Princess Diana's 22nd death anniversary: Here's a look at 5 memorable milestones of the People's Princess

Princess Diana walked in to the lives of the Royals when she was all of 20. The young woman, who married Prince Charles, changed the way the world viewed the royal family and witnessed unprecedented stardom at a young age. From being a mother to a wife to a humanitarian, Princess Diana left an indelible impression on the hearts and minds of thousands of people. If not for her charitable acts, Lady Diana is undoubtedly remembered for breaking away from royal traditions and infusing a breath of fresh air among the royal family. 

Princess Diana and Prince Charles' two sons Prince William and Prince Harry were also subject to media attention. Be it in the United Kingdom or out of the country, Princess Diana was followed, snapped and spied on relentlessly by the international media. It was this relentless pursuit by the paparazzi that also led to her unfortunate and untimely demise in Paris on August 31, 1997. It has been 22 years since Lady Diana passed away and today on her death anniversary, let's take a look at some of the key moments from Princess Diana's life. 

When Lady Diana and Prince Charles said 'I Do'

On July 29, 1981, Diana and Charles walked down the aisle after a brief courtship. With the world media keeping a close eye on the wedding, the couple got married at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. The wedding was broadcast around the world and was watched by hundreds of millions on television.

Rise to stardom 

On marrying Prince Charles, Diana received the title of Princess of Wales. In her role as a royal, Princess Diana's popularity steadily rose. The newest member of the royal family often broke away from royal tradition and preferred to do things her way. From greeting the public to shaking hands and hugging them, Diana was well received and loved in public. One of her most significant visits was in 1987.  Diana visited the London Middlesex Hospital to open the UK's first unit dedicated to treating people with HIV and AIDS. What Diana did there took many by surprise and left many others in complete shock. The royal shook the hand of an AIDS patient without wearing gloves. The visit came at a time when AIDS was first identified back in the early 1980s.

Diana's Style File

Breaking from conservative royal sartorial choices, Diana's sense of style made her among the greats and catapulted her as a style icon. The influence remains so strong to this date that even Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle take inspiration from Diana's closet. From sporting red carpet gowns to sweatshirts to shorts, Diana pulled off any look with equal panache. At a time when no women of the royal family wore shorts, Princess Diana was often spotted in them with her uber cool sunglasses. 

The royal split

When her relationship with Prince Charles went South, Diana did not fear or hold back on talking about the not-so-great phase of her life. In an interview to BBC, she addressed Prince Charles's longtime relationship with Camilla Parker-Bowles. Diana also opened up on her depression, eating disorders and mental health. Within weeks of the interview being aired, Diana's press secretary had resigned and the Queen sent the couple a letter urging them to divorce. Eventually, Diana and Charles divorced on August 28, 1996. 

End of an era

After splitting from Prince Charles, Diana lost her royal title and was part of the single world again. It was widely reported that Diana was involved in a romantic relationship with billionaire Dodi Fayed. A year after her divorce, Diana and Dodi were in Paris on a vacation when they both died in the fatal car crash. They had stopped in Paris en route to London. While investigations revealed that their driver was under the influence of alcohol, paparazzi chasing their car for a picture also reportedly contributed to their untimely death. What followed in the next few days was thousands across the globe mourning the death of the People's Princess.