Diana, Princess of Wales was born into an aristocratic British family, the Spencers, which had close ties to the British royal family dating back centuries. This gave her “royal blood” which qualified her to marry Prince Charles in 1981 and become part of the British royal family herself.
What was Diana’s family background?
Diana was born Diana Frances Spencer on July 1, 1961. Her father was Edward John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer. The Spencers were an old aristocratic family that had been close to the British royal family since the Tudor period in the 16th century.
The Spencers had royal blood through Diana’s ancestress Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox. Margaret was the daughter of Margaret Tudor, sister of King Henry VIII, and Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus. Through her Tudor blood, Margaret had a strong claim to the English throne.
Margaret’s grandson, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley married Mary, Queen of Scots. Their son became King James I of England, uniting the Scottish and English thrones. The Spencers are descended from the Stuarts through Margaret Douglas’s daughter Lady Anne Stuart.
Diana’s father was born into this lineage as Viscount Althorp. He later inherited the Earldom Spencer in 1975, making Diana Lady Diana Spencer. Growing up she lived on the Spencer family estate of Althorp in Northamptonshire, England.
How were the Spencers linked to the British royal family?
The Spencers had close social and political ties to the British royal family dating back to the 16th century. Some key connections include:
- Diana’s great-grandfather, Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer, was a close friend of King Edward VII. Edward was the son of Queen Victoria.
- In the 1930s, Diana’s grandmothers, Cynthia Spencer and Ruth Roche, and her father were playmates of Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret.
- Diana’s grandmothers were ladies-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
- Diana’s father served as equerry to King George VI from 1950-1952.
In recent decades, the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and Prince Philip were frequent guests at the Spencer family estate. Prince Charles had known Diana and her siblings since childhood.
How did Diana meet Prince Charles?
Diana first met Prince Charles in 1977 when she was 16 years old. Charles was dating Diana’s older sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale at the time. Charles was almost 30 years old.
They met again at a weekend hunting party at Althorp in 1980. At this point Diana was 19 and working as a kindergarten teacher, while Charles was 31 and being pressured to find a suitable wife.
Charles was impressed by Diana’s aristocratic lineage, her virginal and submissive character, and her potential to be a dutiful royal wife. 6 months later, he proposed and she accepted. Engagement was announced February 1981.
Why was Diana seen as suitable to marry the future King?
Diana met several key criteria that made her suitable to marry Prince Charles:
- Royal blood – Having aristocratic lineage gave Diana the proper “breeding” to join the royal family.
- Virginity – Diana was a virginal 19 year old, which was considered essential for the future Queen of England at the time.
- Character – She was described as shy, quiet, obedient, maternal, graceful – ideal traits for a royal bride.
- Beauty – Her youth, looks, and style made her a global fashion icon.
- Fertility – She was capable of bearing heirs to continue the royal succession.
Her upbringing, demeanor, lineage, and connections made her a suitable royal bride in the eyes of the royal family and their advisors.
What was Diana’s royal title after marriage?
After her lavish wedding to Prince Charles in 1981 at St Paul’s Cathedral, Diana’s official title became:
Her Royal Highness The Princess Charles, Princess of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Duchess of Rothesay, Countess of Chester, and Baroness of Renfrew
She was most commonly known as Princess Diana or Princess of Wales. After divorce from Charles in 1996, she lost her HRH status but remained Diana, Princess of Wales.
How was Diana related to the royal family after her marriage?
| Royal Family Member | Relationship to Diana |
|---|---|
| Queen Elizabeth II | Mother-in-law |
| Prince Philip | Father-in-law |
| Prince Charles | Husband (1981-1996) |
| Prince William | Son |
| Prince Harry | Son |
| Camilla Parker Bowles | Charles’ second wife |
| Sarah Ferguson | Daughter-in-law (1986-1996) |
Through her marriage to Prince Charles, Diana was directly related to the Queen and became mother to the second and third in line to the throne, Prince William and Prince Harry.
What noble and royal ancestors did Diana have?
Some of Diana’s notable noble ancestors through the Spencer family include:
- Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox – Daughter of Margaret Tudor, sister of King Henry VIII
- Lady Anne Stuart – Daughter of Matthew Stuart, Earl of Lennox and Margaret Douglas
- Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley – Son of Lady Anne Stuart, second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots
- King James I of England – Son of Mary, Queen of Scots and Henry Stuart, united the English and Scottish thrones
- Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough – Close friend of Queen Anne, ancestor of Winston Churchill
- George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough – Soldier and diplomat under Queen Anne and King George I
- Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough – Soldier and politician in the 18th century
- George Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough – Maternal grandfather of Winston Churchill
Through her royal Stuart blood and other noble ancestors, Diana had impressive aristocratic lineage before marrying the future King of England.
How was Diana related to King Henry VIII?
Diana was directly descended from King Henry VIII’s younger sister, Margaret Tudor. Here is how the lineage connects Diana to Henry VIII:
- King Henry VIII – Ruled England 1509-1547
- Margaret Tudor – Henry VIII’s sister
- Margaret Douglas – Daughter of Margaret Tudor and Archibald Douglas
- Lady Anne Stuart – Daughter of Margaret Douglas
- Lady Anne Spencer – Direct descendant of Lady Anne Stuart, Diana’s paternal grandmother
- Edward John Spencer – Diana’s father, born Viscount Althorp
- Diana Spencer – Daughter of Edward John Spencer
Through her ancestress Margaret Tudor, Diana was related to one of England’s most famous monarchs, King Henry VIII.
How did the public react to Diana marrying into the royal family?
The public reaction to Diana’s engagement and marriage to Prince Charles was extremely enthusiastic both in Britain and globally. Some key points:
- Their 1981 wedding drew a TV audience of 750 million worldwide, sparking “Diana Fever”
- Over 600,000 people lined the streets in London to see the royal wedding procession
- Press and photographers crowded Diana constantly as she became an iconic fashion symbol
- Public engagement soared in the early years as she was seen as a fresh, modernizing figure
- After rocky phases in the marriage, strong public affection remained with Diana as the “People’s Princess”
Diana was seen as a vibrant breath of fresh air for the monarchy. Her beauty, style and compassion made her immensely popular around the world.
What was Diana’s impact as a member of the royal family?
As Princess of Wales from 1981-1996, Diana had a significant impact on the royal family and public perception of it. Key impacts include:
- Modernized and humanized the monarchy with more accessible, empathetic approach
- Enormous popularity drew positive press and crowds, boosted public approval
- Championed unfashionable causes like AIDS, leprosy, homelessness
- Pioneered royal roles as hands-on mother, philanthropist, global humanitarian
- Candor about marital troubles and mental health struggles broke taboos
- Remained beloved by public as “People’s Princess” after turbulent separation and divorce
- Left complex legacy as iconic figure upon her sudden death in 1997, aged 36
Diana brought vitality to the monarchy in the 80s and 90s, leaving a lasting impact as one of the most famous women of the 20th century.
Conclusion
Diana Spencer had royal Stuart blood through her aristocratic Spencer lineage, qualifying her to marry the future King of England in 1981. Her ancestors had been close to the royal family for centuries. Diana modernized and energized the monarchy upon her marriage to Prince Charles. Her beauty, compassion and accessibility made her an iconic global figure and beloved “People’s Princess.” Though her time as Princess of Wales was turbulent, she left a lasting mark on the royal family and the world.