Inside Princess Diana’s Last Birthday
Georges De Keerle/Getty Images By Adam England/July 1, 2021 10:38 am EST
Princess Diana would have turned 60 years old today. The late royal, who was born in 1961, died in 1997, aged 36. In memory of their mother, Prince William and Prince Harry are today unveiling a statue of Diana, and the brothers are meeting face-to-face for the first time since the funeral of their grandfather, Prince Philip, back in April (via Daily Mail).
Going back to July 1997, just a matter of weeks before her untimely death in a car crash, Princess Diana celebrated her 36th birthday. Per the Daily Mail, Diana had no real love for her birthday, and after her separation from Prince Charles — and with William and Harry both away at boarding school — she preferred to spend the day alone. Indeed, she found writing thank you letters to be a lot of work, and the more gifts and cards she received, the more she’d have to write. It was no different on her last birthday.
Inside Princess Diana’s Last Birthday
Georges De Keerle/Getty Images
By Adam England/July 1, 2021 10:38 am EST
Princess Diana would have turned 60 years old today. The late royal, who was born in 1961, died in 1997, aged 36. In memory of their mother, Prince William and Prince Harry are today unveiling a statue of Diana, and the brothers are meeting face-to-face for the first time since the funeral of their grandfather, Prince Philip, back in April (via Daily Mail).
Going back to July 1997, just a matter of weeks before her untimely death in a car crash, Princess Diana celebrated her 36th birthday. Per the Daily Mail, Diana had no real love for her birthday, and after her separation from Prince Charles — and with William and Harry both away at boarding school — she preferred to spend the day alone. Indeed, she found writing thank you letters to be a lot of work, and the more gifts and cards she received, the more she’d have to write. It was no different on her last birthday.
Going back to July 1997, just a matter of weeks before her untimely death in a car crash, Princess Diana celebrated her 36th birthday. Per the Daily Mail, Diana had no real love for her birthday, and after her separation from Prince Charles — and with William and Harry both away at boarding school — she preferred to spend the day alone. Indeed, she found writing thank you letters to be a lot of work, and the more gifts and cards she received, the more she’d have to write. It was no different on her last birthday.
Princess Diana didn’t particularly enjoy birthdays
As anticipated, Princess Diana received plenty of cards to mark her 36th birthday — 300 had been sent to her office before noon, with more from close family and friends arriving at her apartment (via Daily Mail). She received over 70 bouquets of flowers too, from charities, friends, and potential romantic interests. Among them were American billionaire Teddy Forstmann, who made a habit of sending her flowers once a week for three years, and told Diana — upon learning of her relationship with Dodi Al-Fayed — that he was going to throw himself off the Brooklyn Bridge.
Other flowers came from Hong Kong businessman David Tang, while future President Donald Trump was also to send her a bouquet — albeit a little later. As for presents, she received a top-of-the-range video camera from businessman Gulu Lalvani, along with a laser beam device and a white Lacroix dress from Argentinean fashion designer Roberto Devorik, which she couldn’t accept. “It’s beautiful and incredibly generous of him but I can’t accept it … I have to be so careful what I am seen wearing in public and if it gets out this dress was a present I know I would be criticized,” she was reported to have said at the time.
Other flowers came from Hong Kong businessman David Tang, while future President Donald Trump was also to send her a bouquet — albeit a little later. As for presents, she received a top-of-the-range video camera from businessman Gulu Lalvani, along with a laser beam device and a white Lacroix dress from Argentinean fashion designer Roberto Devorik, which she couldn’t accept. “It’s beautiful and incredibly generous of him but I can’t accept it … I have to be so careful what I am seen wearing in public and if it gets out this dress was a present I know I would be criticized,” she was reported to have said at the time.
Diana went to a charity event in the evening
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
