Princess Diana’s life wasn’t easy. At first, it seemed she was living a fairytale. She grew up in a well-liked family and knew all the right people. She met and married Prince Charles, who was second in line to the British throne, and on the outside, it appeared that Diana lived the perfect life. But things aren’t always as they seem, and she ended up going through a messy divorce after an even messier affair leaked. Upon her divorce, things changed for her — some of which she didn’t like. But Prince William made an important promise that he said he’d take care of when he became king. Sadly, William never got to see it through, since Diana died in 1997.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana divorced after his affair leaked

In hindsight, it seems obvious that Charles’ heart was always with someone else. He was in relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles before he ever met Diana. But when he was away in the Navy, Camilla reportedly sent him a letter to tell him she had decided to marry someone else (Andrew Parker Bowles). After she married, Charles met Diana, and she seemed like a fitting wife. The two wed, but his love for Camilla never faded, and eventually Charles and Camilla continued an affair behind Diana’s back. Once the news broke, everything turned chaotic for the royal family, and it ended in a divorce between the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Diana had to give a lot up, including her title

When Diana and Charles divorced, it meant her life was about to drastically change. Though Diana received millions of dollars in the divorce and could still live the same lifestyle, she was no longer a part of the British royal family. She had to give up the prized Cambridge lover’s knot tiara she often wore, plus learn how to return to a “normal” life after being a part of such a different family for 15 years. But on top of that, she had to give up her title. While married to Charles, she was known as Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales. The “HRH” title was meant to distinguish members of the royal family from other nobles. When the two divorced, Diana lost that title.

Prince William reportedly told Diana he’d give her title back to her when he became king

Diana was upset about no longer being known as Her Royal Highness, because giving up that title meant she would have to curtsey to those who still had it, including her ex-husband and her two children. Rumor has it the queen was willing to let Diana keep her title, but Charles didn’t want her to. When the two finalized their divorce, Prince William reportedly promised to return Diana’s HRH title to her once he became king (only the monarch has that power).

Tragically, Diana did not live to see the day William took the throne. Almost exactly one year later, she died in a car accident after her driver, Henri Paul, crashed the vehicle — he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time of the crash. Paul was supposedly trying to outrun the paparazzi when the crash occurred.