Princess Diana Was No Commoner — Her Parents Were Notable, Honorable Aristocrats
The British aristocracy can sometimes feel like a mystery, but the lives and deaths of Diana's parents are well-documented.
Updated March 18 2024, 9:29 a.m. ET
She may be known as the People's Princess, but Princess Diana was born into aristocracy. Marrying into the royal family comes with hefty expectations, which is why it isn't super common for any average person to do it.
Diana came from a the Spencer family, which was headed by British nobleman John Spencer, Viscount Althorp and his wife Frances Spencer, Viscountess Althorp.
Who were Princess Diana's parents?
To truly understand how interknit the British aristocracy and the royals truly are, it's important to know that John's godfather was King Edward VIII. John also studied at Eton, the Royal Military College, and the Royal Agricultural College.
His royalty in aristocracy did not preclude him from serving in World War II, however. In fact, he was the captain in the Royal Scots Greys and arrived in France just one day following D-Day where he helped liberate French towns.
From there, he only climbed higher and gained more accolades, including time as Aide-de-Camp to His Excellency Lieutenant-General Sir Willoughby Norrie. He even served as Governor South Australia.
Throughout his life, he served in an array of additional offices including County Councillor for Northamptonshire and Justice of the Peace for Norfolk. In yet another move close to royalty, he served as equerry to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.
Where John thrived in bureaucratic and military positions, he did not at home. His marriage to Frances Spencer, later known as Frances Ruth Shand Kydd, was not a happy one and ended in divorce.
Nonetheless, their marriage was also one of stature, considering Frances, too, came from an established family and she was considered a well-to-do socialite of the era. In fact, her mother was confidante and lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth.
After her divorce, she moved on to Peter Shand Kydd. Frances also lost custody of her children after her mother testified against her in court. She and Peter Shand Kydd later separated as well.
Frances was long believed to have a difficult relationship with alcohol, even having a drunk driving conviction on her record. She was legally unable to drive thereafter. Her controversies only continued when she had public fights with Diana, including some silent treatment during the time of her daughter's death.
Following the tragedy, she continued her more low-profile life she became very religious, donating much of her money to Catholic charities among other nonprofit causes.
How did Princess Diana's parents die?
John suffered from an array of medical complications later in life, including a severe stroke. After recovering, he was hospitalized for pneumonia, but ultimately died of a heart attack in 1992.
His passing was only five years before that of his daughter, Diana, who tragically died after a car accident. Her cab driver was famously attempting to dodge the paparazzi. The death rocked the nation of Britain and caused heartbreak across the world.
Like her ex-husband, Frances faced health issues near the end of her life, too. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and fought a battle against brain cancer. In 2004, she ultimately died at her home in Scotland.
