Diana, Princess of Wales: History of Diana through London

 

Conspiracy Theories. Photo Credit: stevecadman. C.C.License
Conspiracy Theories
The major conspiracy theories so far…
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Your Condolences. Photo Credit: Dave Heuts. CC License.
Condolences
Messages sent to LondonNet after The Princess’s death…
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Diana's London
Diana’s London
Key London places in Diana’s all too brief life… More Info
Prince Charles.
Diana’s Lovers
The men that shook the English throne…
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Diana’s London

Introduction
History of Diana through London
Magnificent Seven Di Lifestyle Sites
FAQs

History of Diana through London

60 Coleherne Court, SW5
Diana once said she spent the happiest time of her life in this three bedroomed apartment in Earl’s Court. The future princess was 18 when she moved in with two girlfriends. Diana’s bedroom had the cheeky message ‘Chief Chick’ plastered on its door. Recently went up for sale.

Westminster Abbey
London’s most famous church has been a favourite of royals down the ages. Scene of Diana’s emotional funeral in 1997.

St Paul’s Cathedral
Wren’s masterpiece was host to Charles and Diana’s fairytale wedding in 1981.

Buckingham Palace
Diana is reputed to have had little time for the Queen’s official residence in London, calling it “cold” and believing it contained some of the royal courtiers she referred to as the “enemy”.

St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington
Diana gave birth to both her boys in the Lindo Wing of this hospital in west London; William in the June of 1982, Harry in September, 1984. On Harry’s birth Charles, who wanted a girl, exclaimed: “Oh God, it’s a boy,” and promptly left for home. “Something inside me died”, said Diana and the marriage was at the beginning of its end.

Kensington Palace
Diana’s official home in London, given a big refit for herself and Charles on their wedding. It was also the scene of some of the most infamous Diana events such as several attempted suicides and the occasion in 1982 when, on the phone, she overheard Charles say to Camilla Parker-Bowles “I will always love you”.

Windsor Great Park
Situated within a quick pony ride of Heathrow airport, this stamping ground of the English aristocracy at play is where Diana fell under the spell of guardsman and polo player Major James Hewitt.

Leicester Square
Diana’s public and private personas were often at odds with each other but when it came to big movie premiers here, the two sides of her life dovetailed nicely.

Diana loved movies and movie people, counting John Travolta and Kevin Costner as friends, and revelled in the informal crowds that gathered for premiers.

London Lighthouse
The struggle against AIDS was perhaps the campaign closest to Diana’s heart. Her gift of being able to cut out the bullshit and talk convincingly with people at their lowest ebb was highly valued by the centre. The Lighthouse AIDS centre has now merged with the Terrence Higgins Trust (Oct 2000) and is now known as the Lighthouse West London.

Harrods
The plummy Knightsbridge store has been famous for supplying royalty with provisions down the years. Diana, who bought her blue engagement dress here, had a special attachment to Harrods as it is owned by family friend Mohammed Al Fayed, father of Dodi – the lover with whom she shared brief moments of happiness before the pair were driven to their deaths in Paris in 1997.