17 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Princess Diana

At the time, it was common for upper-class children to be taught at home by a tutor. After her parents' divorce, Diana attended Riddlesworth Hall in Norfolk, where her family resided. At 12, she was sent to an exclusive boarding school, the West Heath School.

After failing two exams, she left the West Heath School when she was 16. Her father enrolled her in a Swedish finishing school but she insisted on returning home.

After leaving finishing school in Sweden, Diana worked part-time as a cleaning woman and babysitter before finding a job

She studied ballet as a child, but became too tall to continue to excel. But her love of classical dance led her to become a big supporter of the English National Ballet until her death. Here, she greets ballerinas at the Royal Albert Hall before a performance of Swan Lake.

Lady Fermoy served the Royal family for nearly 40 years. She was a close friend of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, and many assumed the two encouraged the marriage of their grandchildren. However, they denied this and it was reported that Diana was not on speaking terms with Lady Fermoy, who died in 1993.

While Lady Sarah Spencer and Prince Charles were seeing each other, Diana met the Prince at a family gathering. She was 16.

The Prince, who was 12 years her senior, was under increasing pressure to find a bride.

Although royal engagement rings are usually custom made, Diana selected hers from the Garrard jewelry collection catalog. The ring, which consists of 14 solitaire diamonds around a 12-carat sapphire set in white gold, now

The dress was decorated with sequins, embroidery, and 10,000 pearls. Diana had several practice sessions walking in it.

Three decades later, William and Kate followed Princess Di's lead.

Her long-time personal chef, Darren McGrady, said the Princess would often enter the kitchen while he was making this dish and snack on the raisins off the top. You can find Diana's favorite recipes, including this one, in McGrady's book Eating Royally.

They ranged from Disney World and McDonald's to AIDS clinics and homeless shelters. Here, the Princess rides a log flume with both boys at Thorpe Park in Chertsey, England.

And she was often seen wearing outfits in all shades of the color.

Lady Kitty, the daughter of Princess Diana's younger brother Charles Spencer, was most recently spotted at Milan Fashion Week.

Her goddaughter, Domenica Lawson, now 20, recently responded to comments by a British television star who criticized people with Down's Syndrome. Here, Domenica attends the grand opening of The Princess of Wales Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens in June 2000.