Diana was born at 7:45 PM on 1 July 1961, in Sandringham, Norfolk. She was the fourth of five children of Viscount and Viscountess Althorp. The Spencers are one of Britain's oldest and most important families, closely allied with the Royal Family for several generations.
The Spencers were hoping for a boy to carry on the family line, and no
name was chosen for a week, until they settled on Diana Frances, after Diana Russell, Duchess of Bedford,
her distant relative who was also known as "Lady Diana Spencer" before
marriage and who was also a prospective Princess of Wales, and her
mother. Diana was baptised at St. Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham. Diana had three siblings: Sarah, Jane, and Charles.
Diana also had an infant brother, John, who died only a year before she was born. The desire for an heir added strain to the Spencers' marriage, and Lady Althorp was reportedly sent to Harley Street clinics in London to determine the cause of the "problem".
The experience was described as "humiliating" by Diana's younger
brother, Charles: "It was a dreadful time for my parents and probably
the root of their divorce because I don't think they ever got over it." Diana grew up in Park House, which was situated near to the Sandringham estate
Diana was eight years old when her parents divorced after her mother had an affair with Peter Shand Kydd.[6]
In Morton's book, he describes Diana's remembrance of Lord Althorp
loading suitcases in the car and Lady Althorp crunching across the
gravel forecourt and driving away through the gates of Park House.[5]
Diana lived with her mother in London during her parents' separation,
but during the Christmas holidays, Lord Althorp did not allow his former
wife to return to London along with Diana. Shortly afterwards, Lord
Althorp won custody of Diana with support from his former mother-in-law,
Lady Fermoy.] Diana was first educated at Riddlesworth Hall near Diss, Norfolk, and later attended boarding school at The New School at West Heath, in Sevenoaks, Kent.
In 1973, Lord Althorp began a relationship with Raine, Countess of Dartmouth, the only daughter of Alexander McCorquodale and Barbara Cartland. Diana became known as Lady Diana when her father inherited the title of Earl Spencer on 9 June 1975. Lady Dartmouth, unpopular with Diana, married Lord Spencer at Caxton Hall, London on 14 July 1976.
Diana was often noted for her shyness while growing up, but she did
take an interest in both music and dancing. She also had a great
interest in children. After attending finishing school at the Institut Alpin Videmanette
in Switzerland, she moved to London.
She began working with children,
eventually becoming a nursery assistant at the Young England School. Diana had apparently played with Princes Andrew and Edward as a child while her family rented Park House, a property owned by Queen Elizabeth II and situated on the Sandringham Estate