Diana Frances Spencer was born on July 1, 1961 and was the daughter of Edward John Spencer and Frances Burke Roche, Viscount and Viscountess.  Her parents divorced in 1969 and her father was granted custody of Diana and her siblings. In 1975, her paternal grandfather passed away and her father became the Earl of Spencer. This earned Diana and her sisters the title of “lady”.

Most of her childhood was spent at Park House, a mansion near the royal palace which was actually owned by Queen Elizabeth II. During that time, Princes Andrew and Edward were frequent visitors to the estate and often played with Diana and her siblings. Prince Charles was much older and did not frequent Park House during that time.

Diana was homeschooled until age nine, when her father placed her in Riddlesworth Hall. She attended there until age 12 when she began going to West Heath School. She dropped out of school at age 16 but her father later sent her to a Switzerland finishing school. Diana left after only a few months at the finishing school. After leaving school, she worked as a nanny, cook, and Kindergarten teacher before marrying Prince Charles.

Lady Sarah, Diana’s older sister briefly dated Prince Charles during the late 1970’s, but the romance never materialized. During this time, Diana and Charles developed a friendship, but she was still too young to date him when the relationship ended. Three years later the couple met again and the rest as they say is history.