Princess Diana: Royal Humanitarian
Diana Spencer was born to a wealthy family in 1961 in Sandringham, Norfolk, England, UK, with
two older sisters, Jane and Sarah, and a younger brother named Charles. The Spencer children were
raised closely to the Princes of Wales, since they were nearly neighbors. Diana’s childhood friend was
Prince Andrew because she and Charles shared too large of an age gap. At age six the Spencer parents
underwent a divorce, due to Mrs. Spencer’s unfaithfulness, that led to an intense custody battle for
Diana and her brother, Charles. Her father won custody of the children and remarried ten years later in
1977 to the Countess of Dartmouth; the marriage was severely unwelcome by the children (“Princess
diana,”). In 1981 Diana married Prince Charles of Wales with an average attendance of 3,500 people,
and even more observing the ceremony from their living rooms since it was televised world-wide.
Charles would later claim that he was forced to marry Diana, and admit to an affair he carried on with
his “true love”; Diana also held her own affair, however, and the two went separate ways despite the
ever-judging eyes of the public. Diana died shortly after the divorce in the hospital after an automobile
accident in 1997; she was buried on Althorpe Estate (Rosenburg, 2011).
Diana was not the best student to set foot in an academic environment, although she attended
school for a large portion of her life. Her father sent her to Silfield day school in 1967, and then she
was shuffled into her first boarding school in 1970, known as Riddlesworth Hall. After attending
Riddlesworth, Diana was enrolled in West Heath Girl’s school in 1973. She went to Institut Alpin
Videmanette, a Swedish finishing school, afterwards, and dropped out after one term (“Princess
Diana,”). Although she was not an outstanding student, Diana had a positive outlook and a cheerful
attitude that saw her through her schooling. When she returned from her Swedish finishing school,
she led and ordinary life: living in an apartment with friends, and working with kindergarten students
(Rosenburg, 2011). Some may find it strange that a woman who had such an esteemed role in the
community did not complete every level of her education. On the other hand, her incomplete education
is proof that in order to change the world, an individual does not need to know all there is to know.
During her time as Princess, Diana was never able to escape the public. But throughout her joint reign
with Prince Charles, the United Kingdom was undergoing a change in its women. Ladies of the 1980’s
were becoming more rebellious and powerful, and they began to have authoritative roles. Just a decade
before, in the 1970’s, women were first becoming more empowered over their own bodies with the
introduction of contraception, the sex discrimination act, and the domestic violence act. Athletics
became less male dominated, and the government began to see more women interested in political
positions; positions that were held over men, such as prisons (BBC). While Diana did not exercise this
kind of power over anyone, she did hold a much esteemed position in the eyes of women. She placed
an emphasis on their bodies, and her composure upon the divorce was a beacon of strength for women
during the time. While Charles was publically announcing that he did not love his ex-wife, attempting to
steal some of the spotlight and polish his public image, Diana continued to perform charities and gather
again the attention of the world.
Diana loved life and everything it had to offer, that’s what made her different from the rest of the Royal
family, and most others. She took pride in supporting causes that she held dear, despite her suffering
with depression, self-mutilation, bulimia, and complete disdain at royal marriage; she even attempted
suicide (Rosenburg, 2011). Royalty was not in her nature. Diana was selfless and didn’t care to be served
like the Princess she had become. However, much of her free aid and compassion was made possible
due to the fact that she had the necessary funds to carry out her acts of kindness (Stanovsky, 1999).
She had the responsibility to be compassionate and ladylike as the common role of a princess, but she
surpassed those standards with her own genuine values.
Princess Diana’s womanly accomplishment was that she gave birth to the heirs of the kingdom of Wales,
William in 1982, and Harry in 1984. She helped in the prevention of landmines in Bosnia and Angola
(Rosenburg, 2011). The Princess offered assistance to those who suffered with the same emotional
disorders she did. One of Diana’s greatest accomplishments was her devotion to AIDS. She sold 79
gowns, raising 4.5 million dollars for AIDS and cancer research (Pettinger.). The first British hospital ward
specifically intended for patients with AIDS was opened by Diana, who had no problem hugging them,
and holding their hands, breaking a belief that the disease spreads through contact (Mattern, 2006). She
traveled all over the world and met several world leaders and even Mother Teresa on a visit to care for
individuals with Leprosy (Stanovsky, 1999). Her immense love for children allowed her to become close
to the families of those with ill children, periodically checking on their health even after she had left the
countries. Diana sacrificed part of her motherly qualities from her family and offered them to the rest
of the world. Even after the divorce she went on to perform humanitarian acts, still visiting shelters,
hospitals, fundraisers and representing the Red Cross (Mattern, 2006).
Unfortunately, Diana was not celebrated for her kindness until after her death (Stanovsky, 1999),
and still the celebration is still questionable for some. Many feel as though the fatal car accident was
premeditated, and others refuse to believe that anyone would have the heart to murder such a giving
woman. However the only constant in this controversy is that Diana was, in fact, a selfless woman who
gave from the very depths of her soul to those in need.
two older sisters, Jane and Sarah, and a younger brother named Charles. The Spencer children were
raised closely to the Princes of Wales, since they were nearly neighbors. Diana’s childhood friend was
Prince Andrew because she and Charles shared too large of an age gap. At age six the Spencer parents
underwent a divorce, due to Mrs. Spencer’s unfaithfulness, that led to an intense custody battle for
Diana and her brother, Charles. Her father won custody of the children and remarried ten years later in
1977 to the Countess of Dartmouth; the marriage was severely unwelcome by the children (“Princess
diana,”). In 1981 Diana married Prince Charles of Wales with an average attendance of 3,500 people,
and even more observing the ceremony from their living rooms since it was televised world-wide.
Charles would later claim that he was forced to marry Diana, and admit to an affair he carried on with
his “true love”; Diana also held her own affair, however, and the two went separate ways despite the
ever-judging eyes of the public. Diana died shortly after the divorce in the hospital after an automobile
accident in 1997; she was buried on Althorpe Estate (Rosenburg, 2011).
Diana was not the best student to set foot in an academic environment, although she attended
school for a large portion of her life. Her father sent her to Silfield day school in 1967, and then she
was shuffled into her first boarding school in 1970, known as Riddlesworth Hall. After attending
Riddlesworth, Diana was enrolled in West Heath Girl’s school in 1973. She went to Institut Alpin
Videmanette, a Swedish finishing school, afterwards, and dropped out after one term (“Princess
Diana,”). Although she was not an outstanding student, Diana had a positive outlook and a cheerful
attitude that saw her through her schooling. When she returned from her Swedish finishing school,
she led and ordinary life: living in an apartment with friends, and working with kindergarten students
(Rosenburg, 2011). Some may find it strange that a woman who had such an esteemed role in the
community did not complete every level of her education. On the other hand, her incomplete education
is proof that in order to change the world, an individual does not need to know all there is to know.
During her time as Princess, Diana was never able to escape the public. But throughout her joint reign
with Prince Charles, the United Kingdom was undergoing a change in its women. Ladies of the 1980’s
were becoming more rebellious and powerful, and they began to have authoritative roles. Just a decade
before, in the 1970’s, women were first becoming more empowered over their own bodies with the
introduction of contraception, the sex discrimination act, and the domestic violence act. Athletics
became less male dominated, and the government began to see more women interested in political
positions; positions that were held over men, such as prisons (BBC). While Diana did not exercise this
kind of power over anyone, she did hold a much esteemed position in the eyes of women. She placed
an emphasis on their bodies, and her composure upon the divorce was a beacon of strength for women
during the time. While Charles was publically announcing that he did not love his ex-wife, attempting to
steal some of the spotlight and polish his public image, Diana continued to perform charities and gather
again the attention of the world.
Diana loved life and everything it had to offer, that’s what made her different from the rest of the Royal
family, and most others. She took pride in supporting causes that she held dear, despite her suffering
with depression, self-mutilation, bulimia, and complete disdain at royal marriage; she even attempted
suicide (Rosenburg, 2011). Royalty was not in her nature. Diana was selfless and didn’t care to be served
like the Princess she had become. However, much of her free aid and compassion was made possible
due to the fact that she had the necessary funds to carry out her acts of kindness (Stanovsky, 1999).
She had the responsibility to be compassionate and ladylike as the common role of a princess, but she
surpassed those standards with her own genuine values.
Princess Diana’s womanly accomplishment was that she gave birth to the heirs of the kingdom of Wales,
William in 1982, and Harry in 1984. She helped in the prevention of landmines in Bosnia and Angola
(Rosenburg, 2011). The Princess offered assistance to those who suffered with the same emotional
disorders she did. One of Diana’s greatest accomplishments was her devotion to AIDS. She sold 79
gowns, raising 4.5 million dollars for AIDS and cancer research (Pettinger.). The first British hospital ward
specifically intended for patients with AIDS was opened by Diana, who had no problem hugging them,
and holding their hands, breaking a belief that the disease spreads through contact (Mattern, 2006). She
traveled all over the world and met several world leaders and even Mother Teresa on a visit to care for
individuals with Leprosy (Stanovsky, 1999). Her immense love for children allowed her to become close
to the families of those with ill children, periodically checking on their health even after she had left the
countries. Diana sacrificed part of her motherly qualities from her family and offered them to the rest
of the world. Even after the divorce she went on to perform humanitarian acts, still visiting shelters,
hospitals, fundraisers and representing the Red Cross (Mattern, 2006).
Unfortunately, Diana was not celebrated for her kindness until after her death (Stanovsky, 1999),
and still the celebration is still questionable for some. Many feel as though the fatal car accident was
premeditated, and others refuse to believe that anyone would have the heart to murder such a giving
woman. However the only constant in this controversy is that Diana was, in fact, a selfless woman who
gave from the very depths of her soul to those in need.
References:
Princess diana. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://britishroyals.info/diana/biography2.html
Rosenberg, J. (2011). About.com. Retrieved from
http://history1900s.about.com/od/1980s/p/princessdiana.htm
BBC. (n.d.). Women's history timeline: 1970-1979. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/
womanshour/timeline/1970.shtml
NWSA Journal: Stanovsky, D. (1999). Nwsa journal. (2nd ed., Vol. 11, pp. 146-151). Johns Hopkins
University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/4316661
Pettinger, T. (n.d.). biographyonline.net. Retrieved from http://www.biographyonline.net/people/diana/
timeline_princess_diana.html
A New Image. (2006). In J. Mattern, DK Biography. Princess Diana, 1st American ed. (pp.
76-[83]). New York: Dorling Kindersley. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
id=GALE%7CCX1904900014&v=2.1&u=nclivesalemco&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w
Princess diana. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://britishroyals.info/diana/biography2.html
Rosenberg, J. (2011). About.com. Retrieved from
http://history1900s.about.com/od/1980s/p/princessdiana.htm
BBC. (n.d.). Women's history timeline: 1970-1979. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/
womanshour/timeline/1970.shtml
NWSA Journal: Stanovsky, D. (1999). Nwsa journal. (2nd ed., Vol. 11, pp. 146-151). Johns Hopkins
University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/4316661
Pettinger, T. (n.d.). biographyonline.net. Retrieved from http://www.biographyonline.net/people/diana/
timeline_princess_diana.html
A New Image. (2006). In J. Mattern, DK Biography. Princess Diana, 1st American ed. (pp.
76-[83]). New York: Dorling Kindersley. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
id=GALE%7CCX1904900014&v=2.1&u=nclivesalemco&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w