Diana, Princess of Wales

Diana became internationally known for her public role, style, and advocacy around AIDS awareness, landmines, homelessness, and children's charities. She died after a car crash in Paris in 1997, an event that became one of the most searched and documented royal deaths of the modern era.

Lady Diana Spencer was born in 1961 on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England. Before her marriage to Prince Charles and subsequent fame, she lived a relatively private life, working as a nursery assistant in London.

• •Diana was the first Princess of Wales to give birth to an heir to the throne since the reign of Queen Victoria.
• •She was known for her hands-on approach to charity work, often visiting hospitals and hospices, and was famously photographed holding the hands of AIDS patients at a time when there was still significant fear and stigma surrounding the disease.
• •Diana was an accomplished swimmer and diver in her youth.
• •She was a keen patron of the English National Ballet and had a passion for dance.