Princess Diana

Princess Diana was born The Honorable Diana Frances Spencer on July 1, 1961. She was the third female child to Viscount and Viscountess Althorp. Diana had two older sisters, Sarah and Jane and one younger brother, Charles. Her family was well off and Diana had a privileged childhood. The Spencer’s made their money as successful sheep traders in the 15th century. With their fortune they built Althorp House in Northamptonshire and acquired a family crest and motto – "God defend the right" (Morton 10). The Spencer’s occupied various offices of State and Court. When Diana’s was born her father was disappointed she was a girl. He was hoping for his third children to finally be a male heir to carry on the Spencer name. Diana’s father and the rest of the family wanted to know why her mother was only producing girls. Because of this, her mother was sent to a clinic for tests (Morton 10). She was only 23 at the time. This is ironic because today we now know the sex of the baby is determined by the father. Even though she was too young to understand, Diana believed she was to blame for her father’s disappointment. Finally, a few years later her mother delivered a boy to carry on the Spencer name. Although Diana had a beautiful christening at Sandringham Church with well-to-do Godparents, her brother Charles’s christening was a major event at Westminster Abbey. The Queen was the principal Godparent. The Spencer children were privileged but not snobbish. They were taught to accept people for what they are and not their position in life. The children never understood their titles until they went to school. Occasionally one of the royals would make a visit to the Spencer home and once in a while they would play with Princess Margaret’s sons, Princes Andrew and Edward. Diana remembers not liking to go to the Royal home, because it was big and spooky. Diana’s mother’s family, the Fermoy’s, were responsible for acquisition of Park House, Diana’s childhood home. King George V granted Diana’s grandfather Park House which was originally built for overflow guests from the Royal Sandringham House. It was a spacious property with an outdoor pool and a tennis court. (Morton 11). Diana loved to swim and play tennis at a child. The Spencer’s were linked by blood to King Charles II. They are also said to be linked by blood to seven American Presidents including Fra...

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...eral on television. Her brother, Earl Spencer gave a tearful eulogy for Diana. His closed the eulogy by saying "Above all we give thanks for the life of a woman I am so proud to be able to call my sister, the unique, the complex, the extraordinary and irreplaceable Diana whose beauty, both internal and external, will never be extinguished from our minds" (Davies 304). The Princess was buried in sanctified ground on an island in the center of an ornamental lake in the Spencer home at Althorp. Her grave faces east, towards the rising sun (British Royal Government website). Princess Diana will be missed not only by her two sons but also by many around the world. Perhaps the best lesson she taught was all people, even those in high positions such as hers are able to help make a difference in the world. She will be missed.

Bibliography

Works Cited British Royal Government Website. . Davies, Nicholas. Diana, The People’s Princess. New Jersey: Carol Publishing Group, 1997. Morton, Andrew. Diana, Her True Story. New York and Great Britain: Simon & Schuster, 1992. Morton, Andrew. Diana, Her True Story, In Her Own Words. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997.