The tragic and tumultuous relationship between Lady Diana and Prince Charles unfolds in a timeline that remains etched in the annals of British royalty, especially accentuated by the fourth season of The Crown.
Their union, marked by controversy, unfolded as a sorrowful tale with a messy divorce that concluded just a year before Diana's untimely demise. Every dramatic detail, from tabloids to their own interviews, found its way into the world press. Diana's poignant statement to the BBC in 1995, "There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit full," encapsulated the complexities, alluding to Camilla Parker Bowles.
Despite three decades passing since their separation, the troubled relationship resurfaces with the fifth season of The Crown. The latest episodes delve into Diana's revealing 1992 book, where she expressed deep unhappiness, battled bulimia, and confronted depression. Meanwhile, Prince Charles publicly admits to an affair on national television, culminating in the narrative of their official divorce.
While The Crown is a dramatization, it mirrors real-life events. To distinguish fact from fiction, let's explore a historical timeline encapsulating the beginning, middle, and end of their relationship.
The Beginning: From Courtship to the Church
November 1977: Lady Diana and Prince Charles meet at Althorp House, sparking a connection during a weekend at their family estate.
February 1978: Prince Charles ends his relationship with Sarah Spencer, Diana's older sister, after a ski weekend in Switzerland.
July 1980: Diana and Charles grow closer during a weekend at Philip de Pass's family home in Sussex, where they bond over the recent death of Diana's great-uncle.
September 1980: The relationship becomes public when cameras capture Diana at Balmoral, the royal family's estate in the Scottish Highlands.
February 1981: Prince Charles proposes to Diana at Windsor Castle, marking a swift engagement amid intense media scrutiny. The couple formally announces their engagement on February 24.
March 1981: Charles embarks on a five-week trip to Australia and New Zealand, leaving Diana behind. This period reveals the strain on their relationship, exacerbated by a phone call with Camilla Parker Bowles.
July 1981: The royal wedding takes place at Westminster Abbey on July 29, with an estimated 750 million people witnessing the nuptials. Diana, expressing doubt before walking down the aisle, wears a dress by Elizabeth and David Emanuel.
The initial stages of their relationship, filled with promise and media frenzy, set the stage for the tumultuous journey that lay ahead.
