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In pictures: The life of Diana, Princess of Wales

30 August 2017

On the 20th anniversary of her death, here is a look back at Princess Diana's life as seen through the camera lens.

News image — Diana Frances Spencer was born on 1 July 1961 at Park House near Sandringham, Norfolk. She was the youngest daughter of the then Viscount and Viscountess Althorp.

PA Diana at Park House, Sandringham, on her first birthday. — Diana Frances Spencer was born on 1 July 1961 at Park House near Sandringham, Norfolk. She was the youngest daughter of the then Viscount and Viscountess Althorp.

News image — After her parents' divorce, she often had to travel between their homes in Northamptonshire and Scotland.

PA Lady Diana Spencer wearing a winter coat in London, aged 7. — After her parents' divorce, she often had to travel between their homes in Northamptonshire and Scotland.

News image — After school, she worked in London, first as a nanny, occasionally a cook, and then as an assistant at the Young England Kindergarten in Knightsbridge.

REX/Shutterstock Diana holds two children as the sun shines through her skirt. — After school, she worked in London, first as a nanny, occasionally a cook, and then as an assistant at the Young England Kindergarten in Knightsbridge.

News image — Rumours spread that her friendship with the Prince of Wales was blossoming into something more serious. Press and television surrounded her at every turn and her days at work were numbered. The Palace tried in vain to play down the speculation.

PA Lady Diana Spencer, surrounded by the media, leaving her Earl's Court flat to get into her car — Rumours spread that her friendship with the Prince of Wales was blossoming into something more serious. Press and television surrounded her at every turn and her days at work were numbered. The Palace tried in vain to play down the speculation.

News image — On 24 February 1981 the engagement became official. The ring cost almost £30,000 and contained a sapphire surrounded by 14 diamonds.

PA Charles and Lady Diana Spencer at Buckingham Palace after the announcement of their engagement. — On 24 February 1981 the engagement became official. The ring cost almost £30,000 and contained a sapphire surrounded by 14 diamonds.

News image — Lady Diana walked down the aisle with her father, Earl Spencer, at St Paul's Cathedral on 29 July 1981. Her dress, designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, had a 25ft (10m) train and was made of ivory taffeta and antique lace.

PA The Prince and Princess of Wales at Buckingham Palace after their wedding at St Paul's Cathedral, 29 July 1981. — Lady Diana walked down the aisle with her father, Earl Spencer, at St Paul's Cathedral on 29 July 1981. Her dress, designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, had a 25ft (10m) train and was made of ivory taffeta and antique lace.

News image — Diana was just 20. Under the watchful eyes of her mother and on the arm of her father, Diana prepared to take her wedding vows. She showed nerves only once, when she struggled to recall her husband's names in the right order.

PA The newly married Prince and Princess of Wales kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after their wedding ceremony at St. Paul's cathedral. — Diana was just 20. Under the watchful eyes of her mother and on the arm of her father, Diana prepared to take her wedding vows. She showed nerves only once, when she struggled to recall her husband's names in the right order.

News image — Millions of television viewers around the world were dazzled by the event, with a further 600,000 lining the route from Buckingham Palace to the Cathedral.

PA The newly married Prince and Princess of Wale wave to the London crowds from their open-top carriage as they make their way to Waterloo Station to depart for their honeymoon. — Millions of television viewers around the world were dazzled by the event, with a further 600,000 lining the route from Buckingham Palace to the Cathedral.

News image — Charles and Diana spent their honeymoon on the Royal Yacht Britannia for a 12-day cruise through the Mediterranean to Egypt - and then stayed at Balmoral Castle.

PA Charles and Diana sit together by the banks of a river — Charles and Diana spent their honeymoon on the Royal Yacht Britannia for a 12-day cruise through the Mediterranean to Egypt - and then stayed at Balmoral Castle.

News image — Diana had always longed for a big family. Within a year of her marriage, on 21 June 1982, she gave birth to a son, Prince William, who is second in line to the throne.

Tim Ockenden/ PA Prince and Princess of Wales showing off their son, Prince William, to the media for the first time — Diana had always longed for a big family. Within a year of her marriage, on 21 June 1982, she gave birth to a son, Prince William, who is second in line to the throne.

News image — She believed in giving her children as normal an upbringing as royal circumstances would allow. William became the first male heir to go to nursery. The boys were not educated by private teachers, but went to school with other children.

PA A baby Prince William with his mother, The Princess of Wales, at home in Kensington Palace, London — She believed in giving her children as normal an upbringing as royal circumstances would allow. William became the first male heir to go to nursery. The boys were not educated by private teachers, but went to school with other children.

News image — In 1984, on 15 September, William had a brother. He was christened Henry, though he is known as Prince Harry.

PA The Prince and Princess of Wales following the birth of their second son, Prince Harry in 1984 — In 1984, on 15 September, William had a brother. He was christened Henry, though he is known as Prince Harry.

News image — The princess quickly became involved in the official duties of the Royal Family. Soon, she was on a constant round of visits to nurseries, schools and hospitals. She showed a spontaneity and ability to connect with people which endeared her to the public.

PA British Princess Diana drives in a tank on the occasion of her visit of British troops in West Berlin on the 18th of October in 1985. — The princess quickly became involved in the official duties of the Royal Family. Soon, she was on a constant round of visits to nurseries, schools and hospitals. She showed a spontaneity and ability to connect with people which endeared her to the public.

News image — On her first official visit to the United States, the princess shared a dance with John Travolta at the White House. From the time of her appearance on her first public engagement with her then husband-to-be, Diana's wardrobe became a focus of attention.

PA Princess Diana dances with John Travolta at the White House on 9 November 1985. — On her first official visit to the United States, the princess shared a dance with John Travolta at the White House. From the time of her appearance on her first public engagement with her then husband-to-be, Diana's wardrobe became a focus of attention.

News image — The princess's charity work strengthened her popularity with the public. She played an important role in publicising the plight of people with Aids. Her speeches on the subject were forthright and she did away with many prejudices. Simple gestures like shaking hands with Aids patients proved to the public that social contact was risk-free.

REX/Shutterstock Princess Diana Shakes Hands With An Aids Patients Resident At The London Lighthouse Aids Centre, 5 October 1989. — The princess's charity work strengthened her popularity with the public. She played an important role in publicising the plight of people with Aids. Her speeches on the subject were forthright and she did away with many prejudices. Simple gestures like shaking hands with Aids patients proved to the public that social contact was risk-free.

News image — The Prince and Princess of Wales carried out many engagements together and went on overseas tours. However, by the late 1980s their separate lives had become public knowledge.

PA The Prince and Princess of Wales with Harry and William on bikes — The Prince and Princess of Wales carried out many engagements together and went on overseas tours. However, by the late 1980s their separate lives had become public knowledge.

News image — On an official visit to India in 1992, Diana sat alone outside the Taj Mahal, the great monument to love. It was a graphic public declaration that although the couple were formally together, they were in fact apart.

Martin Keene/ PA The Princess of Wales sits in front of the Taj Mahal alone, during a Royal tour of India on 11 Feb 1992 — On an official visit to India in 1992, Diana sat alone outside the Taj Mahal, the great monument to love. It was a graphic public declaration that although the couple were formally together, they were in fact apart.

News image — Diana remained a doting mother to her two sons. Prince Harry has said that Diana was "one of the naughtiest parents", before adding: "She smothered us with love, that's for sure."

Duncan Raban/ PA Diana, Princess of Wales, with sons Prince William and Prince Harry during a visit to Thorpe Park amusement park in 1993 — Diana remained a doting mother to her two sons. Prince Harry has said that Diana was "one of the naughtiest parents", before adding: "She smothered us with love, that's for sure."

News image — Diana retained a close friendship with Mother Teresa throughout her life, as seen on this visit to a convent in Rome. The pair died within six days of each other.

PA Diana, Princess of Wales meeting Mother Teresa during a visit to a convent in Rome in 1992 — Diana retained a close friendship with Mother Teresa throughout her life, as seen on this visit to a convent in Rome. The pair died within six days of each other.

News image — Diana gave a remarkably open interview to Martin Bashir and the BBC on 20 November 1995. Watched by millions, she described her post-natal depression, the breakdown of her marriage to Prince Charles and her tense relationship with the Royal Family as a whole.

PA / BBC Diana during her interview with Martin Bashir for the BBC. — Diana gave a remarkably open interview to Martin Bashir and the BBC on 20 November 1995. Watched by millions, she described her post-natal depression, the breakdown of her marriage to Prince Charles and her tense relationship with the Royal Family as a whole.

News image — Throughout these troubles, the princess continued her charitable work. She visited Jemima Khan in Lahore, Pakistan, to support the cancer hospital run by Imran Khan, Jemima's then husband.

Anwar Hussein/Getty Images Diana, Princess of Wales wears a traditional shalwar khameez as she sits with Jemima Khan during a visit to Imran Khan's cancer hospital in Lahore, Pakistan in April 1996 — Throughout these troubles, the princess continued her charitable work. She visited Jemima Khan in Lahore, Pakistan, to support the cancer hospital run by Imran Khan, Jemima's then husband.

News image — Diana and Charles's divorce was finalised on 28 August 1996 and she officially became known as Diana, Princess of Wales. In June of the next year she auctioned off 79 dresses that had appeared on front covers of magazines around the world. The auction raised £3.5m ($4.5m) for charity and also seemed to symbolise a break with the past.

PA Diana, Princess of Wales wearing a black pleated chiffon dress, with floating side panel, by Christina Stamboulian, during a party given at the Serpentine Gallery in London. — Diana and Charles's divorce was finalised on 28 August 1996 and she officially became known as Diana, Princess of Wales. In June of the next year she auctioned off 79 dresses that had appeared on front covers of magazines around the world. The auction raised £3.5m ($4.5m) for charity and also seemed to symbolise a break with the past.

News image — On 31 August 1997, after dining at the Ritz Paris with Dodi Al Fayed, the son of millionaire businessman Mohamed Al Fayed, the pair left the restaurant in a limousine. They were pursued by photographers on motorbikes who wanted more snapshots of the princess's new friend. The chase led to tragedy in an underpass.

PA Diana, Princess Of Wales, In Leicester To Open The Richard Attenborough Centre For Disability And The Arts 27 May 1997 — On 31 August 1997, after dining at the Ritz Paris with Dodi Al Fayed, the son of millionaire businessman Mohamed Al Fayed, the pair left the restaurant in a limousine. They were pursued by photographers on motorbikes who wanted more snapshots of the princess's new friend. The chase led to tragedy in an underpass.

News image — More than one million people lined the route of the funeral cortege to Westminster Abbey and along her final journey to the Spencer family home in Northamptonshire. Her sons, William and Harry, were joined by Prince Charles, the Duke of Edinburgh and her brother Earl Spencer.

JEFF J MITCHELL/ Getty Images Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Earl Spencer, Prince William and the Duke of Edinburgh follow the coffin of Diana, Princess of Wales, as it is being carried into Westminster Abbey for a funeral service 06 September. — More than one million people lined the route of the funeral cortege to Westminster Abbey and along her final journey to the Spencer family home in Northamptonshire. Her sons, William and Harry, were joined by Prince Charles, the Duke of Edinburgh and her brother Earl Spencer.

All images subject to copyright.