Princess Diana Was No Commoner — Her Parents Were Notable, Honorable Aristocrats

The British aristocracy can infrequently really feel like a thriller, but the lives and deaths of Diana's parents are well-documented.

Mar. 18 2024, Updated 9:29 a.m. ET

She may be referred to as the People's Princess, but Princess Diana was born into aristocracy. Marrying into the royal family comes with hefty expectancies, which is why it isn't super common for any average person to do it.

Diana got here from a the Spencer family, which was once headed via British nobleman John Spencer, Viscount Althorp and his wife Frances Spencer, Viscountess Althorp.

Who have been Princess Diana's parents?

To in reality know the way interknit the British aristocracy and the royals actually are, it's a must to know that John's godfather was King Edward VIII. John also studied at Eton, the Royal Military College, and the Royal Agricultural College.

His royalty in aristocracy did not preclude him from serving in World War II, however. In truth, he used to be the captain in the Royal Scots Greys and arrived in France simply someday following D-Day where he helped unlock French towns.

From there, he best climbed higher and won more accolades, together with time as Aide-de-Camp to His Excellency Lieutenant-General Sir Willoughby Norrie. He even served as Governor South Australia.

Throughout his existence, he served in an array of additional workplaces including County Councillor for Northamptonshire and Justice of the Peace for Norfolk. In but any other transfer just about royalty, he served as equerry to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.

Where John thrived in bureaucratic and military positions, he did not at home. His marriage to Frances Spencer, later known as Frances Ruth Shand Kydd, was once no longer a contented one and led to divorce.

Nonetheless, their marriage was also one of stature, making an allowance for Frances, too, came from an established circle of relatives and she was once thought to be a well-to-do socialite of the generation. In fact, her mom was confidante and lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth.

After her divorce, she moved directly to Peter Shand Kydd. Frances also lost custody of her children after her mother testified towards her in court docket. She and Peter Shand Kydd later separated as well.

Frances was long believed to have a troublesome courting with alcohol, even having a inebriated using conviction on her document. She was once legally unable to force thereafter. Her controversies handiest persevered when she had public fights with Diana, together with some silent treatment during the time of her daughter's loss of life.

Following the tragedy, she endured her extra low-profile lifestyles she changed into very non secular, donating a lot of her money to Catholic charities amongst different nonprofit causes.

How did Princess Diana's parents die?

John suffered from an array of medical headaches later in lifestyles, together with a severe stroke. After convalescing, he used to be hospitalized for pneumonia, but in the end died of a heart attack in 1992.

His passing used to be most effective five years before that of his daughter, Diana, who tragically died after a automobile accident. Her cab driver was famously making an attempt to dodge the paparazzi. The dying rocked the country of Britain and led to heartbreak throughout the world.

Like her ex-husband, Frances confronted health problems close to the end of her existence, too. She was once recognized with Parkinson's illness and fought a struggle in opposition to mind most cancers. In 2004, she in the end died at her home in Scotland.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pbXSramam6Ses7p6wqikaKhfpb%2BqusKeqqxllJ6ur62MqZirnZ6pwA%3D%3D