Princess Diana

1961 – 1997

Diana, Princess of Wales, born Diana Frances Spencer, was the first wife of Charles, then Prince of Wales, and the mother of Princes William and Harry. As a senior member of the British royal family from 1981 to 1996 she became one of the most famous women in the world while devoting her public platform to global humanitarian causes—most notably the campaign against landmines and an early break with stigma around HIV/AIDS, when she shook hands with patients in 1987 without gloves. She died at age 36 in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997, while being pursued by photographers.

Last checked: May 10, 2026, 1:06 PM