In Photos: Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s Relationship Through The Years
The Crown has returned once again, and this season, the show will chart the end of Prince Charles and Princess Diana‘s marriage. Beginning with their first meeting in the 1970s and ending with their historic divorce in 1995, here we take a look back at one of the world’s most famous relationships. Though their love affair had a tragic end, there’s no doubt this relationship made an indelible mark on Britain’s royal family.
Tim Graham//Getty Images1977
The Diana and Charles story actually does not begin with Diana at all, but rather her sister, then-Lady Sarah Spencer. Sarah and Prince Charles began a short relationship when the Prince visited the Spencer family home. Here, the pair were seen together at a polo match.
MORE: True Story of How Prince Charles Met Princess Diana in ‘The Crown’
Tom Stoddart Archive//Getty Images1980
In 1980, Prince Charles began dating then-Lady Diana Spencer, who was 19 years old at the time. This photo shows Diana in her car soon before her engagement was announced.
Tim Graham//Getty ImagesFebruary 1981
Charles and Diana became engaged. After the landmark announcement, the pair posed for an official portrait. Here, Diana unveiled her engagement ring, made of diamonds and a large sapphire, which is now worn by her daughter-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge.
Kypros//Getty ImagesMarch 1981
Soon after their engagement, Diana and Charles visited Broadlands, an English country house, to the reception of many excited onlookers.
March 1981
Fox Photos//Getty ImagesPrince Charles and Diana posed with Charles’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, at Buckingham Palace.
Tim Graham//Getty ImagesMay 1981
The engaged couple paid a visit to the royal family’s Balmoral Estate in Scotland.
June 1981
Anwar Hussein//Getty ImagesDiana was quickly welcomed into the royal family. She stood on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, alongside Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, and Queen Elizabeth, for the annual Trooping the Colour festivities.
July 1981
Princess Diana Archive//Getty ImagesCharles and Diana were married in a lavish ceremony at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Afterwards, the couple returned to Buckingham Palace via carriage. Diana wore a David and Elizabeth Emmanuel-designed dress and her Spencer family tiara.
July 1981
Princess Diana Archive//Getty ImagesThe newlyweds went on a honeymoon cruise, and were photographed leaving Gibraltar.
August 1981
Central Press//Getty ImagesThe pair continued their honeymoon at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Prince Charles, fittingly, sported a kilt for the occasion.
June 1982
Tim Graham//Getty ImagesPrincess Diana gave birth to the couple’s first child, Prince William Arthur Philip Louis, who made his public debut on the steps of the Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital as a newborn.
August 1982
Tim Graham//Getty ImagesAfter Prince William’s christening ceremony, Princess Diana held her son for a portrait, alongside Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, Prince Philip, and the Queen Mother.
Tim Graham//Getty ImagesFebruary 1983
The Prince, Princess, and little Prince William smiled for a photograph at their home at Kensington Palace.
April 1983
David Levenson//Getty ImagesThe family went on a royal tour of Australia and New Zealand. Here, Diana, Charles, and a baby Prince William posed for a sweet family photo on the lawn of Government House in Auckland, New Zealand.
Princess Diana Archive//Getty ImagesSeptember 1984
The couple welcomed their second son, Prince Henry Charles Albert David (otherwise known as Prince Harry), at London’s St. Mary’s Hospital.
June 1985
Tim Graham//Getty ImagesLooking content, Charles and Diana shared a kiss at one of the Prince’s polo matches.
Tim Graham//Getty ImagesSeptember 1985
Diana and Charles accompanied Prince William to his first day of school at Mrs. Mynor’s Nursery School.
Tim Graham//Getty ImagesOctober 1985
While visiting Melbourne, Australia, the couple shared a dance. Diana wore a bandeau-style tiara for the occasion.
Tim Graham//Getty ImagesDecember 1986
Charles, Diana, William, and Harry posed for a holiday photograph at Kensington Palace. Despite their smiles, this year was the start of the couple’s marriage troubles. The pair began to live separate lives, while continuing joint royal duties. Charles began an affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles, and Diana, in turn, saw other men.
Princess Diana Archive//Getty ImagesAugust 1987
The family gave off a cheery public persona, though Diana and Charles’ marriage was dissolving. Here the group is on a vacation to the Spanish royal residence, Marivent Palace.
Princess Diana Archive//Getty ImagesSeptember 1987
Prince Harry celebrated his first day at Mrs. Mynor’s Nursery School in London. Charles, Diana, and big brother William accompanied the young prince to school.
Tim Graham//Getty ImagesNovember 1987
Despite the personal troubles, the Prince and Princess continued their royal affairs, like attending this black-tie function in Bonn, Germany.
November 1989
Georges De Keerle//Getty ImagesWhile publicly the marriage still looked in tact, this year, Diana attend at a birthday party for Camilla Parker-Bowles’s sister, Annabel Elliot. There, she confronted Camilla about her and Charles’s extramarital affair. In tapes with her biographer, Andrew Morton, Diana revealed feeling “terrified of her,” and recalled telling Camilla, “I know what’s going on between you and Charles, and I just want you to know that.”
February 1992
Princess Diana Archive//Getty ImagesThe royal couple’s problems are revealed on a large scale. This year, recordings of Diana’s phone conversations with her friend and lover James Gilbey are leaked. The release of the recordings was dubbed “Squidgygate” by the press, as Gilbey called Diana “Squidgy” in addition to “darling” throughout the calls. That same year, intimate calls between Charles and Camilla were released, as well—otherwise known as “Camillagate.”
November 1992
Tim Graham//Getty ImagesThe same year, Diana and Charles’ marital problems escalated with the publication of Andrew Morton’s book, Diana: Her True Story. The book detailed Diana’s loveless marriage, Charles’ affairs, and the Princess’ own struggles with bulimia, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. After Diana’s death, Morton revealed she was the book’s main source.
Tim Graham//Getty ImagesDecember 1992
By the end of the year, Charles and Diana’s marriage dissolved. British Prime Minister John Major formally announced their separation, saying it would happen “amicably.”
Princess Diana Archive//Getty ImagesJune 1994
A year and a half after their separation, Prince Charles gave a bombshell television interview where he admitted to infidelity. That night, Diana attended a party at London’s Serpentine Gallery, wearing none other than the so-called “revenge dress,” pictured here.
Princess Diana Archive//Getty ImagesSeptember 1995
The royals put on happy faces in order to send Prince William off to Eton College, a world-renowned boarding school, for the first time. The family posed with housemaster Dr. Andrew Gailey on William’s first day.
November 1995
Tim Graham//Getty ImagesThe familial tension peaked when Diana gave an in depth interview on the BBC program, Panorama. The Princess spoke about her struggles with bulimia, self-harm, and depression. She admitted her own adultery and expressed doubts about Charles’ capacity to be King. She also spoke at length about Charles’ affair with Camilla, stating that, “There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.”
December 1995
JOHNNY EGGITT//Getty ImagesOne month after the famous interview, the Queen gives Diana and Charles permission to divorce.
Julian Parker//Getty ImagesJuly 1996
The terms of Charles and Diana’s divorce are finalized. Diana was given a settlement and allowance, and would continue to be considered a member of the royal family, as she was the mother to the future heir to the throne. However, Diana lost the “Her Royal Highness” title. Reportedly, the Queen would have allowed Diana to keep that distinction, but Charles insisted it be taken away.
September 1997
AFP//Getty ImagesJust a year after her divorce was finalized, Princess Diana was tragically killed in a car accident. From left to right, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince William, Earl Spencer, Prince Harry, and Prince Charles walked outside Westminster Abbey during the funeral service. Hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets of Central London to mourn and watch the funeral procession.
