Diana grew up at the royal estate at Sandringham, the family's homestead Althorp. (Spencer's have dwelled at Althorp for over 500 years!) Later, she lived at Parker House and attended school at West Heath, Kent and did a brief stint in Switzerland at a finishing school before returning to London to become a governess/nanny and then went on to be a kindergarten teacher.
Diana adored her pets, especially guinea pigs and hamsters. If you have the chance to visit Althorp, there is a water color portrait of her pet cat, Marmalade, in the childhood exhibition room.
This now famous photo taken of Lady Diana in 1980, was taken when she worked at a nursery school. At the time, it caused much embarassment to the future Princess as she had no idea that when she posed for cameras the skirt was so transparent.

Diana's favorite childhood home, Parker House, was "endlessly explorable,
and filled with wonderful memories of so many pranks.
I can see myself now, seated on the nursery floor,
playing with my toys, totally into my own thing."
-Diana

Spencer COA
Quarterly Argent and Gules in the 2nd and 3rd Quarters a Fret
Or over all on a Bend Sable three Escallops of the First
To view Coat of Arms for other royals in her family, click here.

Born into oppulance, Lady Diana Frances Spencer was born at Park House, Sandringham, Norfolk England, UK on July 1, 1961 at 7:45PM weighing 7lb. 12oz.. Her family's nickname for her was 'Duch', which is short for Duchess (one step up from a Spencer countess). Diana was a middle child of four (Sarah, Jane, Diana, and youngest Charles) children born to the 9th Earl Spencer. There is much recorded about Diana's parents' and their wish for their daughter to be born a son to carry on the 200-year-old earldom. What affect that had on Diana, was not for the public to see openly. It could be it was more her parents divorce in 1969 when she was eight that impacted her adolescence and young adulthood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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