The Royal Family announced the Engagement of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer at Buckingham Palace on this day in 1981, 45 years ago, following a proposal that had taken place privately at Buckingham Palace on February 6th.
“It is with greatest pleasure that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh announce the betrothal of their beloved son the Prince of Wales to the Lady Diana Spencer, daughter of the Earl Spencer and the Honourable Mrs Shand Kydd.”
Prince Charles proposed to Lady Diana three weeks ago at a private dinner at Buckingham Palace before she went to Australia. He wanted her to use the trip to think over his proposal but she accepted immediately and he gave her a diamond and sapphire engagement ring.
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“Whatever ‘in love’ means”, the Prince made an infamous statement after the announcement of his engagement to Lady Diana
In a BBC interview, the Prince said he was “delighted and frankly amazed that Diana is prepared to take me on”.
Looking shyly up through her long blond fringe and giggling occasionally, Lady Diana said she too was “delighted and thrilled, blissfully happy”.
Asked how she would cope with a dramatic change to her life she said: “With Prince Charles beside me I cannot go wrong.”
Lady Diana showcased her iconic 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire Engagement Ring, surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds. The ring was not custom-made but selected from a Garrard catalog.
After the engagement announcement, Prince Charles and Lady Diana had dinner with their grandmothers, the Queen Mother, and Lady Fermi, at Clarence House.
The Engagement Pictures were taken by the Earl Snowdon, Princess Margaret’s former husband, at the Prince’s country estate, Highgrove House.
The Prince and Princess got married that July, and had two sons before divorcing in 1996.
