Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales (Diana Frances; née Spencer; 1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997) was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales. Her youth and beauty made her an icon of femininity when the couple's engagement was announced; however their marriage was not a success and she despised the media's intrusion which royal life brought. The couple separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996; she was killed in a car crash in Paris the following year. She had two sons with Charles: Prince William of Wales and Prince Harry of Wales, born in 1982 and 1984 respectively.
Sourced
- I was always told by my family that I was the thick one. That I was stupid and my brother was the clever one. And I was always so conscious of that. I used to go to the head mistress crying saying I wish I wasn't so stupid.
- Said to voice coach Peter Settelen in 1992, as quoted in Tapes reveal more from Princess Diana: NBC News exclusive: Inside the life of the late icon, NBC News, 11/30/2004
- When I started my public life, twelve years ago, I understood the media might be interested in what I did. I realized then their attention would inevitably focus on both our private and public lives. But I was not aware of how overwhelming that attention would become. Nor the extent to which it would affect both my public duties and my personal life, in a manner, that's been hard to bear. At the end of this year, when I've completed my diary of official engagements, I will be reducing the extent of the public life I've lead so far.
- Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.
- Interview with Martin Bashir on BBC Panorama, November 20, 1995.
- Responding to the question "Do you think Mrs Parker Bowles was a factor in the breakdown of your marriage?".
- She won't go quietly, that's the problem. I'll fight to the end, because I believe that I have a role to fulfill, and I've got two children to bring up.
- ibid.
- I'd like to be a queen of people's hearts, in people's hearts, but I don't see myself being Queen of this country. I don't think many people will want me to be Queen.
- ibid.
- I do things differently, because I don't go by a rule book, because I lead from the heart, not the head, and albeit that's got me into trouble in my work, I understand that.
- ibid.
- Everyone needs to be valued. Everyone has the potential to give something back.
- The Guardian, December 9, 1995, p. 2.
- The worst illness of our time is that so many people have to suffer from not ever being loved.
Attributed
- Anywhere I see suffering, that is where I want to be, doing what I can.
- Attributed to Diana by her biographer Andrew Morton, The Sun, September 1, 1997, p. 18.
About Diana, Princess of Wales
- We clicked in an intangible way' probably because of our upbringing.
- George Michael, world AIDS day concert, London 1994.[2]
- She was fun and accessible, thats why people loved her.
- After dinner at a friends house, Diana said, 'Do you have a pair of Marigolds?' I'll do the washing up. The host convinced her there was no need!
- Cliff Richard, Tennis Federation Cup Nottingham 1991.[4]
- Only in storybooks do you get to dance with a princess until midnight. But it happened to me.
- In the aftermath of her untimely death, which has thrown up a smog of irrelevant questions, -- like, did the media do it? -- we will soon be facing the only essential one: Will she be, posthumously, as much a destabilizer of the House of Windsor as she was when she was living?
- Christopher Hitchens, The Haunting of the House of Windsor: In death, Diana will cause more problems for Britain's royal family than she ever did in life, Salon, September 2, 1997
