Last edited Wed May 23, 2018, 02:48 PM - Edit history (3)
including an amazing turn of the tables. From some media and others it seems that Charles was basically a 'victim,' unfairly prevented from being with his true love and forced to marry Lady Diana Spencer. And that Charles suffered, but is finally united and content with his one soul mate at last. It's astonishing- how he was not responsible (for any misery); it was those royal marriage conventions to blame, (eg no divorced persons, must be virgins, etc.), and they're lessened now and everything's fine.
How times have changed, and the spin has steadily seeped into the media and people's brains, particularly since Diana is no longer here to speak on her own behalf or a living reminder, and her close associates are out of the picture.
The outcry after Princess Diana died on Aug. 31, 1997 from a car crash, on the road, in a tunnel in Paris rocked the entire British establishment. Newly freed from her previous official role, Diana had just turned 36, (like Meghan will this August) and was starting over with her new life after years of unhappiness and neglect from Charles and the royal family. Also the Queen who had said to Diana, "I don't know what to do about Charles!" when Diana went to her after William was born to seek some form of guidance and aid for her troubled, difficult marriage.
In the early grim hours and days of the tragedy, mass grief and national outpouring, the royal family delayed in returning from summer vacation in Scotland to London, where millions of stunned, bereft mourners were looking for signs of support from the monarchy, and they failed. In the following days and at the urging of those in charge who well knew the seriousness of the situation, the family finally came down and made appearances before thousands of mourners and mountains of flowers outside Buckingham Palace.
The entire world, particularly Diana's many supporters were closely watching the unfolding events. The decision to provide a formal memorial for Princess Diana was made, the funeral was organized and included were both the Windsor and Spencer families. When the ceremony took place, Charles and Philip, Charles Spencer, the brother of Diana, and young William and Harry were visibly prominent walking near the large crowds in slow, solemn cortege for Diana's funeral procession to Westminster Abbey. The service for Diana had been changed to an official state event that the public could view, instead of a private, closed Spencer family ceremony as initially thought by the royals because Diana was no longer a member of the royal family after divorce from Charles.
Over the next decade measures were taken to honor the beloved, deceased princess including several posthumous memorials and flower parks that were created around London; popular rock concerts for the public were held to help show the royals' goodwill and acknowledgement of the people; and the youthful, handsome Princes William and Harry made many public appearances.
Prior to Charles, in the generations just before him, there were at least two unhappy royal family members constrained by official 'rules' regarding marriage. Notably Edward Windsor in the 1930s who as King Edward VIII was unable to marry twice divorced, American Wallis Simpson. So Edward abdicated the throne on Dec. 11, 1936, married Simpson and the couple left England forever. There is also the Queens sister, Princess Margaret who in the 1950s tragically couldn't marry her love, Capt. Peter Townshend because he was a divorced man with children. Princess Margaret later married Anthony Armstrong-Jones, a union that also ended in divorce.
This was the time if not earlier, to consider eliminating antiquated marriage rules that caused many lasting detrimental effects on families, couples and children. Yet the rules continued into the next generation of Charles, and the marriages of three of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's children ended in divorce in the 1990s- including Charles, Anne and Andrew.
Finally, with changes to restrictive marriage rules and after much unhappiness, it's wonderful to see the new, 'sparkle' 
marriage between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, a genuine, loving union that provides much inspiration and hope for the future, in many significant ways.
David Windsor and Wallis Simpson, Duke and Duchess of Windsor
Capt. Peter Townsend and Princess Margaret
Flowers outside Buckingham Palace, London after Princess Diana's death in Paris, Aug. 31, 1997
Funeral Procession for Princess Diana, Sept. 6, 1997
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