July 29, 1981,
nearly one billion television viewers in 74 countries witnessed
the marriage of Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, to
Lady Diana Spencer. Married in a grand ceremony at St. Paul's
Cathedral in the presence of 2,650 guests, the couple's romance
was, for the moment, the envy of the world. Their first child,
Prince William, was born in 1982, and their second, Prince Harry,
in 1984.
However, the fairy tale couple grew apart, an experience that was
particularly painful under the ubiquitous eyes of the world's
tabloid media. Diana and Charles announced a separation in 1992,
though they continued to carry out their royal duties.
In August
1996, two months after Queen Elizabeth II urged the couple to
divorce, the prince and princess reached a final agreement. In
exchange for a generous settlement, and the right to retain her
apartments at Kensington Palace and her title of "Princess of
Wales," Diana agreed to relinquish the title of "Her Royal
Highness" and any claims to the British throne.
August 31, 1997, Diana was killed with her companion Dodi Fayed in
a car accident in Paris. An investigation conducted by the French
police concluded that the driver, who also died in the crash, was
heavily intoxicated and caused the accident while trying to escape
the paparazzi.
April 9, 2005 Prince Charles married his longtime mistress,
Camilla Parker Bowles
1981
Royal wedding Prince Charles married Diana Spencer