published on in Prominent Personality

The Tragic Evolution Of Princess Diana Magazine Covers

2012-09-07T20:12:00Z

On Aug. 22, Prince Harry was thrown into the spotlight even more than usual after nude photos of the royal partying in Vegas surfaced all over the internet.

And about a week later, Aug. 31, marked the 15th anniversary of his mother Princess Diana's death.

While Harry has grown up accustomed to the limelight, his late mother wasn't always so at ease with the cameras.

People/Retronaut

What started as the public's interest in the seemingly fairytale marriage of Lady Diana and Prince Charles of Wales led to rumors of affairs, probing by the press, and ultimately, her death after a paparazzi car chase in 1997.

Whether it was the birth of her two sons or scandalous rumors of what was going on inside the palace, the press documented Lady Di's every move—for better or worse.

Retronaut posted the following 18 magazine cover photos showcasing the 16-year evolution of Princess Diana in the press.

1981: 20-year-old Lady Diana became The Princess of Wales when she married The Prince of Wales on July 29, 1981, at St Paul's Cathedral. The newlyweds' photo was blasted on magazine covers across the world.

Vogue/Retronaut

1982: On June 21, Princess Diana gave birth to her and the Prince's first son and heir, William Arthur Philip Louis.

Sunday Times/Retronaut

1983: Princess Diana's trouble with the invasive British press begins. She told a British publication, "I am finding it very difficult to cope with the pressures of being Princess of Wales, but I am learning to cope."

Time/Retronaut

1984: Princess Diana's second son, Henry "Harry" Charles Albert David, was born two years after William, on September 15. Diana has said she and the Prince were closest during her pregnancy with Harry.

Life/Retronaut

1985: Majesty Magazine takes a look at the differences between the lives of Princess Diana and Princess Anne. While Princess Anne loved the countryside, Diana was a city girl who preferred fast-paced London life and dreaded the family's summer holidays in Scotland.

Majesty/Retronaut


1986: The people's princess became so popular that her face could sell any magazine, no matter the content.

Ladies Home JOurnal/Retronaut

1987: The press picks up on trouble in Princess Diana's faux fairytale marriage to Prince Charles.

People/Retronaut

1988: The Sun settled out of court after publishing a stolen photograph of the Royal Family that was set to be used on a Christmas card from the Queen. Later that year, the Queen sued The Sun for breach of copyright after it published a leaked copy of her Christmas broadcast. The paper settled and paid £200,000 to charity.

Journal/Retronaut
 

1989: Princess Diana focuses on bringing attention to her charities.

Hello!/Retronaut

1990: Diana puts on a happy face despite trouble in her marriage.

Tatler/Retronaut

1991: Diana poses for the cover of Vogue, showing the world she is okay despite tabloid headlines saying her marriage was crumbling.

Vogue/Retronaut

1992: Diana's affairs were exposed in May 1992 with the publication of "Diana: Her True Story" by Andrew Morton. In December, Prime Minister John Major announced the Wales's "amicable separation" to the House of Commons.

Time/Retronaut

1993: On December 3, the Princess of Wales announced her withdrawal from public life.

Tatler/Retronaut

1994: Rumors run rampant of affairs by both parties in the marriage.

People/Retronaut

1995: On December 20, Buckingham Palace publicly announced the Queen had sent letters to the Prince and Princess of Wales advising them to divorce. The Queen's move was backed by the Prime Minister and top palace officials.

People/Retronaut

1996: On August 28, the divorce was finalized. Diana reportedly received a lump sum settlement of around £17 million along with a clause standard in royal divorces prohibiting her from discussing the details.

Time/Retronaut

1997: Diana debuts a new, sleeker look post-divorce on the cover of Vanity Fair, photographed by her friend Mario Testino.

Vanity Fair/Retronaut

1997: On August 31, Diana was fatally injured in a car crash in a tunnel in Paris, which also caused the deaths of her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and the car's driver. Her funeral was watched the world over.

Vogue/Retronaut

Diana isn't the only one to change her look over the years ...

Check out these 27 celebrity yearbook photos from before they were famous >

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