Princess Diana’s London Apartment Will Receive an English Heritage Plaque

Princess Diana’s former London flat will be honored as a historical building. The Princess of Wales’s former apartment on Coleherne Court, where she lived between 1979 and 1981 with three friends prior to her engagement to Prince Charles, will receive an English Heritage blue plaque ahead of her 60th birthday in July. It will join over 900 blue plaques around London commemorating notable historical figures. 

“We are expecting our plaque to Diana, Princess of Wales to be very popular,” Anna Eavis, English Heritage’s curatorial director, said in a statement. “She was an inspiration and cultural icon to many, raising awareness of issues including landmines and homelessness, and helping to destigmatize illnesses such as HIV, leprosy and depression. It seems fitting that we should erect a plaque commemorating her work and influence in what would have been her 60th year.” 

The flat also served as a setting in the latest season of “The Crown,” when Princess Diana (Emma Corrin) announced her engagement to her friends. The late princess’s brother Charles Spencer shared a photo of the plaque on Instagram last month, writing, “I’m tickled pink by these photographs showing a blue plaque being made for Coleherne Court, where Diana was so happy with her wonderful flatmates in her late teens. Thank you, @englishheritage, for such a lovely tribute.”

With a majority of past honorees being men, English Heritage sought to correct these efforts and honor more women this year. Princess Diana joins five other remarkable women who will receive a commemorative plaque: social reformer Caroline Norton, designer Jean Muir, former slave and campaigner Ellen Craft, barrister Helena Normanton, and scientist Kathleen Lonsdale.

Princess Diana’s plaque will read:

“Lady Diana Spencer later Princess of Wales 1961-1997 lived here 1979-1981”