Diana's Life

Where and when was Diana born

Diana was born on 1st July, 1961 at 7:45 pm (Summer time) at Park House. Park House is situated on the edge of the royal estate Sandringham in Norfolk. 

Diana weighed 7lbs 12oz. 

Park House belonged to HM Queen Elizabeth but was leased to Diana's parent's, the then Viscount and Viscountess Althorp, from 1955 to 1975. 

In 1973 HM Queen Elizabeth offered Park House to the Cheshire Foundation as a holiday home for the disabled. 

During a visit to Park House with the Queen, Prince Charles discovered Diana's signature on a window frame. He moved the whole sash window to Highgrove House for Diana as a souvenir of her childhood home.

Who are Diana's relatives (parents, siblings & close relatives)

Diana's parents were John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer (1924-1992) and Honourable Frances Burke Roche (1936 - 2004). 

John & Frances married at Westminster Abbey in 1954 and divorced in 1969. 

Frances, who married Peter Shand Kydd, later that year, divorced him some years later. 

John married Raine McCorquodale in 1976, she was previously married to the 8th Earl of Dartmouth.

Diana's siblings are:-

Sarah (born 19 March 1955), married on 17 May 1980 Neil McCorquodale ( b.10 April, 1951), a second cousin once removed of Raine, they have three children: Emily Jane (b. August 1983) George (b. 17 November 1984) & Celia (b. February 1989)

Jane (b. 11 February 1957) married Robert Fellowes on 20 April 1978 (later Baron Fellowes) (b. 11 December 1942), former Private Secretary to HM The Queen, they have 3 children: Laura Jane (b. June 1980) Alexander Robert (b. April 1983) & Elinor Ruth (b. 20 August 1985).

John b & d 12 January 1960.

Charles, 9th Earl Spencer (b. 20 May 1964) married on 16 September 1989 Victoria Lockwood (b. 1965); they divorced on 3 December 1997, they have 4 children, Lady Kitty Elinor (b. 28 November 1990), twins Lady Eliza Victoria & Lady Katya Amelia (b. July 1992) & Louis Frederic, Viscount Althorp (b. 14 March 1994). 

Charles remarried on 5th December 2001 Caroline Hutton (b. 1967; Caroline was previously married to Matthew Freud, a great grandson of Sigmund Freud by whom she has 2 sons)

Was Diana always a lady?

No she wasn't. 

As the unmarried daughter of someone who by courtesy used the style & title of a Viscount, Diana bore the courtesy style of 'The Honourable' before her Christian name & surname (that is The Honourable Diana Spencer) from her birth until 1975. 

Her father, Viscount Althorp, first son and heir apparent of his father the 7th Earl Spencer, succeeded to the title on 9th June 1975. 

At this point Diana, as the unmarried daughter of an Earl, had the courtesy style of 'Lady' before her Christian name and surname (that is Lady Diana Spencer)

What were Diana's names at her christening? 

Diana was christened Diana Frances on 30th August 1961 at St. Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham by the Right Reverend Percy Herbert. 

Diana had 5 Godparents. They were:-

1. John Floyd (Chairman of Christie's & a friend of her father's)

2. Alexander Gilmour (her father's cousin)

3. Lady Mary Colman (the former Lady Mary Bowes-Lyon, later Mary Colman, wife of the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, and niece of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother & later a lady in waiting to Princess Alexandra, Hon. Lady Ogilvy)

4. Mrs Michael (Sarah) Pratt (daughter of a former Dean of Hereford and friend and neighbour of Diana's parent's)

5. Mrs William (Carol) Fox (another friend & neighbour of Diana's parent's)