diana and charles engagement

 

LISTEN: 9Honey's royal podcast The Windsors takes a look at Princess Diana's entry into the royal family and the legacy she's left behind. Diana and Charles separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996. Both Charles and Diana are delighted by the arrival of their … When Princess Diana and Prince Charles's engagement photos first appeared in 1981, they looked like the perfect picture of a young royal couple. [9][24][25], Regiments from the Commonwealth realms participated in the procession, including the Royal Regiment of Canada. I don't see it as a cynical, cruel statement. You can put your own interpretation there," he remarked with a wry smile, as Diana giggled at his side. [12][13] Diana selected a large engagement ring that consisted of 14 solitaire diamonds surrounding a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire set in 18-carat white gold,[3] which was similar to her mother's engagement ring. [56] Despite their happy appearance, Diana's suspicion over Charles having an enduring affection for his former lover Camilla grew as Camilla's photographs fell out of his diary and Diana discovered that he was wearing cufflinks that were given to him by Camilla. Charles and Diana explained they had met for the first time in 1977, introduced through Diana's older sister Lady Sarah — who the future king had once dated. RELATED: How Charles first met 'amusing and attractive' 16-year-old Diana, Diana mentioned she would be moving out of her flat — which, it's believed, Charles had never visited — and said of the children she worked with: "I'll miss them.". The pair's engagement was announced with an official photocall and a joint interview — a tradition that's continued with their sons Prince William and Prince Harry. Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer announced their engagement at Buckingham Palace in February 1981, and were married only months later in July. They made two identical cakes in case one was damaged. Though the proposal had come three weeks before the announcement, Charles had only presented Diana with her famous engagement ring days earlier. (Getty). Lady Diana was 16 at the time, and Charles recalled thinking she was "very jolly and amusing"; she in turn found him "pretty amazing". [18], Two nights before the wedding, a gala ball was held at Buckingham Palace, and the Queen subsequently hosted a dinner for a crowd of 90 individuals. RELATED: Moments the world missed from Diana and Charles' wedding. Philip proposed to Elizabeth after a monthlong vacation at … The couple informed Queen Elizabeth and other family members, and then kept the engagement under wraps for almost a month. [27] Then they flew to Scotland, where the rest of the royal family had gathered at Balmoral Castle, and spent time in a hunting lodge on the estate. [20] The wedding ceremony was positively received by the public,[50] and according to The New York Times symbolised "the continuity of the monarchy" in the UK. Anwar Hussein Getty Images They announced their engagement in 1981. Charles and Diana got engaged 35 years ago. "That threw me completely, I thought, 'What a strange [answer]'. [23] The cost of the wedding was later estimated to be $48 million in total (between $70M and $110M when adjusted for inflation), with $600,000 being spent on security. [40] Barbara Daly did the bride's make-up for the ceremony. Notable figures in attendance included many members of other royal families, republican heads of state, and members of the bride's and groom's families. [51][52][53] The wedding was widely broadcast on television and radio in many countries, and news channels covered the ceremony in different languages. The ring was made by the Crown jewellers Garrard. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip, 1947. This writer knew they were doomed. During her 1995 BBC interview with reporter Martin Bashir, Princess Diana revealed that both she and Prince Charles were involved in affairs during their marriage. [31][27], Three choirs, three orchestras and a fanfare ensemble played the music for the service. However, she said the preceding six months had served as a good "run-up" to the event, adding, "Next to Prince Charles, I know I can't go wrong.". On this day 40 years ago, the hopes of many an aspiring princess were dashed when Prince Charles announced his engagement to Lady Diana Spencer. [7] Diana accepted, but their engagement was kept secret for the next few weeks. The Crown makes it appear that Diana and Charles barely saw each other between their engagement in February 1981 and their July wedding, which is slightly exaggerated to … It seems Diana was equally bemused by her future husband's words, as revealed in the 2017 documentary Diana: In Her Own Words. "I thought it would be a good idea, that ... she could then think about it, and if she didn't like the idea, she could say she didn't," he explained in the interview. He invited her for a sailing weekend to Cowes aboard the royal yacht Britannia as their relationship began to develop. (Getty), Moments the world missed from Diana and Charles' wedding, "You should look at those words in the context of the series of interviews he gave in the 1970s about what he wanted in a wife and what being in love was all about,", The Prince and Princess of Wales wed in July 1981. RELATED: The stories behind the most famous royal engagement rings. [39] She was reported to have accidentally spilled perfume over a part of her dress which she later covered with her hand during the ceremony. The couple went on to welcome two sons, William and Harry, before separating in 1992. As The Crown shows, when asked if he loved Diana, Charles said, "Whatever in love means." This was followed by an invitation to Balmoral Castle, the Royal family's Scottish home, to meet his family. [27] A number of ceremonies and parties were held at different places by the public to celebrate the occasion across the United Kingdom. For a daily dose of 9Honey, sign up here to receive our top stories straight to your inbox. Charles' comment has been perceived by some as a lack of affection for his bride-to-be, perhaps fuelled by it being misquoted as "whatever love means". February 1981: Charles and Diana announce their engagement. Five months after announcing their engagement, Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer married at London's St Paul's Cathedral. [42] They stayed there for three days,[42] then flew to Gibraltar, where they boarded the Royal Yacht Britannia for an eleven-day cruise of the Mediterranean, visiting Tunisia, Sardinia, Greece and Egypt. Princess Diana was the first royal to give birth in a hospital … (Getty), by her future husband's words, as revealed in the 2017 documentary, Charles and Diana pictured on their honeymoon later in 1981. Eleven-year-old Lord Nicholas Windsor, son of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, and eight-year-old Edward van Cutsem, godsons of the Prince of Wales, were page boys. An example of this is seen when Charles … After remarking it was "difficult" to find the right words, the heir apparent answered: "Just delighted and happy. Many street parties were held throughout the United Kingdom to celebrate the occasion. [19] A reception with dancing for 1,500 people was also held. While Diana immediately replied, "Of course", Charles' answer was a little more ambiguous. Biographer Tina Brown said the comment would "haunt his life." The Prince of Wales's coat of arms and the Spencer family's crest were used in the decoration of the five-foot-tall layered fruitcake which weighed 225 pounds. [5][6] Diana was well received at Balmoral by Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. They first met in 1977 while Charles was dating her elder sister Lady Sarah. When the interviewer asks if they’re in love, Diana responded, “Of course.” Charles memorably said, “Whatever ‘in love’ means.” The interviewer also jokes about how Diana will make a “great housewife.” [9] For the customary bridal themes of "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue", Diana's wedding dress had an antique lace "made with a fabric spun at a British silk farm" (the "old"), the Spencer family tiara and her mother's earrings (the "borrowed"), and a blue bow sewn into the waistband (the "blue"). A number of these gifts were displayed at St. James's Palace from 5 August to 4 October 1981. [2] She did not promise to "obey" him as part of the traditional vows. They travelled to Broadlands, where Prince Charles's parents had spent their wedding night in 1947. [7] Charles and Diana selected St Paul's over Westminster Abbey, the traditional site of royal weddings, because St. Paul's offered more seating[9] and permitted a longer procession through London. That was all about to change, as the couple detailed in their first interview, recorded in front of a mirror inside the palace. [2] The carriage was too small to hold the two of them comfortably due to her voluminous dress and train. [2] The ceremony featured many ceremonial aspects, including use of the state carriages and roles for the Foot Guards and Household Cavalry. [2][27], Diana accidentally changed the order of Charles's names during her vows, saying "Philip Charles Arthur George" instead of the correct "Charles Philip Arthur George". Diana had planned a holiday for the next week, and Charles hoped she would use the time to consider her answer. At the time, Charles (born on November 14, 1948) was 32 years old while Diana (born … "He can over-think things and was thinking out loud. [7] The event was broadcast in 50 countries with near 100 television companies covering it. Among the invitees were the royal household's members and staff. The United Kingdom had a national holiday on that day to mark the wedding. [9][19][22] The security screenings in the airports also increased. Charles' proposal marked a dramatic shift in Diana's life. He said he would offer her "thy goods" instead of "my worldly goods". Wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer, British National Anthem ("God Save the Queen"), Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, List of wedding guests of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, "The Royal Wedding of HRH The Prince of Wales and the Lady Diana Spencer", "International Special Report: Princess Diana, 1961–1997", "Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer's wedding", "Inside Princess Diana's Royal Wedding Fairy Tale", "Prince Charles' engagement announcements", "6 crucial differences between Charles & Diana and Harry & Meghan's engagement interviews", "No gloves and high split skirts: How Princess Diana rewrote the rules of royal dressing", "Queen Mother on 'abhorrent' Diana, Princess of Wales", "Charles and Lady Diana Rehearse the Wedding", "The True Story Behind The Crown's Prince Charles, Princess Diana and Camilla Parker Bowles Love Triangle", "Increased security for Charles and Diana's wedding", "The 12 Most Expensive Weddings In History", "Here's the big mistake that happened on Princess Diana and Prince Charles' wedding day", "AP Was There: Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding", "Sir David Willcocks (1919-2015) Musical Director of The Bach Choir for 38 Years", "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)", "4 Ways Meghan Markle's Wedding Hair and Makeup is Totally Different From Princess Diana and Kate's", "Princess Diana's Personal Hairdresser Shares his Memories of the Late Royal", "Every Detail About Princess Diana's Iconic Wedding Dress", "All About Princess Diana's Wedding Day Perfume — and How She Accidentally Spilled It on Her Dress! The 19-year-old Diana and the Prince of Wales delighted royal fans when they publicly announced their engagement on … [44] Most of Europe's elected heads of state were among the guests, with the exceptions of the President of Greece, Constantine Karamanlis (who declined because Greece's exiled monarch, Constantine II, a kinsman and friend of the bridegroom, had been invited as "King of the Hellenes"), and the President of Ireland, Patrick Hillery (who was advised by Taoiseach Charles Haughey not to attend because of the dispute over the status of Northern Ireland). The dean of St Paul's Cathedral, Alan Webster, presided at the service, and the archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, conducted the marriage. "[20], The royal couple had seven bridal attendants. The period when the advice was given coincided with a change of government. [4] He took serious interest in her as a potential bride in 1980 when they were guests at a country weekend, where she watched him play polo. The Prince of Wales in the 1902 State Landau which was later used following the ceremony to take the couple back to Buckingham Palace. [21][57] By the time the couple returned from their honeymoon, their wedding gifts were displayed at St James's Palace.[20]. [36][37] She wore a pair of low-heeled Clive Shilton shoes "with C and D initials hand-painted on her arches". Diana's engagement ring was not custom-made like other royal rings before it. , featured a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds, set in 18-karat white gold. [7] She arrived almost on time for the 11:20 BST ceremony. Up to that point, she had been working in a kindergarten and sharing a London flat with three friends. The wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer took place on Wednesday 29 July 1981[1] at St Paul's Cathedral in London, United Kingdom. The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, the Philharmonia Orchestra and the English Chamber Orchestra were conducted by Sir David Willcocks, who was the director of the Royal College of Music and of the Bach Choir;[33] Richard Popplewell, the organist at Chapel Royal; and Sir Colin Davis, who was the musical director of Covent Garden. Princes Diana and … [20], In a series of tapes recorded for her 1992 biography, Diana said that she recalled discovering a bracelet which Charles had bought for his longtime lover Camilla Parker Bowles shortly before their wedding. Prince Charles the Prince of Wales and fiancee Lady Diana Spencer arrive for their first official engagement together "He rang his mum, simply to say there, I've done it now. Instead, Diana had selected it herself from the collection of former official crown jeweller Garrad; it was available to any member of the public to purchase. "I had a long time to think about it. Here's the truth behind that interview. I'm amazed that she's been brave enough to take me on. One interaction seems to say it all; in a foreboding clip that People uncovered, Prince Charles and Princess Diana are seen talking to a reporter during the announcement of their engagement … [2][3] Events were held around the Commonwealth to mark the wedding. [16][17] Clayton Howard did Diana's make-up and John Frieda did her hair for the official portrait. [48] A slice of the couple's wedding cake was later auctioned off by Julien's Auctions in 2018 and was estimated to sell between $800–$1,200. [45] Among other invitees were the couple's friends and the bride invited the staff of the nursery school in which she had worked to the wedding. They reunited three years later in 1980, developing a romantic relationship that Charles described as "a gradual business.". It was what I wanted, it's what I want.". [39], Per the Queen's orders, two similar bouquets were prepared for the bride by David Longman which contained "gardenias, stephanotis, odontolglossum orchid, lily of the valley, Earl Mountbatten roses, freesia, veronica, ivy, myrtle and trasdescantia". Diana chose the floral scent Quelques Fleurs, which featured "notes of tuberose, jasmine and rose". [54] Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom John Betjeman released a poem in honour of the couple. [32] The choirs were conducted by Barry Rose, the choirmaster at St. Paul's Cathedral. [20], The couple had 27 wedding cakes. [49], An estimated 750 million people watched the ceremony worldwide,[2] and this figure allegedly rose to a billion when the radio audience is added in, although there are no means of verifying these figures. [15] A series of photographs taken by the Earl of Snowdon were published in Vogue in February 1981 to mark the engagement. After the ceremony, the couple made the traditional appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Arm-in-arm, the pair greeted photographers in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, with Diana wearing a blue skirt suit that complemented her distinctive engagement ring. [55] The Worshipful Company of Glovers of London presented the couple with gloves made out of leather, silks and cotton. [41], Charles wore his full dress naval commander uniform. [55] The Greater Manchester Council offered engineering apprenticeships for a small number of unemployed young people, and Cambridge University sent "a spare copy of The Complete English Traveller" by Robert Sanders. [7] Diana and Charles made a traditional appearance on a balcony of Buckingham Palace at 13:10 BST, and delighted the crowd when they kissed,[2][7] initiating the tradition of kissing the bride on the balcony. Watch the brand new season of Younger now on Stan. When he met Diana, people rejoiced, sure that Charles had finally found his happily-ever-after. During his 1981 engagement interview to Princess Diana, Prince Charles said "whatever in love means," and now his biographer Sally Bedell Smith explains why 3,500 guests made up the congregation at St Paul's Cathedral. Two million spectators lined the route of Diana's procession from Clarence House, with 4,000 police and 2,200 military officers to manage the crowds. They announced their separation in December 1992, … Part of the reason Charles chose someone so much younger is that there was a … February 24, 1981 marked Charles and Diana's first public appearance as a couple following a six-month courtship. [45] Over the night, fireworks were displayed above Hyde Park and 100 beacons were lit up across the country to celebrate the royal wedding. Traditionally Irish presidents and British royalty did not meet publicly because of the Northern Ireland issue. The ring, which now belongs to the Duchess of Cambridge, featured a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds, set in 18-karat white gold. [20] The night before the wedding 150 people, including heads of states and governments, were invited for a dinner with the Queen. Recounting his proposal, Charles revealed he had popped the question three weeks earlier, a few days before Diana embarked on a trip to Australia. How Charles first met 'amusing and attractive' 16-year-old Diana, The couple kept their engagement a secret from the public for three weeks. News of the engagement was kept secret for a few more weeks while Diana spent some time alone with her mother in Australia. The royal wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer at St. Paul’s Cathedral on July 29, 1981 was watched by 750 million people around the world. It's estimated almost 800 million people around the world watched the broadcast of the ceremony. Prince Charles had known Lady Diana Spencer for several years. [30], Other church representatives present who gave prayers after the service were a former Archbishop of Canterbury, Donald Coggan, Cardinal Basil Hume, the Right Reverend Andrew Doig and the Reverend Harry Williams CR. "It hasn't been easy, but I was absolutely determined that it was going to be as near a secret as possible on the actual day," Charles admitted. [20], The couple and 120 guests went to Buckingham Palace for a wedding breakfast following the ceremony. [9] The dress was designed according to Diana's wishes who wanted it to have the longest train in the royal wedding history. Due to her suspicions she wanted to call off the wedding but was put off the idea by her sisters.[21]. Five months after announcing their engagement, Charles and Diana tied the knot at Westminster Abbey. [38] The official parfumeur of the royal wedding was Houbigant Parfum, the oldest French fragrance company. [9][46] The couple's other wedding cake was created by Belgian pastry chef SG Sender, who was known as the "cakemaker to the kings". During her … June 21, 1982: Prince William is born. The ceremony was a traditional Church of England wedding service. Arguably, the most famous moment from Charles and Diana's engagement came at the very end of their joint interview, when they were asked to describe how they felt. The ceremony was a traditional Church of England wedding service, presided over by the Most Reverend Robert Runcie, Archbishop of Canterbury,[2] and the Very Reverend Alan Webster, Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral. The former nanny quipped in the interview that she'd kept the ring "hidden" until the engagement was announced. The most extravagant royal weddings of modern times, On this day 40 years ago, the hopes of many an aspiring princess were dashed when, Prince Charles and Princess Diana's relationship: a timeline, Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer announced their engagement on February 24, 1981. [20] Spike Milligan and Harry Secombe were among the entertainers who were invited to the ceremony by the Prince of Wales. [9], Their engagement became official on 24 February 1981,[10] and the couple gave an exclusive interview. But the real lasting “gem” of the engagement is the first televised interview between Charles and Diana. 24.2.81 "Whatever 'in love' means. [29] In keeping with tradition, the couple's wedding rings were crafted from Welsh gold from the Clogau St David's mine in Bontddu. "You should look at those words in the context of the series of interviews he gave in the 1970s about what he wanted in a wife and what being in love was all about," she told People in 2017. Diana claimed they had only met each other on 13 occasions before their engagement, and most of those times there had been someone else present. Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer announcing their engagement on Feb. 24, 1981. [55], A "just married" sign was attached to the landau by Princes Andrew and Edward. Charles and Diana married in 1981, welcomed two … Their marriage was widely billed as a "fairytale wedding" and the "wedding of the century". [26], At 10:22 BST the Queen and the royal family were taken to the cathedral in eight carriages. Diana and Charles had been seeing each other for about six months when he proposed on 3 February 1981 in the nursery at Windsor Castle. [9] The bride wore her family's heirloom tiara over an ivory silk tulle veil, and had her hair styled short crop down by hair dresser Kevin Shanley. ), When the reporter ventured, "It means two very happy people", he smiled and replied, "Yes.". The Prince and Princess of Wales' relationship has been the focus of season four of "The Crown" which aired on Netflix earlier this month. February 24, 1981 marked Charles and Diana's first public appearance as a couple following a six-month courtship. June 21, 1982: Prince William was born. That word was eliminated at the couple's request, which caused a sensation at the time. LISTEN: The Windsors podcast looks at the highs and lows of Prince Charles' life in the royal spotlight. However, royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith has defended Charles' comment as an example of him "over-thinking". The cathedral's organist, Christopher Dearnley; and its sub-organist, John Scott; played the organ. He invited her for a sailing weekend to Cowes aboard the royal yacht Britannia as their relationship began to develop. After a short courtship, Charles and Diana announced their engagement in February 1981. She giggled and you don't get any sense of her raising her eyebrows.". "[20] He carried a "full dress sword tassled in gold. (The Spanish king was "advised" not to attend by his government because the newlyweds' honeymoon included a stopover in the disputed territory of Gibraltar). [20], Diana's wedding dress was valued at £9,000[34] (equivalent to £34,750 in 2019). [47] Another wedding cake was created by Chef Nicholas Lodge; Chef Nicholas had previously made the Queen Mother's 80th Birthday Cake and also commissioned to create a Christening Cake for Prince Harry. [9][55] The Edinburgh District Council was among the organisations that made a charitable donation in honour of the couple's wedding and donated $92,500 to the Thistle Fund, "a charity for the disabled". RELATED: The woman who turned down Charles' proposal before he married Diana, "It wasn't a difficult decision in the end. [14] The Queen Mother gave Diana a sapphire and diamond brooch as an engagement present. (Getty), 12 of the most moving photos from Prince Philip's funeral, Bindi Irwin's daughter Grace wears adorable wombat onesie. ", The journalist probed further, asking: "And, I suppose, in love?". The pair posed in … As one report at the time noted, Charles found it "strange" to be able to appear in public with a lady and not have to worry about seeing marriage speculation in the next morning's headlines; it was, "thank heavens", this time true. The couple then had several dates in London. [28] Charles also made an error. (Getty), The stories behind the most famous royal engagement rings, "I'm amazed that she's been brave enough to take me on." Prince Charles and Diana Spencer announced their engagement in February 1981. Though they had a very brief courtship, Charles and Diana announced their engagement in early 1981. (Getty), sign up here to receive our top stories straight to your inbox, The royal couple's engagement announcement was recreated in Season 4 of The Crown. [31] New Zealand soprano, Kiri Te Kanawa sang "Let The Bright Seraphim" from G. F. Handel's Samson. Prince Charles was officially introduced to Diana in 1977 by her sister Lady Sarah Spencer . [9] As the orchestra played Trumpet voluntary, an anthem by Jeremiah Clarke, the bride made the three-and-a-half minute walk up the aisle. (Netflix), The woman who turned down Charles' proposal before he married Diana, "Next to Prince Charles, I know I can't go wrong," Diana told reporters. Newly unearthed footage of Prince Charles and Diana's infamous engagement interview has emerged, showing the Princess of Wales looking 'clearly dissatisfied' after … [19][43] Princes Andrew and Edward were the Prince of Wales's supporters (the equivalent of "best man" for a royal wedding). [32][31] Music and songs used during the wedding included the "Prince of Denmark's March", "I Vow to Thee, My Country", "Pomp and Circumstance No.4" and the British National Anthem ("God Save the Queen"). [2] The couple left from Waterloo station in the British Royal Train + 975025 Caroline. [9] The bride also had a pair of slippers made out of hand-made ivory silk with pearl and sequin embroidery. © Tim Graham - Getty Images Lady Diana and Prince Charles at the photo shoot announcing their engagement in 1981. [20] Lady Diana arrived at the cathedral in the Glass Coach with her father, John Spencer; she was escorted by six mounted Metropolitan Police officers. Prince Charles had known Lady Diana Spencer for several years. [11] During the public announcement of the engagement, Diana wore a "cobalt blue skirt suit" by the British label Cojana. [27] The couple was driven over Westminster Bridge to catch the train from Waterloo station to Romsey in Hampshire to begin their honeymoon. It's been widely claimed that during those months, the Queen's eldest son, 32, and the nursery teacher's assistant, 19, met in person just 13 times. 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