Diana, Princess of Wales, was a symbol of elegance and philanthropy. She was pretty, she was proper, she was the “people’s princess”. She wore the most eloquently designed outfits, attended the most prestigious events, and donated her time and money to multiple charities. But who really was Princess Diana? Well, she was just like any one of us. She suffered through hardships, such as a crumbling marriage, filled with deceit and lies, bulimia, and postpartum depression after the birth of her sons. Though seemingly perfect, she struggled behind the secretive palace walls; though, in the public eye, most of her story is still unknown.

Diana Spencer was born on July 1, 1961, and died on August 31, 1997. She was born into a wealthy family with English nobility, but her family's wealth didn’t stop her from having a rocky childhood. Diana was a child of a messy divorce at the age of 6 and was forced to go between her mother’s and father’s homes. Ever since her childhood, Diana had dreams about the royal family, and her desire to be in it. That all became a reality in 1979 when her Prince in shining armor, Charles, began courting her. This caused Diana to become a public celebrity, and at first, Diana was loved by the monarchy as she represented the ideals the monarchy supported. Kantrowitz speaks in an article discussing Diana’s life saying that, “Diana was deemed a perfect choice for Charles. Her ancestry was impeccable; the Spencers are among the most aristocratic families in Britain… Just as important, Diana was a virgin; no old lovers would show up to sell their stories to the tabloids.” All of this put Diana right in the public eye, as her relationship and face was unavoidably splashed on the front page of every British tabloid. In the same article, Kantrowitz discusses the roles of Diana portrayed by the media, “Diana playing a dizzying array of roles, from innocent bride to loving young mother to glamorous style setter. The gap between her public and private lives was vast.” Diana was placed on the front lines, right in front of the British people, almost as a spectacle as the media analyzed her every move. 

Diana took this magnifying glass placed upon her, and used it for good. Diana was a philanthropist and donated much of her time and money to the AIDS organization, her main charity. She was a popular figure, the public greatly looked up to her, this made her publicized to support causes such as banning land mines and helping leprosy victims. Diana used her spot in the media and her hardships to fuel her fight for others. Kantrowitz talks about this topic about how Diana used the spotlight for good, “In all those years and throughout all her transformations, there was one constant in Diana's life: she was rarely out of camera range. Her fame was her most valuable possession; it enabled her to draw attention to causes she cared about.” She not only accomplished things with her philanthropy she helped the People of Britain as well, by giving them someone to look up to and relate to, but she also gave them a strong and independent female leader. Unlike any of the other members of the royal family, Diana grew this bond with the people. She made them feel as if they could peer beyond the walls of the castle, and look deeper into the life of a royal. The royals are known for their secretive lives, not sharing anything with the public, but Diana changed that. Elliot and Pederson said in an article, “When Diana said that she doubted if she would ever be queen, but that ‘"I'd like to be queen of people's hearts,"’ she knew what she was doing: she already is.” Even Diana herself knew the power she had. Even Diana herself knew the impact she had made among the British people.

Diana’s life didn’t begin in the royal spotlight, but she may be remembered as one of the most influential, personable, and impactful royals. She became the “people’s princess” for a reason, and that is because of her dedication to and love for the British people. Diana is far beyond what is seen on the surface, and her name will not be diminished to the simplicities and dramatics of what the tabloids chose to share. She may have been pegged as just a celebrity during her life, but her legacy will leave a mark that means so much more. 

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Bibliography

"Diana, Princess of Wales, Is Killed in a Car Crash, August 31, 1997." Historic World Events, Gale, 2004. Gale In Context: High School. Accessed 10 Sept. 2021.

 

Elliott, Michael, and Daniel Pedersen. "'I won't go quietly.' (analysis of interview with Diana, Princess of Wales)(Cover Story)." Newsweek, vol. 126, no. 23, 4 Dec. 1995, pp. 62+. Gale In Context: High School. Accessed 10 Sept. 2021.

 

Kantrowitz, Barbara. "The woman we loved." Newsweek, vol. 130, no. 10, 8 Sept. 1997, pp. 40+. Gale In Context: High School. Accessed 10 Sept. 2021.

 

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