Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on Thursday, September 8, had an uneasy relationship with Princess Diana. The association had many ups and downs, primarily because of the Queen's son Prince Charles' alleged extramarital affairs, according to reports.

To begin with, Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana's relationship had many ups and downs and was by no means an easy one. The relationship became complicated primarily due to Diana's husband, Prince Charles's alleged regular extramarital affairs, according to the reports.

The Initial Phase

Diana met the Queen in 1980 when she was dating her son, Charles. The marriage happened a year later, in July 1981. But, according to Andrew Morton, the royal biographer, the formal relationship between Diana and the Queen began on an uneasy note. In the earlier days, Diana was simply afraid of her mother-in-law. Though she carefully followed all the formal traditions and courtesies, she kept a distance from the Queen.

Life In Pictures: For 7 Decades, Queen Elizabeth II Balanced Family & Monarchy

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Life In Pictures: 7-Decades, Queen Elizabeth II Balanced Family & Monarchy

Here's a look at the life of Queen Elizabeth II who served more than seven decades on the throne.

Picture Paw-fect!

The Queen's love for pooches is an open secret. Everywhere she went, she was accompanied by her little corgis. The late royal's father, King George VI, introduced the breed of corgis (herding dogs with tiny legs) in 1933. Her first pet was a male corgi, Dookie, from a local kennel. Her entire life, she has had more than 30 corgis. She has also owned two 'dorgis', a cross between a dachshund and a corgi.

The Sister Act

The Queen was very close to her younger sister Margaret. The sisters spent most of their time together. During Princess Margaret's funeral in 2002, the Queen openly cried - one of the only times she showed her emotions - in a public setting.

A Passion For Horses

The Queen, an equestrian, spent most of her leisure time horse-riding. From education to extra-curricular activities like riding, swiming and dancing, she learnt everything at home. She also studied fine art and music at home.

The Hidden Talent

World War II was one of the defining moments for the Queen in 1939. She joined the women's army service in England - the Auxiliary Territorial Service. During her training, she spent her teenage years in the Army as a driver and a mechanic.

Some observers found Diana's uneasiness with the Queen surprising since she was not an outsider to the Royal family. Queen Elizabeth II was Diana's younger brother's godmother, and Diana's father had been the Queen's assistant.

The Birth of the Prince

After Prince Williams was born in early 1982, Diana gradually started assuming her royal responsibilities, and the bond with the Queen strengthened gradually. Ingrid Seward, considered an expert on royalty, wrote in her 2002 book (The Queen and Di) that the Queen became more understanding of Diana's problems, with Diana too, commenting once that her mother-in-law is the best in the world.

The situation turns for the Worse.

Things worsened with the rumors of Charles's affair with Camila Parker-Bowles five years later. Diana sought the Queen's help, and the Queen wanted her to be firm in dealing with Charles. But without any specific advice or support from the Queen, Diana kept suffering in silence.

End of Formal Relationship

Charles and Diana separated publicly I n 1992, and the formal divorce happened three years later in 1995. Although Diana continued to live in the palace, she earned the Queen's displeasure by giving personal interviews to the media. The Queen felt Diana had become a liability to the royal family.

The End

A car crash on August 31, 1997, took away Princess Diana's life. Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8, 2022.

FAQs

When did Prince Charles remarry?
Prince Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005, nine years after his divorce from Diana.

How many children did Diana and Prince Charles have?
William and harry are the two sons born to Diana and Charles.

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