She was known as the Princess of Hearts and her death was mourned from the slums of Africa to the White House and everywhere in between. And now, Prince William, and wife, Catherine, have made sure that she will never be forgotten.
It was announced overnight that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had decided to name their newborn daughter, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge, with her middle name a touching salute to her late grandmother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, who was born on the 2nd of May, will carry her beloved grandmother’s name and memory with her forever.
In celebration of Princess Charlotte and the grandmother that would’ve given anything to meet her, we look back at Diana’s extraordinary life and those she touched.
A glowing Princess Diana in 1986.
Diana was affectionately dubbed ‘The People’s Princess’, and was loved universally around the world.
Diana in March, 1981, before her marriage to Charles.
Lady Diana Spencer was just 20 when she became engaged to Charles, Prince of Wales.
Diana and Charles announcing their engagement in 1981.
Diana selected her own engagement ring, an iconic sapphire surrounded by diamonds.
Diana and Charles on their wedding day.
Diana and Charles’ wedding was watched by more than 750 million people.
Diana and Charles on their honeymoon.
The royal couple’s relationship was painted as a fairy tale.
Charles, Diana and baby William at Kensington Palace.
Soon after their wedding, Diana and Charles welcomed their first son, Prince William. Diana was just 21.
Charles, Diana and baby William.
Diana was absolutely smitten with Prince William.
Diana presents Prince Harry to the world in 1985.
The Prince and Princess of Wales soon followed William with their second son, Prince Henry ‘Harry’ of Wales.
Diana and Harry.
Diana subverted royal tradition and sent away nannies and sitters, so she could care for William and Harry herself.
Charles, Diana, Harry and William on holiday in Italy.
The family were close-knit.
The Wales family on the royal yacht.
William and Harry accompanied their parents on royal tours, at Diana’s request, so they would not be separated.
An undated photo of Diana in Canada.
Diana was a fashion icon, and remains til this day, one of the most photographed women of all time.
Diana in Australia in 1983.
Diana and her boys on Harry’s first day of nursery school.
As her children grew up, Diana began to retreat from public life.
Diana in Australia in 1983.
Pretty in pink at the Sydney Opera House in 1983.
Charles and Diana in Australia.
Diana doing charity work in Angola in 1997.
Diana was dedicated to her philanthropic work throughout her life.
Diana in Australia.
She never shied away from getting her hands dirty.
A glamorous post-divorce Diana.
Even after she divorced Prince Charles and stepped down from public life, Diana was followed and reported on every day.
Diana on her 36th birthday in 1997, shortly before her death.
In the last months of her life, Diana received endless criticism for her relationship with Dodi Fayed.
Charles, William and Harry viewing floral tributes to Diana.
Diana was tragically killed in a car crash in 1997.
Philip, William, Earl Spencer, Harry and Charles following Diana’s coffin.
Her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, were just 15 and 13 at the time.
But Prince William, now 32, married and with two children, has ensured that his mother will never be forgotten.
Prince William and Catherine named their daughter, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, in tribute to her.
