8 Iconic Images of Diana, Princess of Wales

Twenty years after her tragic death, Diana’s legacy lives on.

July 31, 2017

For decades, Diana Spencer captured a global audience of adoring fans as she transformed from a shy kindergarten teacher into the People’s Princess. Diana was unapologetically herself, a quality sometimes at odds with the rarified realm of the British royal family. A mother, a humanitarian, and a fashion icon, she remains a luminary figure and one of the world’s most beloved women. On the 20th anniversary of her tragic death, National Geographic celebrates her life and legacy with never-before-seen photos and fresh commentary in the book Remembering Diana.

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Always Compassionate“[Diana] loved animals when she was a child . . . She loved everything that was small and furry or had feathers,” her mother said. Pictured here with her pet guinea pig in 1972, Diana’s empathy for all living creatures would be a hallmark of her life.
Photograph by (Spen/AL)/Camera Press/Redux Pictures

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