On August 28, 1996, Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, finalized their divorce after a nearly four-year separation. The end of their marriage marked the conclusion of a once-fairy tale-like union that was later marred by controversies and infidelity. The divorce came after Queen Elizabeth II advised the couple to begin the process of separating, as reported by History.com. Diana was reportedly awarded a £17,000,000 lump sum payment along with £350,000 a year to maintain a private office. Charles and Diana agreed to share custody of their sons, William and Harry, as per the BBC. Diana was stripped of the title “Her Royal Highness “and was now to be referred to as “Diana, Princess of Wales.”
The title of “Princess of Wales” is now held by Catherine Middleton, Diana’s daughter-in-law. Queen Elizabeth II gave her blessing to the split in late 1995, after many years of formal separation. A palace spokesperson at the time mentioned that both the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh supported the view that an early divorce was desirable. The divorce came after confirmed infidelity by both Diana and Charles which was acknowledged in public statements. The initial separation of Diana and Charles was announced by then-Prime Minister John Major on Dec. 9, 1992. Major clarified that the couple had no plans to divorce at the time, and their constitutional positions were unaffected. However, Charles later admitted in a 1994 ITV documentary that he had not been faithful during their marriage, leading to a shift in their marriage dynamics.
After the confession, Diana famously wore the “revenge dress” designed by Christina Stambolian to a Vanity Fair party. This act of defiance marked a new chapter in Diana’s public persona and was later referred to as the “progenitor of ‘revenge dressing'” by Vogue. Unfortunately, Diana’s post-divorce life was abruptly cut short as she, along with her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul, were killed in a tragic car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997. An inquest found that Paul was intoxicated and speeding at the time of the crash. Following Diana’s death, Charles went on to marry Camilla Parker-Bowles in 2005.
After the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Charles ascended to the British throne and took the regnal name King Charles III. The events surrounding Prince Charles and Diana’s divorce and subsequent tragedies marked a tumultuous period in the history of the British royal family. Despite the challenges and controversies, the legacy of Princess Diana continues to endure, leaving an indelible mark on history.
