A Look Back at Princess Diana's Life in Photos

When Princess Diana married into the British royal family in 1981, she undoubtedly changed the course of the monarchy forever by embracing the public wherever she went. As a mother, friend and public figure, she has been greatly missed since her tragic death in 1997. In her memory, we look back on the moments that led to her stealing the public's heart, with truly candid shots from her childhood to the final years of her life.

Only 1-month-old, Diana wore a borrowed christening dress in the arms of Lord and Lady Althorpe on her christening day in August 1961.

Diana celebrated turning 1 on July 1, 1962, in a sweet little white dress at Park House, Sandringham.

In 1963, the adorable future royal posed for a photograph with precious curly hair and Mary Jane shoes.

A young Diana plays with a pram stroller, while bundled up at the Spencer family home in a red puffer jacket and loafers.

Forget becoming a princess! Diana could have easily been a child model. Look at how effortlessly she posed for a photo in 1965 in her stylish peacoat.

Even at 10 years old, Diana had a sense of style. Just look at that floppy black hat. This 1971 photo is from her family summer vacation in Itchenor, West Sussex.

Of course, Diana had a pet pony. Here, the 14-year-old gets cuddly with Scuffle in 1974.

Prince Charles and Diana met at the home of a mutual friend in 1980, and shortly after began dating. Their relationship moved fast and soon the royal romance was outed to the press.

Diana is hounded by photographers who are camped outside of her Kensington flat. Since she was an everyday citizen, the Palace couldn't offer any protective services.

Diana worked as a nursery school assistant in London before she married Prince Charles in 1981. Here, she is photographed with some of her students in the park.

Diana visits Broadlands shortly before her wedding in May 1981.

Diana and her soon to-be-husband, Prince Charles, visit the Craigowan Lodge in Scotland's The Balmoral Estate just before their wedding in 1981. During their marriage, Diana and Charles spent a lot of time there.

Prince Charles escorts his fiancée on her first royal appearance in March 1981. The couple attended an event at Goldsmiths Hall in London, where Diana wore a strapless taffeta evening gown.

On their July 28, 1981 wedding day, Prince Charles and Princess Diana look out at the London crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Diana was just 20 years old when she became the Princess of Wales.

Right before heading out on a 12-day honeymoon cruise, the new Princess waves to admirers from the Royal Yacht Britannia on July 31, 1981.

The royal newlyweds aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia on their honeymoon in 1981. The couple sailed around the Mediterranean, ending their trip in Gibraltar.

Along with their two-week cruise, the happy couple also visited Tunisia, Sardinia and Greece, before finishing their romantic getaway at Balmoral in Scotland in August.

In her royal role, Princess Di often wore beautiful crowns and tiaras (here in 1983) from the royal collection.

Princess Diana watches from the sidelines as Prince Charles partakes in a polo match in 1981.

On July 22, 1982, less than a year after their wedding, Princess Diana and Prince Charles welcomed their first child — Prince William Arthur Philip Louis, Duke of Cambridge — at Saint Mary's Hospital.

Princess Diana leans in to chat with well-wishers during a visit to Wrexham, Wales in 1982.

The Princess plays with her smiley firstborn, William, at home in Kensington Palace in this photo taken in February 1983.

Princess Di donned a gorgeous blue gown (with silver accessories!) to a dinner hosted by The Province of New Brunswick in 1983. Bonus: She also wore her diamond Spencer tiara.

Here, a 2-year-old Prince William happily poses for a photograph in May 1984 with his fashionable mom in front of a very '80s backdrop.

Diana stands in front of Saint Mary's Hospital to present her new son, Prince Henry Charles Albert David (later known as Prince Harry of Wales), on September 17, 1984.

We bet William and Harry took loads of piano lessons. But here, the 3-year-old and 1-year-old, respectively, just pose for a picture with their mum at Kensington Palace in October 1985.

At a White House ball in 1985, Princess Diana danced the night away with John Travolta in a navy blue velvet gown, as President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan watched.

At Highgrove House (the family home of Prince Charles), Prince William spends a summer afternoon riding his pony with a little bit of help from his mother in 1986.

Here, the Princess of Wales poses with Prince Charles and their sons in the wildflower meadow at Highgrove on July 14, 1986.

After a polo match, Prince Charles steals a kiss on December 11, 1986 in Oman.

As soon as she became a royal, Diana became an instant style icon. And it's obvious why. She was always smartly dressed and her hats were impressive.

Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana take in one of Charles' spring polo matches at the Guards Polo Club in 1987.

Diana and a rascally Prince Harry share a smile while on vacation in Spain in 1987.

On an official trip to France, Diana and Charles pose outside Chateau de Chambord on November 9, 1988.

Princess Diana greets her sister-in-law, the Duchess of York, at the royal box during Wimbledon.

Diana stylishly arrived at Aberdeen Airport in Scotland with Prince William and Prince Harry in 1989.

Looking chic in a leopard print bathing suit, Diana has some fun in the sand with her adorable sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, during a vacation on Necker Island in April 1990.

The talented yet always humble Princess Di sits down to play the piano during a visit to a Prague children's hospital in 1991.

Clad in waterproof jackets, Diana, William, and Harry take a ride on the "Maid of the Mist" at Niagara Falls on October 1, 1991.

Power suit, check! Big gold buttons, check! Princess Di and Hillary Clinton share a style moment during a luncheon at the British Embassy in 1994.

Prince William and Prince Harry enjoy a sleigh ride with their mum during a ski vacation in Austria on March 1, 1994.

Even Diana could make a letterman jacket look chic. Here, she sports one from the Philadelphia Eagles while attending a game at Alton Towers Theme Park in the spring of 1994.

William, 13, sits patiently with his mother at the Heads of State VE Remembrance Service in Hyde Park on May 7, 1995.

Princess Di and her two growing boys happily watch the VJ Day parade together outside Buckingham Palace in 1995.

The royal family knows how to celebrate a big day. Here, they join together to drop off Prince William on his first day at Eton College on September 16, 1995.

Diana's love for humanitarian work took her to Neves Bendinha Orthopaedic workshop in 1997, where she met 13-year-old Sandra Thijika who lost her leg to a mine.

Princess Diana chats with a young girl at Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple in London on June 6, 1997.

Princess Di walks hand in hand in New York on June 18, 1997 with Mother Teresa.

The Prince of Wales, Prince William, and Prince Harry look at floral tributes dedicated to the late Diana left outside Kensington Palace on September 5, 1997, just days after her tragic death.

Thanks to her charm, generosity, and huge heart, Princess Diana was mourned and missed by thousands of people around the world. So much so, fans continued to leave flowers, pictures and other mementos as a memorial weeks and months after she passed away in 1997.