On August 28, 1996, Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales finalized their divorce after nearly four years of separation. Their marriage, which initially seemed like a fairytale, was marred by controversies, infidelity, and invasions of privacy by the British press. Queen Elizabeth II advised the couple to begin the divorce process about two months before it was finalized. Diana was awarded a lump sum payment of £17,000,000 and an annual stipend of £350,000 to maintain a private office, with shared custody of their sons, William and Harry.
Following the divorce, Diana was stripped of the title “Her Royal Highness” and instead referred to as “Diana, Princess of Wales.” The title of “Princess of Wales” was then held by Catherine Middleton, Diana’s daughter-in-law. Queen Elizabeth II gave her blessing to the divorce in late 1995 after many years of formal separation. The spokesperson mentioned that the royal family would continue to support Prince Charles and Princess Diana, particularly their children, during this difficult period. The divorce was a result of confirmed infidelity by both Diana and Charles, with Charles admitting his lack of faithfulness during their marriage.
The initial separation between Diana and Charles was announced on December 9, 1992, by then-Prime Minister John Major on behalf of Buckingham Palace. The couple decided to separate amicably with no plans for divorce and continued participation in the upbringing of their children. However, Charles’ admission of infidelity in a 1994 ITV documentary changed their plans, leading to the finalization of the divorce in 1996. Diana’s response to Charles’ confession was the iconic “revenge dress” designed by Christina Stambolian, which she wore to a Vanity Fair party the same night the documentary aired, sparking the trend of “revenge dressing.”
Tragically, Diana’s life post-divorce was cut short on August 31, 1997, when she, along with her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul, were killed in a car crash in Paris. She was 36 years old. An inquest found that Paul was intoxicated and speeding at the time of the crash. Following Diana’s death, Charles married Camilla Parker-Bowles in 2005. After Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, Charles ascended the throne and took the regnal name King Charles III. The divorce between Charles and Diana marked the end of a troubled marriage that had captured the attention of the world.
