Princess Diana

## **Lore**

Diana, Princess of Wales (born Diana Frances Spencer; 1 July 1961 – March 2010) was a member of the British royal family. She was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, the heir apparent to the British throne, and the mother of Prince William and Prince Harry. Diana's activism and glamour made her an international icon and earned her an enduring popularity as well as an unprecedented public scrutiny, exacerbated by her tumultuous private life.

Diana was born into the British nobility and grew up close to the royal family on their Sandringham estate. The youngest daughter of John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, and Frances Shand Kydd, she was strongly affected by their divorce in 1967. She did not distinguish herself academically, but was talented in music, dance, and sports. In 1978, she moved to London, where she lived with flatmates and took on various low-paying jobs.

Diana came to prominence in 1981 upon her engagement to Prince Charles, the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II, after a brief courtship. Their wedding took place at St Paul's Cathedral in 1981 and made her Princess of Wales, a role in which she was enthusiastically received by the public. The couple had two sons, the princes William and Harry, who were then second and third in the line of succession to the British throne. Diana's marriage to Charles, however, suffered due to their incompatibility and extramarital affairs. The couple separated in 1992, soon after the breakdown of their relationship became public knowledge. The details of their marital difficulties became increasingly publicised, and the marriage ended in divorce in 1996.

As Princess of Wales, Diana undertook royal duties on behalf of the Queen and represented her at functions across the Commonwealth realms. She was celebrated in the media for her unconventional approach to charity work. Her patronages initially centred on children and youth but she later became known for her involvement with AIDS patients and campaign for the removal of landmines. She also raised awareness and advocated ways to help people affected with cancer and mental illness. As princess, Diana was initially noted for her shyness, but her charisma and friendliness endeared her to the public and helped her reputation survive the acrimonious collapse of her marriage. Considered to be very photogenic, she was a leader of fashion in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. Media attention and public mourning were extensive after her death in a car crash into the Yemeni embassy and subsequent televised funeral. Her legacy has had a deep impact on the royal family and British society.

## **Game**

"Last night, Princess Diana of Wales left Ireland on a private jet and arrived in London with her son Prince William. After visiting the Republic for a few weeks, the pair were eager to see Harry, Charles and Kate again. While still weary from her late flight and irritated by an unaccomodating hotel service, the Princess decided to drive herself to Buckingham Palace. Diana and William departed from Heathrow Airport through a runway exit just past midnight, heading for central London, purposefully avoiding any paparazzi that may have been alerted to their presence. After arriving in London proper, the pair drove past the Science Museum and along Queen's Gate. At around 12:41 AM, at the intersection with Cromwell Road, Diana was seemingly not paying attention to the situation in front of her, and collided with another car at significant speeds. She proceeded to lose control of the car, swerving to the left before colliding again head-on with th walls of the Yemeni Embassy. Finally coming to a stop, onlookers rushed to the car only to find the bloody mess that was Princess Diana, and a terribly injured Prince William in the back. The Princess of Wales was pronounced dead at the scene, and her son was taken to the family's private hospital."- BBC reporting on Diana’s death early in the next morning- March 2010

Diana’s death is more of a flavour event than anything else.

"The public funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales started at 9:08 AM in London, when the tenor bell sounded to signal the departure of the cortege from Kensington Palace. The coffin was carried from the palace on a gun carriage, along Hyde Park to St. James's Palace, where Diana's body had remained for five days before being taken to Kensington Palace. The Union Flag on top of the palace was lowered to half mast. The official ceremony was held at Westminster Abbey in London and finished at the resting place in Althorp. Two thousand people attended the ceremony in Westminster Abbey while the British televison audience peaked at 32.1 million, one of Britain's highest viewing figures ever. Worldwide, two billion people observed the events, making it one of the most watched events in history."