How Princess Diana and King Charles’ Relationship Slipped Through the Cracks: A Complete Timeline

1977

Charles and Diana were first introduced to each other in 1977 by the late princess’ sister, Lady Sarah Spencer. Funny enough, Sarah and Charles briefly dated beforehand!

1980

Engagement rumors between the prince and Di started heating up around May of 1980. Prior to the airing of CBS documentary’s Princess Diana: Her Life, Her Death, The Truth in 2017, senior executive producer Susan Zirinsky dished that the former lovebirds only met up 12 times before getting married.

February 1981

They’re engaged! Charles and Diana, who were ages 32 and 19 at the time, announced their engagement on February 24, 1981. The couple stepped outside Buckingham Palace and announced their exciting news to the world.

Just a few months later in May, the blonde beauty and Charles made their debut as an engaged couple at a gala charity concert at Goldsmith’s Hall in London. She then stepped out for her first Royal Ascot in June. How exciting!

July 1981

Diana and Charles looked so in love as they were spotted holding hands while walking out of their wedding rehearsal.

July 1981

Diana officially became the Princess of Wales after tying the knot with her husband on July 29, 1981. The royal duo said “I do” at St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

June 1982

Just about three months after their royal wedding, Diana announced she was officially pregnant with their first royal child. The twosome welcomed their first son, Prince William, on June 21, 1982.

Di and Charles introduced baby William to the world as they stepped outside the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital in London.

September 1984

Di and Charles welcome their second child, Prince Harry, on September 15, 1984. As they did with William, the former lovers introduced their new royal baby outside Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital — a tradition William’s wife, Kate Middleton, has since adopted.

1986

Di and Charles appeared to be happily in love while attending a polo match in 1986. Sadly, this same year, Charles rekindled his romance with former flame, Camilla, behind Diana’s back. Soon after, speculation regarding an affair was put on full blast.

Queen Elizabeth’s son and Camilla met for the first time in 1970 and dated briefly after that. However, the couple chose to break up as Charles was leaving for the Royal Navy in 1971. By the time he returned, Camilla had already married British Army officer Andrew Parker Bowles in 1973.

February 1989

Tensions begin to rise as Diana confronted Charles’ ex-girlfriend about their affair while attending her sister’s birthday party in February 1989. Following the incident, she opened up about her bold move to biographer Andrew Morton.

“I was terrified of her. I said, ‘I know what’s going on between you and Charles and I just want you to know that,’” she told Andrew, according to PopSugar. “She said to me: ‘You’ve got everything you ever wanted. You’ve got all the men in the world fall in love with you and you’ve got two beautiful children, what more do you want?’ So I said, ‘I want my husband.’ And I said, ‘I’m sorry I’m in the way … and it must be hell for both of you. But I do know what’s going on. Don’t treat me like an idiot.’”

February 1992

Di and Charles seem more and more detached during royal outings following Charles’ mistress bombshell. Although they looked visibly unhappy, the two kept their relationship cordial for years as the alleged affair burned in the background.

It wasn’t until later that year, in September, that former British Prime Minister John Major formally announced the separation of Charles and Diana.

August 1996

Charles and Diana’s divorce became official on July 15, 1996, after 15 years of marriage. Because of the separation, Diana’s “Her Royal Highness” title was taken away and was instead styled as Diana, Princess of Wales.

August 1997

Charles, Harry and William attended Diana’s funeral in September, just days after she was killed in a tragic car accident in France on August 31. The former couple’s eldest child opened up about coping with the loss of his mother.

“I think when you are bereaved at a very young age, anytime really, but particularly at a young age — I can resonate closely to that — you feel pain like no other pain,” Will told soccer pros during a previous discussion for BBC’s A Royal Team Talk: Tackling Mental Health.

April 2005

Almost seven years after Diana’s death, Charles married Camilla in a civil ceremony on April 9 at Windsor Guildhall.

To limit the chance of controversy when it came to her royal title, Buckingham Palace confirmed Elizabeth would gift her new daughter-in-law the title of Duchess of Cornwall.

January 2024

Charles became king in a coronation in May 2023 after the death of Queen Elizabeth. He underwent a procedure to correct his enlarged prostate the following year. Camilla was photographed visiting him in the hospital before he was discharged.

“The King was this afternoon discharged from hospital following planned medical treatment and has rescheduled forthcoming public engagements to allow for a period of private recuperation,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement after the surgery. “He would like to thank the medical team and all those involved in supporting his hospital visit, and is grateful for all the kind messages he has received in recent days.”