Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

FACTBOX-Britain's Princess Diana, who died 25 years ago

In June 1992, “Diana – Her True Story”, by tabloid reporter Andrew Morton, is published with Diana’s secret cooperation.

FACTBOX-Britain's Princess Diana, who died 25 years ago

Britain's Princess Diana was killed in a car crash 25 years ago, prompting mourning across the world. Here are some facts about Diana's life:

* Diana Spencer was born on July 1, 1961, into an aristocratic family, the third of four children of the then Viscount and Viscountess Althorp.


* In 1977 she met Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, at the Althorp stately house.

* On Feb. 1981, her engagement to Charles is announced and on July 29 that year they married in a sumptuous ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral in London, watched around the world. She became the Princess of Wales.

* The couple's first son William was born on June 21, 1982, and his younger brother Henry - known as Harry - was born on Sept. 15, 1984.

* In 1986, Charles renewed his relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles, a woman he later referred to as "the love of his life". Diana struggled with eating disorder bulimia as the royal couple continued public duties but led separate private lives.

* In June 1992, "Diana - Her True Story", by tabloid reporter Andrew Morton, is published with Diana's secret cooperation. It showed she was trapped in a loveless marriage and had attempted suicide to attract Charles' attention.

In August of that year, newspapers publish excerpts of a taped telephone conversation between Diana and James Gilby, who called her "Squidgy" and told her repeatedly that he loved her.

Prime Minister John Major announced the formal separation of the couple in parliament in December.

* Prince Charles gives a TV interview in 1994 in which he confesses to adultery, saying he had remained true to his marriage vows, "until it became irretrievably broken down, (despite) us both having tried".

* On Nov. 20, 1995, Diana gave a television interview to the BBC's Martin Bashir in which she admitted adultery with former army officer James Hewitt.

She famously stated: "There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded", a reference to Charles's relationship with Camilla.

* On Aug. 28, 1996, Charles and Diana divorce, ending their 15-year marriage.

* Diana is killed on Aug. 31, 1997 in a car crash in Paris alongside her lover Dodi al-Fayed. After her funeral, she was buried on an island at Althorp.

* An inquest into her death in 2008 concludes she and al-Fayed were unlawfully killed by the grossly negligent driving of her chauffeur Henri Paul and paparazzi photographers pursuing their limousine.

* A 2021 inquiry concludes that journalist Bashir had lied and shown fake bank statements to persuade Diana's brother Charles Spencer to introduce his sister to him, and the BBC had covered up his deception.

The BBC subsequently makes payments to Diana's former private secretary and the ex-nanny of Princes William and Harry.

William has said the famous interview should never be aired again and that the deceitful way it was obtained had "substantially influenced" what Diana said.

"The interview was a major contribution to making my parents' relationship worse and has since hurt countless others," he said.

(Reuters)

More For You

Streeting hails India’s global role as Labour backs bilateral relations

Wes Streeting addresses the Republic Day reception at the Guildhall in London last Tuesday (28),joined by Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Vikram Doraiswami

Streeting hails India’s global role as Labour backs bilateral relations

WES STREETING spoke of the priority prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour government attach to relations with India when he addressed a Republic Day reception at the Guildhall in London last Tuesday (28).

But the secretary of state for health and social care won over the large Indian crowd by paying an unexpected tribute to Rishi Sunak.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sri Lanka seeks to negotiate with Adani over renewable energy plants

Gautam Adani

Sri Lanka seeks to negotiate with Adani over renewable energy plants

SRI LANKA’S government started talks with India’s Adani Group to lower the cost of power from two wind power projects the group will build in the island nation’s northern province, the cabinet spokesman said last Tuesday (28).

Sri Lanka has been reviewing the group’s local projects after US authorities in November accused billionaire founder Gautam Adani and other executives of being part of a scheme to pay bribes to secure Indian power supply contracts. Adani has denied the allegations.

Keep ReadingShow less
Badenoch proposes stricter citizenship rules for all migrants

Kemi Badenoch delivers speech on January 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Badenoch proposes stricter citizenship rules for all migrants

CONSERVATIVE PARTY on Thursday (6) proposed a clampdown on all migrants by tightening citizenship rules and barring social benefit claimants from residency rights.

Kemi Badenoch, who took over from Rishi Sunak in November last year, outlined her first major policy agenda as Tory leader in a move seen as an attempt to win back the support of Conservative voters drawn to the far-right anti-immigrant Reform party.

Keep ReadingShow less
New body led by Sir Sajid Javid aims to amplify ‘unheard’ voices
Sajid Javid

New body led by Sir Sajid Javid aims to amplify ‘unheard’ voices

A NEW independent commission to improve cohesion would engage across all nations and regions of the UK by moving beyond Westminster-centric discussions and include more diverse voices, the director of British Future thinktank has said.

Sunder Katwala said building confidence across different groups will be a priority, as economic pressures and tensions due to Middle East conflict have polarised communities in the UK.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pakistan court gives unusual punishment to Youtuber Rajab Butt for owning lion cub

Pakistani zookeeper Mohammad Amir holds the confiscated lion cub at Lahore’s safari zoo last Tuesday (28)

Pakistan court gives unusual punishment to Youtuber Rajab Butt for owning lion cub

A PAKISTANI YouTube star who was gifted a lion cub on his wedding day avoided jail after promising a judge to upload animal rights videos for a year.

Rajab Butt has one of the largest online followings in south Asia, and his week-long nuptials in December were plastered over celebrity gossip websites.

Keep ReadingShow less