A Royal Romance: Charles And Diana's Pre-Wedding Love Story

Prince Charles and Princess Diana first met in 1977 and began dating in 1980. They married in July 1981 and separated in 1992, divorcing in 1996.

1977: Charles and Diana first met

In 1977, Charles and Diana first met at Althorp, the Spencer family home. Diana was 16 and Charles was 29. Diana recalled that Charles came to stay as a friend of her elder sister, Lady Sarah. They met in a plowed field and Charles was struck by Diana's beauty and charm. He invited her for a sailing weekend to Cowes aboard the royal yacht Britannia.

Charles and Diana's relationship developed over the next few years. In 1980, Charles took a serious interest in Diana as a potential bride when they were guests at a country weekend where Diana watched him play polo. In June 1982, less than a year after their wedding, Diana and Charles married. Their first son, Prince William, was born in the same year.

The couple's marriage was a fairy tale wedding that lasted 15 years and produced two princes. However, it ended in a public and acrimonious divorce involving infidelity that threatened to rock the monarchy. They separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996. Diana was tragically killed in a car crash on August 31, 1997.

1980: Charles invited Diana for a sailing weekend

In 1980, Charles invited Diana for a sailing weekend to Cowes aboard the royal yacht Britannia. Their relationship began to develop at this point. Diana was 16 years old and Charles was 29 when they first met in 1977 at Althorp, the Spencer family home. Charles was dating Diana's elder sister, Lady Sarah at the time. Diana and Charles married in July 1981 and their first son, Prince William, was born in June 1982. The couple separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996. Diana was killed in a car crash on August 31, 1997.

March 1981: Charles left Diana for 5 weeks

In March 1981, Charles left Diana for 5 weeks to go to Australia and New Zealand. Diana was spotted crying at Heathrow airport upon his departure, but it was not because she was sad. Before he left, Charles had taken a phone call with Camilla Parker Bowles. Diana expressed doubts before walking down the aisle in July 1981, especially after she found a bracelet Charles had made for Parker Bowles. Camilla attended Charles and Diana’s wedding, but the pair did not then see one another or communicate for nearly five years – apart from when Charles notified her of the birth of his first son, William.

July 1981: The royal wedding

Camilla Parker Bowles was present at Charles and Diana's wedding, but the pair did not see one another or communicate for nearly five years after the event. The couple separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996 after 15 years of marriage.

In March 1981, Charles flew to Australia and New Zealand for five weeks, leaving his newly betrothed behind. Diana was spotted crying at Heathrow airport upon his departure, but not because she was sad, but because before he left, he had taken a phone call with Camilla Parker Bowles.

In July 1981, Diana expressed doubts before walking down the aisle, especially after, it’s said, she found a bracelet Charles had made for Parker Bowles. Her sisters say it was too late to call it off, and she went through with it.

In June 1982, less than a year after Diana and Charles married, their first son, Prince William, was born. This was, for the most part, a happy time for the couple, says Junor. “I’ve interviewed people who visited Kensington Palace in the early 1980s – they describe Diana charging about the house playfully looking for William who had run away and hidden under his father’s desk at bedtime.”

1992: The couple separated

1992 was a significant year for the couple as they separated. The royal wedding took place in July 1981, and the couple had been married for 15 years by the time they divorced in 1996. The divorce was finalized just one year before Diana's death on August 31, 1997.

The couple's relationship began in 1977 when Charles was dating Diana's elder sister, Lady Sarah. They first met at Althorp, the Spencer family home, and Charles took a serious interest in Diana as a potential bride in 1980. He invited her for a sailing weekend to Cowes aboard the royal yacht Britannia, and their relationship began to develop.

In March 1981, Charles left Diana for five weeks as he flew to Australia and New Zealand. She was spotted crying at Heathrow airport upon his departure, but it was not because she was sad. Before he left, he had taken a phone call with Camilla Parker Bowles.

In June 1982, less than a year after Diana and Charles married, their first son, Prince William, was born. This was, for the most part, a happy time for the couple, says Junor.

The couple's separation in 1992 marked a significant turning point in their relationship, leading to a public and acrimonious divorce involving infidelity that threatened to rock the monarchy.

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