After a whirlwind romance, Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer married in a fairy-tale 1981 Royal Wedding. However, after welcoming Prince William and Prince Harry, their marriage became a nightmare, with the Prince and Princess of Wales cheating on each other.
Diana famously said there were three people in their marriage. To hear all about the royal drama and the intrusion of a third party, keep reading!
A Prince Is Born
Prince Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor was born in Buckingham Palace on November 14th, 1948, during the reign of his grandfather, King George VI. When the reigning king passed away in 1952, his eldest daughter became Queen Elizabeth II, and Charles became first in line to the throne.
Charles became Prince of Wales in 1958, as most heirs apparent had been since Edward II in 1301. He was not invested until he was 21 in an elaborate ceremony at Caernarfon Castle in 1969.
Diana’s Early Years
Diana Frances Spencer was born on Sandringham Estate on July 1st, 1961. Her parents were John and Frances Spencer, Viscount and Viscountess of Althorp. She was born into nobility, and all four of Diana’s grandmothers were ladies-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. Diana was also a distant cousin of legendary British wartime Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.
Around the time Prince Charles became Prince of Wales, Diana’s parents divorced, although she continued to live at Sandringham Estate, which her noble family leased from the royal family.
