25 Years After the Royal Wedding

July 29, 2006 — -- The shy, nervous, 20-year-old Lady Diana Spencer walked down the aisle at St. Paul's Cathedral in London 25 years ago this week, while 750 million people worldwide watched on television as she married the heir to the British throne, Prince Charles.

Another 600,000 people lined London's streets to greet the royal newlyweds.

"The Prince of Wales had, literally, the future of the Windsor dynasty in his arms," said Patrick Jephson, Diana's former private secretary. "Lady Diana Spencer was the best thing that had happened to them for decades."

Jephson, who served as Diana's private secretary for eight years, said that in retrospect the princess, who passed away in a car accident in 1997, would probably say she was not ready to be married.

"Several times I heard her say to me that she had cold feet at the last minute," he said.

Diana was a modern princess. She didn't hide in her husband's shadow. She became a star, a fashion icon, and used that image to good effect. She lent her face and voice to AIDS charities and land mine awareness campaigns. Jephson said that her best quality was "her ability to communicate on an emotional level with people."

"She was emotionally articulate," he said. "That's not something that the royal family is famous for."

Life inside the royal family was tempestuous for Diana. The marriage broke down and in 1996 Diana and Charles divorced.

"The tragedy was laid bare for many to see for years thereafter, and of course it was worst of all for their two sons," said the royal historian, William Shawcross.

Since Diana's death, her sons, William and Harry, have kept the image of the royal family before the public. Last year, their father Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles.

"Charles is completely different," Shawcross said. "His body language is relaxed. He's laid back. He makes jokes. He's fun to be with."

Prince William's wedding might become the next big royal event, but there is still no word on when that might be.