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On July 29, 1981, the biggest royal wedding of the century was unfolding at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London: future King, known then as Prince Charles, was preparing to marry then-Diana Spencer and make her the Princess of Wales, finally settling down with a wife after much urging from the royal family. We now know from Princess Diana’s later recollections that her wedding day was filled with doubts and fears, as she’d already come to suspect her soon-to-be husband was involved with Camilla Parker Bowles (now Duchess Camilla). Diana’s wedding photographer Kent Gavin, featured on Britbox’s The Wedding of the Century, confirmed exclusively to SheKnows that he saw “sadness” in Diana’s eyes on her wedding day — the day when it all began, and yet was already starting to come undone.
Related story All the Most Adorable Photos of Princess Diana Playing with Young William & Harry Related story All the Most Adorable Photos of Princess Diana Playing with Young William & Harry“I was only looking up trying to look at those beautiful eyes of hers underneath the veil. I sensed sadness there,” Gavin says of that enormous gathering (3,500 guests!), where he enjoyed a front-row seat to capture every moment. “What we now know she was experiencing…to go through all of what she did, I mean, it was a hell of a lot to take.”
Gavin notes that Charles’ exes, including Camilla, were all seated at the wedding and visible to Diana as she went past: “I wish I’d have known that then, because the position I had, I was looking at all of them,” he recalled to SheKnows. “We only know now what Diana was suffering because of Camilla.”
Diana and Charles would remain married for a total of 15 years, finalizing their divorce in 1996 though they would first separate in 1992. During that time, they welcomed their sons Prince William and Prince Harry and carried out their royal duties in the public eye, all the while fighting to preserve a marriage that seems, from today’s accounts, doomed from the start.
Diana’s marriage to Charles may not have been successful, but her effect on the royal family during her years by his side was indelible. Here are our favorite photos from King Charles and Princess of Wales’ time together.
A version of this article was originally published in July 2021.
Goldsmith’s Hall (1981)
This was Prince Charles and Diana’s first official engagement together.
Cardiff (1981)
The couple wraps up their three-day official tour of Wales in Cardiff.
Engagement Photo (1981)
Charles and Diana posed for this famous engagement photo on the ground of Buckingham Palace.
Buckingham Palace (1981)
Back when Diana was just Charles’ fiancée, she enjoyed one of her first audiences with the Queen.
Wedding Rehearsal (1981)
We can’t believe how shy young Diana looks here with Charles.
Royal Wedding (1981)
Charles leans over to talk to Diana during the ceremony.
Royal Wedding (1981)
Diana’s famous 25-foot wedding train is on full display here in their official wedding photo.
Royal Wedding Kiss (1981)
Princess Diana followed a long royal tradition with this first-kiss photo from her wedding.
Days in Balmoral (1981)
In May 1981, Prince Charles and Princess Diana spent time in Balmoral.
Balmoral (1981)
This photo at Balmoral was taken about a month after their wedding.
Honeymoon (1981)
After their lavish wedding, the couple took off aboard the Royal yacht Britannia for their honeymoon.
St. Mary’s Hospital (1982)
Prince William’s arrival was announced to the world with these photos of Charles and Diana with their newborn.
Prince William’s Christening (1982)
William is a little ray of sunshine in this photo from his christening.
Kensington Palace (1982)
Life as new parents seems to be treating both Diana and Charles well here.
Alice Spring Airport (1983)
Back on the road! The family of three next traveled to Australia.
Renmark (1983)
Their Australia tour continued with a trip to the Riverland area.
New Zealand (1983)
The Prince and Princess of Wales got to enjoy some family time in Aukland, New Zealand.
Sydney (1983)
Diana looks breathtaking as usual at this charity ball in Sydney, Australia.
Royal Festival Hall (1983)
Diana and Charles met singer Barry Manilow after his charity concert.
St. Mary’s Hospital (1984)
And baby makes four! Charles and Diana introduce baby Harry to the world.
Polo at Cirencester (1985)
During a June 1985 polo match at Cirencester, Prince Charles and Princess Diana showed some PDA.
A Family of Four (1986)
The Prince and Princess of Wales posed for a snapshot with their young sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, in this December 1986 snapshot.
Bahrain (1986)
The couple are pictured here with the Emir of Bahrain, Sheik Isa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa during their four-country visit to the Gulf States.
Family Photoshoots (1986)
Back in 1986, they frequently had photoshoots with their twinning sons.
Guards Polo Club (1986)
Diana is seen kissing Charles after he had played for the England II polo team against Chile at the Guards Polo Club.
Canada (1986)
The royal couple’s tour of Canada included this stop in British Columbia.
Prince Andrew & Sarah Ferguson’s Wedding (1986)
Diana wore this marvelous polka-dotted look to fourth cousin Fergie’s wedding to Prince Andrew.
Tokyo (1986)
Diana looks dashing as ever if slightly unnerved by the crowds in this photo from Tokyo.
British Embassy School in Bonn (1987)
Look at this rare moment of the couple sharing a laugh.
Berlin Schöneberg City Hall (1987)
Diana’s royal style is impeccable for the couple’s royal tour of Germany.
Cannes (1987)
Charles and Diana waved to the crowd from the top of the stairs of the Film Festival Palace in Cannes.
Dinner Dance (1988)
During their tour of Australia, they took time off to dance together at a dinner dance!
Sicily Isles (1989)
This family vacation moment always gets us.
Brazil (1991)
Charles and Diana are pictured here during their visit to an iron ore mine near Carajas, Brazil.
Windsor Castle (1992)
This photo from the year of their separation shows them leaving the Order of the Garter ceremony at Windsor Castle.
St George’s Chapel (1992)
In one of the last photos of the pair taken together, these two were making sure their kids were conforming to royal etiquette.
Liverpool Cathedral (1993)
Back in the spring of 1993, Charles and Diana attended the Atlantic memorial service at Liverpool Cathedral.
VE Day Celebration (1995)
Diana and Charles came together with their sons three years after their initial separation.
Eton College (1995)
Though Diana and Charles’ marriage was basically over at this point, they still accompanied their kids to school together on this occasion.
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