THE DIANA YEARS
Despite the happy start with the arrival of two longed-for sons, the couple’s growing distance became clear – and it would end in tragedy
and two years earlier, proudly introducing Prince William
Standing proudly on the steps of the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital in London, the then Prince of Wales steps out into the world after becoming a father.
The heir to the throne had just welcomed his own heir and, as the nation and the world celebrated the birth of Prince William on 21 June 1982, Prince Charles and his wife the Princess were thrilled.
“He has the good fortune not to look like me,” quipped the delighted Prince, as the world’s press gathered to capture the historic moment.
A little over two years later, Charles and Diana were back at the same hospital for the birth of Prince Harry, who arrived on 15 September 1984.
At first, the family appeared to enjoy an idyllic life, based in spacious apartments at Kensington Palace, with weekends at Highgrove House, their country home in Gloucestershire, where Charles delighted in watching the boys play in the gardens he had helped create.
“Children respond to timelessly intriguing things like small, hidden paths which you never quite know where they’re leading. Or little tunnels and little places that make it exciting and interesting. That’s what I love,” he said at the time.
The couple on the hospital steps with Prince Harry in 1984;
The Prince and Princess of Wales show off Prince William’s baby steps in the grounds of Government House, Auckland, in 1983 (above and below). The couple broke with royal tradition by taking him with them on their six-week official tour of Australia and New Zealand – the practice with previous generations was to leave children back at home in the care of palace nannies