At school Diana excelled in athletics, music, and art. She did not enjoy math and science. One of her favorite things to do was to work with the elderly and the disabled. She loved to help others. When she completed boarding school at the age of sixteen, she went to finishing school in Switzerland. Finishing school is where girls from high society families learn about cooking, dancing, and attending parties. -
Meeting Prince Charles
Diana had first met Prince Charles when she was sixteen years old. However, it was three years later when they met again at a friend's party that their romance began. For a time, their romance was secret and kept from the newspapers. -
A Huge Wedding
On February 6, 1981 the prince asked Lady Diana to marry him. This was big news in Britain. The public was fascinated with the couple. Their wedding would be the event of the century. Before the wedding, Diana moved into Buckingham Palace where she learned all about being a princess. The wedding was going to be huge and the rituals complex. She didn't want to make a mistake. On July 29, 1981, the wedding finally took place at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. -
Charity
Both during her marriage to Prince Charles and after, Princess Diana spent much of her time and efforts bringing attention to various charities. She would often visit sick children or battered women. She spoke for groups such as the Red Cross and AIDS foundations. One of her major efforts was to outlaw the use of landmines in battle. Landmines are often left long after a war is over, causing deaths and injuries to innocent people including children. -
Divorce
Charles was cold and intellectual, the exact opposite of Diana. Charles was often jealous of Diana's popularity with the press and the people of England. He had also remained close friends with his former girlfriend Camilla Parker. By the 1990s, the marriage was over. Their divorce was announced in 1992 by England's Prime Minister at the House of Commons. The divorce became final in 1996. -
Death
On August 31, 1997 Diana was traveling in Paris with a friend named Dodi Fayed. The car they were in was being chased by paparazzi (photographers who follow celebrities). The car crashed, killing both Diana and Dodi. Her death was mourned by much of the world. It is estimated that 2.5 billion people watched her funeral on TV.