Princess Diana was one of the most beloved members of the British royal family, and her tragic death in 1997 shocked the world.
She was married to Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, and this led many to wonder: would Princess Diana have been queen if she had lived longer? In this article, we will explore this question in detail and examine the various factors that would have determined whether Princess Diana could have become queen.
Article summary
Princess Diana’s Marriage to Prince Charles
Princess Diana married Prince Charles in 1981, in a lavish ceremony that was watched by millions around the world. At the time of their wedding, Prince Charles was already the heir to the British throne, as his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, was the reigning monarch.
Princess Diana was therefore set to become the Princess of Wales, a title that is traditionally given to the wife of the heir to the throne.
The question whether Princess Diana would have become queen hinges on the assumption that Prince Charles would eventually become king. This was by no means a certainty at the time of their marriage, as the Queen was still relatively young and could have reigned for many more years. However, as time went on, it became increasingly likely that Prince Charles would indeed become king.
The Succession to the British Throne
Another factor that could have affected Princess Diana’s chances of becoming queen is the British law of succession. At the time of her marriage to Prince Charles, this law stated that the throne would pass to the first-born son of the monarch. If Prince Charles had become king, therefore, his eldest son, Prince William, would have been in line to succeed him.
This means that Princess Diana would not have automatically become queen if Prince Charles had become king. Instead, she would have become the Queen Mother, a title that is traditionally given to the mother of the reigning monarch. This title was held by Queen Elizabeth II’s mother, who died in 2002.
The Role of Public Opinion
Finally, it is worth considering the role that public opinion could have played in determining whether Princess Diana would have become queen.
Princess Diana was a hugely popular figure, both in the UK and around the world, and her untimely death only served to enhance her status as a beloved icon.
It is possible that public opinion could have exerted pressure on the royal family to make Princess Diana queen, even if the law of succession did not automatically grant her that title.
However, it is also possible that public opinion could have worked against her, if some members of the public felt that her troubled personal life made her unsuitable for the role of queen.
In conclusion, the question could Princess Diana have become queen is a complex one, and there is no clear-cut answer.
It depends on a variety of factors, including the law of succession and public opinion. However, it is clear that Princess Diana would have continued to be a hugely important and beloved figure in the British royal family.
