23 Vintage Photos of Princess Diana
See rare photos of Princess Diana—before she became Princess Diana.
When she became Princess of Wales, Princess Diana became the most photographed woman in the world. But what did Diana look like before she was thrust into the public eye? Here, see photos of a young Diana—from her birthdays growing up at Park House in Sandringham, through her brief stint as a kindergarten teacher.
1962
Here, a baby Diana celebrates her first birthday at Park House, Sandringham. The Spencer family leased their house from Queen Elizabeth, whom Diana referred to as "Aunt Lilibet."
1963
Diana was the third daughter of Edward, who was Viscount Althorp at the time of her birth (he later became Earl Spencer), and Frances Roche, a daughter of the fourth Baron Fermoy. She's pictured here at age 2.
1964
Diana's blonde hair was kept short throughout much of her childhood; here, she poses for a photo at Park House.
1964
A young Diana pushes her brother, Charles, on a swing on the grounds of Park House. She's around age 6 in this photograph.
1968
In 1967, Diana's parents divorced, and her mother ran away with Peter Shand-Kydd. Her father got custody of the children, and in 1975, when he inherited the Earl Spencer title, the whole family moved to Althorp, the Spencer family estate.
1968
Diana would later describer her childhood as "very unhappy" and "very unstable, the whole thing." She's pictured here in London's Cadogan Place Gardens during the summer of 1968.
1968
She spent holidays with her mother; in this photograph, when Diana was around age 7, she's pictured wearing her winter coat in London.
1971
Diana always loved a good hat. She's photographed on a summer holiday in Itchenor, West Sussex.
1974
Diana rocked a vest on the Isle of Uist in Scotland during a family holiday.
1974
In this family album picture, taken while Diana was in Scotland at her mother's house, she's pictured with a Shetland pony named Souffle.
1980
As rumors started swirling that Diana was dating Prince Charles, she began to be the subject of paparazzi. Here, she was pictured leaving Young England kindergarten, where she was employed as a nursery teacher's assistant.
1980
"I think the British people need someone in public life to give affection, to make them feel important, to support them, to give them light in their dark tunnels. I see it as a possibly unique role, and yes, I've had difficulties, as everybody has witnessed over the years, but let's now use the knowledge I've gathered to help other people in distress," Diana later said of her role in the public eye.
1980
She quickly embraced her role as a style icon—and got more confident dressing in her royal life.
1980
It took time for Diana to get used to being photographed. Here, she was startled after stalling her red Mini Metro outside her apartment in London.
1980
The majority of photographs of Diana from this time are taken outside her flat in London. She shared the apartment with three of her girlfriends, Carolyn Bartholomew, Virginia Pitman, and Ann Bolton.
More: Princess Diana's Apartment Will Receive an English Heritage Blue Plaque
1980
A young Diana Spencer bought a flat at Coleherne Court, using £50,000 she had inherited from her American great-grandmother. (An apartment in that building is now for sale!)
1981
And now we see Diana on the precipice of her royal life; in 1981, Prince Charles and Diana announced their engagement.
1981
A young Diana on one of her first walkabouts, at Broadlands, wearing a green dress with a pie crust frill collar.
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals, and a range of other subjects. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram.
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