Princess Diana, of Wales, died from injuries suffered from a fatal car collision.
Diana, Princess of Wales, died in the early hours of 31 August 1997 after sustaining injuries in a car crash in Paris, France. The accident took place in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel. Her partner, Dodi Fayed, and Henri Paul, the driver of the Mercedes-Benz W140 S-Class they were commuting in, were both found dead at the scene. Trevor Rees-Jones, her bodyguard, was gravely hurt in the crash, but survived.
Some media sources suggest that the paparazzi’s erratic behavior had contributed to the crash. A French investigation in 1999 found that Paul was solely responsible for the crash because he lost control of the vehicle at high speed while drunk and under the influence of prescription drugs. He was deputy head of security at the Hotel Ritz and had been goaded by the photographers waiting for Diana and Dodi outside the hotel.
Paul might have been under the influence because of the anti-depressants found in his blood while traces of an antipsychotic were also found. At a British inquest in 2008, the jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing through grossly negligent driving by Paul and the following vehicles. According to some media reports, Rees-Jones survived because he was wearing a seat belt, but that was not the case.
Diana was 36 years old when she passed away. Her funeral was watched by an estimated 2.5 billion people in the United Kingdom, and her death caused an unexampled magnitude of public grief. The press criticized the royal family for their reaction to Diana's death. Since her death, the public interest in Diana has remained high, and she has continued to garner regular press coverage.
Who was Princess Diana?
Diana, Princess of Wales, or Diana Frances Spencer, was a member of the British royal family. She was the mother of Princes William and Harry, and was the first wife of King Charles III. Diana's activism and glamor made her an international icon and earned her prevailing fame as well as unexampled public scrutiny.
Diana grew up close to the royal family on their Sandringham estate, and was born into British nobility. She was engaged to the Prince of Wales, currently King Charles III, in 1981 while working as a nursery teacher's assistant. They were wed at the St Paul's Cathedral in 1981 and Diana was pronounced Princess of Wales, a role in which she was enthusiastically perceived by the public.
The couple had two sons, William and Harry, who were then second and third in line to the British throne. Diana's marriage to Charles declined due to their mutual exclusiveness and illicit affairs. They separated in 1992, after the breakdown of their relationship became public knowledge. In 1996, they divorced after their marriage was widely publicized.
Diana represented the Queen at functions across the Commonwealth. She was praised for her unconventional approach to charity work. She started out by helping children and the elderly, but she later became known for her work with two particular campaigns: one was for how people felt about and accepted AIDS patients, and the other was for the removal of landmines, which the Red Cross worked on.
She raised awareness about cancer and mental illness and advocated ways to help them. Diana's reputation survived the acrimonious collapse of her marriage because of her charisma and friendly demeanor. She was known for her beauty and was a leader of fashion in the 1980s and 1990s.
In 1997, the death of Diana in a car crash in Paris led to extensive public mourning. After an investigation by the Metropolitan Police, an inquest returned a verdict of “unlawful killing”. Her impact on the royal family and British society has been profound.
Diana Frances Spencer was born on 1 July 1961 at Park House, Sandringham, Norfolk. She was the fourth of five children of John Spencer, Viscount Althorp and Frances Spencer, Viscountess Althorp. The Spencer family had been close to the British royal family for many generations. Her grandmothers, Cynthia Spencer, Countess Spencer, and Ruth Roche, Baroness Fermoy, had been ladies-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.
Her parents wanted a boy to continue the family line, so they didn't pick a name for a week. They finally chose Diana Frances after her mother and Lady Diana Spencer, a many-times-great-aunt who was also a possible future Princess of Wales. She was also called "Duch" by her family, a reference to her duchess-like behavior as a child.
When did Princess Diana die?
Diana, Princess of Wales, died in the early hours of 31 August 1997.
How old was Princess Diana?
Princess Diana was 36 years old when she passed away.
Where did Princess Diana die?
Princess Diana died in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel, Paris, France.
FAQs
Q. When was Princess Diana’s birthday?
A. Diana Frances Spencer was born on 1 July 1961.
Q. When did Princess Diana marry Prince Charles?
A. Princess Diana married Prince Charles on 29 July 1981.
Q. What was Princess Diana’s boyfriend’s name?
A. Princess Diana’s partner’s name was Dodi Fayed.
Q. Who else died in the car crash with Princess Diana?
A. Along with Princess Diana, Dodi Fayed and Henri Paul were also found dead at the scene of the accident.