Princess Diana: A candid insight into the late royal's life in pictures

In honour of Princess Diana's birthday on Sunday, HELLO! has decided to take a trip down memory lane to remember the iconic royal. Her legacy continues to live on through her children, Prince William and Prince Harry. She was an inspiration to so many, and was dubbed the 'People's Princess' thanks to her kindness and compassion. Relive her childhood to her years as a mother, style queen and philanthropist.

READ: All the times Princess Diana was paid tribute to during the royal wedding

Lady Diana Spencer during a holiday at Itchenor

This black-and-white image sees an eight-year-old Lady Diana Spencer enjoying a family holiday at Itchenor in West Sussex in 1970. Diana, who was born on 1 July 1961, grew up at Park House on the Queen's Sandringham estate in Norfolk. She later moved to Althorp in Northamptonshire when her father inherited the title of Earl Spencer. In 1974, Diana was sent to board at the exclusive West Heath School. Her contemporaries included a young Tilda Swinton.

Honeymoon in Scotland

Newlyweds Prince Charles and Princess Diana during their honeymoon at Balmoral in Scotland. This picture captures the tender moment the Prince of Wales kisses the hand of his new bride. The newlyweds followed in the steps of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, who also honeymooned at the royal residence in 1947. Charles and Diana tied the knot in a lavish ceremony on 29 July, 1981. Crowds of people lined the streets in London and an estimated 750 million viewers watched the wedding on television.

Honeymoon tour

Prince Charles with Diana on the Royal Yacht Britannia at the start of their honeymoon cruise.

Princess Diana as a new mother

The Princess of Wales pictured with Prince William at Kensington Palace, in February 1983. Diana and Charles proudly introduced their first son to the world from the steps of St Mary's Hospital in London in June 1982.

Prince Charles kissing Princess Diana

The royal couple showed the world how much they adored each other, sharing a tender kiss at a prize-giving following a polo match at Cirencester.

Princess Diana carries Prince Henry at Highgrove

Diana welcomed her second son, Prince Harry, in 1984. She had modern approach to motherhood, which included bringing children with her on royal tours and taking them to school herself. "I live for my sons," the Princess said. "I would be lost without them."

Holidaying at the Marivent Palace in Majorca

Ever the doting mother, Princess Diana is seen sharing a sweet moment with her youngest son. Here, the royal family were enjoying a holiday at the Marivent Palace in Majorca in August 1987. After she welcomed Harry, Diana revealed that her two boys adored each other in a letter to a palace steward, Cyril Dickman. She wrote that William "could not stop kissing" Harry after his birth. Adding: "William adores his little brother and spends the entire time swamping Harry with an endless supply of hugs and kisses, hardly letting the parents near!"

A trip to Cheltenham Police HQ

The princess looking relaxed during a visit to Cheltenham Police HQ in Gloucestershire in 1981.

French vacation

The late Princess of Wales seen posing in a bikini whilst on holiday in the South of France.

Princess Diana with her sons at Cirque du Soleil

Princess Diana pictured looking relaxed with her sons, Princes William and Harry, at Cirque Du Soleil in 1990. 

Hanging out with good friend George Michael

The late royal was good friends with singer George Michael. Here, pictured together at the Concert of Hope for World AIDS day in 1994. The Wham! star, who passed away on Christmas, previously revealed that Princess Diana was the only person who made him feel like an "ordinary person".

"Diana was the only person that I knew who made me feel like an ordinary person," he said in a past interview (via The Mirror). "That's what I thought was so amazing about her." He added: "But I was always reluctant to call her up. It was almost like a mate of mine who doesn't want to call me up too much in case it looks strange – because he thinks that everybody else is calling me up."

Don't miss HELLO!'s ultimate souvenir edition celebrating the Queen of Hearts, on sale now. The issue contains 148 pages of beautiful images and revealing interviews with those who knew Diana best. Her fashion, her inspirational humanitarian missions and love for the sons who now carry her flame forward - it's all there in this unmissable HELLO! special.