One of the lifelong passion of Princess Diana was dancing, particularly ballet. However, she was too tall to be a professional ballet dancer. She may not have pursued a dancing career, but she planned to teach dance lessons to young girls. From time to time, she would still brush up her dancing skills with an instructor at Buckingham Palace; unfortunately it didn’t last long because she broke her ankle. Her plan of becoming a dance instructor was halted because her royal duties kept her schedule full.

It would be a fascinating experience to have her as your dance instructor. I’ve always loved the idea of me dancing, but dancing doesn’t love me. My mother would always laugh at me whenever I try to bust a move. It really crushed my confidence and I never danced, unless we were required during school plays. I always thought that Princess Diana would never dampen my spirit when she knows that I’m passionate about it. I think she would even encourage me to practice and dance to my heart’s delight.

  Last night, I was busy googling the locations of the residences that have a significant part in Princess Diana’s life.

First I visited the website of Althorp estate, the home of the Spencer family for five centuries. It was a breathtaking sight with all its preserved grandeur. It was like one of those Victorian structures with sprawling manicured lawns. It also housed the grand art collection amassed by their family through the centuries. The 7th Earl Spencer, Diana’s grandfather, was even known as the “curator earl”. He never failed to inform his guests about the background of each artefact.

The Spencer family is one of the aristocratic dynasties of the British society, and the Althorp estate is a testament to that. Kings, Queens and other nobilities have graced the manor with their presence.  The manor is located on 14,000 acres of scenic countryside, complete with stables and other facilities used for various activities. It also boasts of a picture gallery that measures an impressive 115 feet long. The function rooms and bedrooms are also lavishly furnished.

The final resting place of Princess Diana is also located here. Her remains are buried in the island, surrounded by lake Oval. The public can pay their respects once every year, during her death anniversary. A small boat is the only access to her memorial shrine and grave. Her grave is marked by a tombstone with an urn on top of it.

  I was watching this episode of Glee when I saw one of the characters wearing a Princess Diana inspired wedding gown. At first I wasn’t sure if it was really an imitation of her wedding gown, then she said that even as a child, she always dreamed of that particular gown. It was really a gown customized for a princess. Even if it was made in the 1980’s, it would still look stunning if it was worn in this decade. I think it has been one of the iconic pieces from her wardrobe.

The dress is composed of hundreds of metres of the finest, handwoven ivory silk taffeta and tulle, antique lace stitched with pure gold thread, embroidery garnished with more than 10,000 pearls and mother-of-pearl sequins. It has not been worn since July 29, 1981.

  Sometimes, I can’t help but wonder if Princes William and Harry still long for their mother’s warmth, especially now that they have a new stepmother. Did they give her a warm welcome? Are they aware that she was the cause of the failed marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana? Did they know how much pain their mother endured because their father kept choosing this woman over her?

I remember reading from the book that she would always shower her sons with hugs, love and affection. A gesture she longed for and never experience when she was growing up. Losing her must be really heart wrenching for them. The sad part about it is that she died in a foreign territory, far from them.

I bet they need her more than ever since they both have their own relationships. There are rumors that Prince William and his girlfriend are planning to wed soon. I think he is also going through intense pressure because he is an heir to the throne and he is also the standard bearer of Princess Diana’s legacy.

2 years ago we lost our grandmother to cancer and we were all devastated by it. We were still hoping that her body could recuperate from the operation so she can undergo chemotherapy. Unfortunately, the cancer cells reached her lungs at a rapid pace and she deteriorated from then on. We all knew that she was dying but my mother was in denial, she kept persuading my grandmother to fight for her life. We even resorted to alternative treatments just to find a cure for her.

The youngest son of Princess Diana and Prince Charles (third in line to Britain's throne). Born Henry Charles Albert David on September 15, 1984. He is famously known for his red hair, which is a common Spencer trait. When he was born, the first thing that Prince Charles uttered was "Oh God, he has red hair". After that comment, Princess Diana felt something die inside her. She also claimed that the love she had left for Prince Charles had disappeared.

The eldest son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana and the heir to Britain's throne (second in line). Born William Arthur Philip Louis on June 21, 1982. Now that Princess Diana is dead, he is the standard bearer of his legacy. Not only did he inherit his mother's looks, it was also reported that he also shared her compassion to the marginalized. At an early age, the late Princess Diana would take him to some of her trips to local hospitals to visit the sick and the dying. He was able to show maturity at a very young age, and that made his mother so proud.

  There’s nothing more heart-wrenching than being betrayed by the person you loved most. Throughout their engagement and marriage, Camilla Parker Bowles, became a staple name in the life of Prince Charles. For some reason he wasn’t able to get over her even though she is married to one of his closest friends. It was a devastating blow for Princess Diana when she discovered their love affair. I felt sorry for her because judging from her stories about their marriage, she really loved Prince Charles. But he would always shove her away and talk about Camilla. Even a high profile marriage like theirs could also turn for the worst. It was like history repeating itself, and she tried in vain to prevent it in order to protect her children. Marriage vows are very sacred and it is considered a sin if these are broken.

  So today, I came across “Diana, Her True Story” and decided to read it since I’m running out of books to read. This was her controversial autobiography released after her divorce with Prince Charles was finalized.

This chapter is dedicated to the turbulent childhood experienced by Princess Diana.

Ever since her parents got divorced, they were treated differently in school. It was in the late 60’s when divorce was not yet widely practiced. Even though they came from a prominent family, this didn’t change the way their classmates treated them. I find it ironic because it was in Britain where divorce was first legalized (it marked the separation of Britain from the Roman Catholic Church).

There was also a time in her childhood where they would be showered with luxuries when all they craved for was love from their parents. They were deprived from the attention they deserved while they were growing up.

  It would be a dream come true for every lady to be romanced by the Prince of Wales. Lady Diana Spencer was just 16 years old and he was already the most eligible bachelor in Britain. It didn’t occur to her yet how these royal set-ups work. They met at a polo match when his royal highness was still her sister Jane’s boyfriend. According to Diana, she was still going through that awkward phase. She believed that no one noticed her and that she didn’t look like a smart woman. On the contrary, she was a budding beauty fresh off from a boarding school in Switzerland. She eventually caught the attention of Prince Charles and was invited to the prestigious celebration of his 30th birthday, which angered Sarah. From then on, they got closer and she fell in love with him.

Their whirlwind romance was a story straight out of a fairytale book. Her family background made her suitable for the Prince. She was part of the upper echelons of the British society, and her family has been rubbing elbows with the royal family for centuries. For a time, they seemed to be the perfect couple. If I were in her position, I would literally be swept off my feet and fall head over heels. I bet every single woman envied her during that time. However, this comes with a great price. Her privacy was compromised once the public became aware of their relationship. You would also be placed in the position where you have to be cautious of your every move. You might as well say goodbye to your normal life. For a very private person like Diana, her life suddenly became upside down. It was very difficult to handle all the media frenzy and the public’s obsession with her. I read something from the book that she used to cry every night in the four corners of her room and tried to use all kinds of decoys to avoid the shutterbugs. But she endured all of it because she was in love with Prince Charles.

Camilla Parker Bowles, also known as the Duchess of Cornwall, was the mistress of Prince Charles during his marriage with Princess Diana. She met him during a polo match in the 1970's and was rumored to have an affair after that. However, Prince Charles had to fulfill his military duties and she wasn't able to wait for him to come back. She married Andrew Parker Bowles on July 4, 1973, the long time friend of Prince Charles. They had two children together, Tom and Laura. They rekindled their affair in the 1980's, but Prince Charles was already engaged to then Lady Diana Spencer. According to Diana, A True Story, they constanly communicated at Highgrove located at Balmoral Castle.On March 3, 1995, the divorce of Andrew and Camilla Parker Bowles was finalized.

In february 10, 2005, Clarence house announced the engagement of Prince Charles and Camilla. Their wedding took place in a civil ceremony at Guildhall, Windsor. Finally, the couple is now able to flaunt their controversial relationship to the whole world.