Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales finalised their divorce after a separation of almost four years on this historic day, 28 August 1996.
The divorce marked the end of a marriage that began with a fairy-tale wedding but was later marred by numerous controversies, admissions of infidelity and multiple invasions of privacy by the British press.
The split was finalized about two months after Queen Elizabeth II told the couple they had to begin divorce proceedings, History.com reported.
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Diana was reportedly given a one-off payment of £17 million (or just over US$21 million) along with £350,000 a year to maintain a private office.
Charles and Diana have agreed to share custody of their sons, William and Harry, the BBC said.
Following the divorce, Diana was stripped of the title “Her Royal Highness” (and any claim to the throne) and instead referred to as “Diana, Princess of Wales,” the BBC said.
Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales finalized their divorce on August 28, 1996. (Photo library by Tim Graham via Getty Images)
The title “Princess of Wales” is now held by Catherine Middleton, Diana's daughter-in-law.
In late 1995, Queen Elizabeth II gave her blessing to the separation, a palace spokesman said at the time.
The divorce came after many years of formal separation.
“After considering the current situation, the Queen wrote to the Prince and Princess earlier this week and gave her view, supported by the Duke of Edinburgh, that an early divorce is desirable,” the spokesman said.
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“The Prince of Wales also shares this view and has made this known to The Princess of Wales since the letter,” the spokesman said.
The spokesman added: “The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will continue to do everything they can to help and support The Prince and Princess of Wales, and most especially their children, during this difficult period.”
Prince Charles and Princess Diana pose together at Balmoral in 1981. The two married on 29 July 1981 and formally separated in December 1992. (Getty Images)
The divorce came after many years of formal separation, as well as confirmed infidelity on the part of both Diana and Charles.
Diana and Charles' initial separation was announced on 9 December 1992 by then Prime Minister John Major on behalf of Buckingham Palace.
“It is announced by Buckingham Palace that, with regret, The Prince and Princess of Wales have decided to separate,” Major said, adding that the couple “have no plans to divorce and their constitutional positions are not affected.”
He also said: “This decision has been made amicably and both will continue to participate fully in the upbringing of their children.”
Charles admitted in a 1994 ITV documentary that he had not been faithful during their marriage.
The Queen and Prince Philip said they were “saddened” by the decision to separate but “sympathised with the difficulties that have led to this decision”, Major said.
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“Her Majesty and His Royal Highness particularly hope that intrusions into the privacy of the Prince and Princess will cease. They believe that a certain degree of privacy and understanding is essential if Their Royal Highnesses are to provide a happy and safe upbringing for their children, whilst continuing to fulfil their public duty wholeheartedly,” the Major said.
Although Diana and Charles did not initially plan to divorce, that changed after Charles admitted in a 1994 ITV documentary that he had not been faithful during their marriage.
Diana, Princess of Wales, wore the “revenge dress” to a Vanity Fair party at the Serpentine Gallery in London, England, the same night Prince Charles confessed his infidelity in an ITV documentary. (Princess Diana/Getty Images)
In response to this confession, Diana wore what is now known as the “revenge dress,” an off-the-shoulder black evening gown designed by Christina Stambolian, to a Vanity Fair party the night the documentary aired.
Vogue called the dress “the progenitor of the 'revenge dress.'”
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Diana's life after the divorce would be tragically cut short.
On 31 August 1997, almost a year after the divorce was finalised, Diana, along with her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul, were killed in a car crash in Paris.
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She was 36 years old.
An investigation determined that Paul was intoxicated and speeding at the time of the accident.
From right to left, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince William, Earl Spencer, Prince Harry and the Prince of Wales follow the coffin of Diana, Princess of Wales, at her funeral. Diana died in a car crash at the age of 36. (Anwar Hussein/WireImage)
Charles married Camilla Parker-Bowles in 2005.
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After the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Charles ascended to the throne and adopted the royal name King Charles III.
