COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE
Diana, Princess of Wales
Issue Date: 31st March 1998
Diana Spencer was born on 1 July 1961.
She was the third daughter of Viscount and Viscountess Althorp and was christened in Sandringham Church.
She had two sisters Jane and Sarah and a brother Charles.
Diana grew up at Park House in Norfolk and was educated at West Heath.
Lady Diana Spencer first met Prince Charles when she was nineteen years of age.
Their relationship subsequently blossomed and it was at Windsor Castle on February 6, 1981 that Prince Charles formally asked Lady Diana Spencer to become his bride.
The official announcement of their engagement was made on 24 February.
Her marriage to Prince Charles was on 29 July 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral.
The wedding was watched on television by over 750 million people in 70 countries across the world.
The route back to Buckingham Palace was thronged with well-wishers, the whole day being full of affection and spontaneity.
The first three days of their honeymoon were spent at Earl Mountbatten's home, Broadlands, and from there they joined HMY Britannia to cruise the Mediteraranean.
Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales gave birth to a son, Prince William on 21 June 1982.
The couple's second son Prince Harry was born on 15 September 1984.
Both boys were central to Diana's happiness during a life dedicated to public duty.
Diana, Princess of Wales enjoyed immense worldwide affection and popularity.
Having shaken off the image of fashion icon and traditional fairy-tale princess, she should be best remembered for her sympathy, active involvement and commitment to those people in the world suffering from ill-fortune and disease.
Her call for greater awareness of, and compassion towards, AIDS sufferers is well known.
In the last years of her life she was widely acclaimed for bringing the world's attention to the horrific injuries caused by landmines.
She had links with many charities across the world and through her unstinting commitment and partonage heightened awareness of their projects and raised much needed funding for the continuance of their invaluable work.
The death of Diana, Princess of Wales in a car accident in Paris on 31 August 1997, caused a worlwide outpouring of grief with many thousands of people laying floral tributes outside Kensington Palace in London and signing books of condolence.
These floral tributes were repeated at many other locations throughout the Country.
After a funeral service at Westminster Abbey, Diana, Princess of Wales was laid to rest in the grounds of Althorp House, the family home.
A 20p surcharge is being levied on each sheetlet.
This money will be donated to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund and local charities.
Technical details:
Design and Layout: Derek Miller
Transparencies: Alpha Photographic, Press Agency
Printer: The House of Questa
Process: Lithography
Stamp Size: 30.56 x 38.00 mm
Sheetlet Size: 145 x 70 mm
Perforation: 14 per 2 cms approx
Paper: CA Watermark
Release Date: 31st March 1998
Copyright: FI Philatelic Bureau Created and Maintained by: Cyberpoint Limited