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Diana's age at time of marriage.

724 replies

Peedoffo · 17/12/2022 16:26

I'm in my 20s so I really don't remember Diana. I did more reading on the subject and I can't believe the establishment thought it was ok to marry a 19 year old off to a man 13 years older than her who had no interest in her. No wonder she struggled this was the 1980s as well not the Victorian times! Could anyone around then tell me , why did her family back/support the marriage? Was there any concerns from the public ? I would be horrified at the thought of marrying my DD off at 19 to a much older man who wasn't really interest.

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PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog · 30/04/2023 12:05

It's still quite normal in a lot of circles to get married early, @Peedoffo My sister is a Modern Orthodox Jew and my niece got married at 18, as did most of her friends. Some Traveller communities marry earlier too. If you think about it too, Kate has pretty much been 'married' to William since she was 19 too. Diana's family wanted that marriage and she did too, according to her interviews and book.

Peverellshire · 02/05/2023 08:59

I was at a dinner party in 90s with a man who alleged he ‘knew’ Diana before Charles. Aristo girls can be pretty wild, especially on holiday etc, where no one knows them…& these were pre social media & camera phone times…

AskMeMore · 02/05/2023 14:31

@Peverellshire a disgusting rumour.
Diana had a virginity check by a Dr before she married Charles. She was naive.

AskMeMore · 02/05/2023 14:36

@PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog Diana said herself she wanted to pull out before the marriage.

AskMeMore · 02/05/2023 14:59

@Peedoffo The media were more deferential then. People did have concerns about the age gap and how young Diana was, but the media were all wall to wall articles about it being a fairytale marriage. Even Charles saying - whatever love is - was hardly mentioned in the media, whereas people in real life were going wtf. There was no social media then.

Peverellshire · 02/05/2023 15:13

It wasn't 'disgusting' as such, he was saying he'd been her boyfriend I think, not boasting or showing off as such. Who knows. It wouldn't be a moral transgression on her part if true.

FraiseRoyale · 02/05/2023 15:28

I doubt that she had a "virginity check" as such, but It was widely reported at the time that the RF wanted someone who "had no past" because they didn't want former boyfriends cropping up selling stories to the media or whatever. That one requirement meant that Charles's bride had to be much younger as I doubt there were many 30 year-old-virgins around for him to marry.

diddl · 02/05/2023 15:35

Even Charles saying - whatever love is - was hardly mentioned in the media, whereas people in real life were going wtf.

Where they really at the time though or have things been scrutinised since they divorced?

He was asked if he was in love/it was love or something-he was never (imo) going to say "oh yes of course".

FraiseRoyale · 02/05/2023 15:44

Where they really at the time though or have things been scrutinised since they divorced?

There was no social media for endless discussions, but I didn't know anyone in real life who was going WTF at the time. I do remember thinking it odd that an educated man with intellectual interests was marrying a young under-educated woman.

AskMeMore · 02/05/2023 15:49

@did It would have been normal to say - yes we are very much in love. It was a fluff interview and that was all the reporter was looking for.

Yes people were saying wtf at the time. If you are a Royalist though you probably only knew people who were Royalists and were simply saying things about it being a fairytale wedding.

diddl · 02/05/2023 16:31

Like FraiseRoyale I also don't remember people wtfing about the remark.

It was an off the cuff remark by someone from a family not known for talking about feelings as far as a lot of people were concerned.

diddl · 02/05/2023 16:34

If you are a Royalist though you probably only knew people who were Royalists and were simply saying things about it being a fairytale wedding.

The only people I "knew" hyping it up into a fairytale wedding were the press!

For a lot of people he was marrying someone he had barely dated who was the younger sister of someone he had dated!

LivelyBlake · 02/05/2023 16:49

Framilode · 28/04/2023 18:52

I am in my seventies so I remember it well. I thought she was young and a bit stupid and I didn't think Charles was in love with her. I thought she was in love with being the Princess of Wales In my opinion, I thought he thought that love might grow between them. Obviously, it was a hideous mismatch and I think she became revengeful. It was a tragedy for both of them.

This is 100% spot on in my opinion.

Blossomtoes · 02/05/2023 17:14

There was no wtf? going on among people I knew at the time. The whole thing was very much taken at face value.

SirChenjins · 02/05/2023 17:56

I remember eyebrows being raised amongst my mum and her friends who were all royalists - not a wtf exactly, but certainly a gosh, what an odd comment.

LlynTegid · 02/05/2023 18:09

From what I remember, apart from those who were pleased at a Royal Wedding, there had been a lot of comment beforehand at 'when will Charles marry', indeed for several years.

Attitudes to young marriage have changed a lot since. At the time less than half of people continued school beyond 16, indeed it was only 12 years since the leaving age had been raised from 15.

BeginningToLookALotLike · 02/05/2023 18:12

I remember that Diana was seen as 'young' but not scandalously young. I had school friends who got married straight after their A-levels at 18 and university friends who got married as soon as they left university at 21. This was in the late '80s.

MissMarpleRocks · 02/05/2023 18:14

Blossomtoes · 02/05/2023 17:14

There was no wtf? going on among people I knew at the time. The whole thing was very much taken at face value.

Same but I come from a long line of arranged marriages (including my own- please note not forced) so wasn’t that phased about it.

AskMeMore · 02/05/2023 18:16

@Blossomtoes But you are one of the royalists here. I can imagine your friends were all saying it was a fairytale.
There were lots expressing surprise and concern at the time. And many saying the media only allowed fawning commentary.

Inkanta · 02/05/2023 18:31

I got the impression that everyone seemed very keen and excited for this royal wedding. There hadn't been a Royal Wedding since 1973 (Princess Anne). The last Royal event was 1977 silver jubilee - and it seemed like the country was really ready for it and yes it definitely was romanticised. I was in awe with the fairy tale dress. Charles saying "whatever love is" I thought at the time was just shyness about talking about love - because they both blushed with embarrassment. I didn't want to take his words literally - I wanted romance.

shard5 · 02/05/2023 19:11

Her family wanted a closer connection with the royal family, the royal family needed her aristocracy to raise their bloodline.
It's appalling to think that her family practically threw her to the wolves, I mean the RF were only going to do what was best for them, it's her family more at fault than the RF.

AskMeMore · 02/05/2023 20:30

@shard5 so it is fine for a 32 year old man to marry a teenager if it is best for his family. He bears no responsibility?
I can't believe what I read on here sometimes. In real life no one would excuse a 32 year old man if he proposed to their 19 year old DD.

shard5 · 02/05/2023 21:13

I said nothing of the sort of what you're implying I did!
The op is holding the RF responsible, all I'm pointing out is that her family were more at fault. Than the RF solely because they should have been thinking of her whereas the RF were only selfishly thinking of themselves.
Of course Charles was responsible but her family were more at fault.

shard5 · 02/05/2023 21:14

Exactly, in real life no one would be happy for their teenage daughter to marry someone who was 33, only this was real life and Diana's family did allow it!

Liorae · 02/05/2023 21:28

shard5 · 02/05/2023 21:14

Exactly, in real life no one would be happy for their teenage daughter to marry someone who was 33, only this was real life and Diana's family did allow it!

Diana was 20, her family couldn't have prevented the marriage if they tried.
And I suspect quite a lot of families would be very happy indeed to see their 20 year old marry a 33 year old if the man in question was fabulously wealthy royalty.