s family, the Fermoy's, were responsible for acquisition of Park House, Diana's childhood home. King George V granted Diana's grandfather Park House which was originally built for overflow guests from the Royal Sandringham House. It was a spacious property with an outdoor pool and a tennis court. (Morton 11). Diana loved to swim and play tennis at a child.
The Spencer's were linked by blood to King Charles II. They are also said to be linked by blood to seven American Presidents including Franklin D. Roosevelt, and also Humphrey Bogart and gangster Al Capone (Morton 11).
Diana's parents divorced when she was six. It was shock to society. Diana believes the tension put on her mother to produce a boy is when the marriage began to break down. The separation caused a custody battle over the children. This was very disruptive to the four children. After the legal battle their father eventually received custody due to his title and nobility. Diana's mother remarried one month after the divorce was settled to Peter Shand Kydd. The trauma of divorce may have been the cause of what led to Diana's eating disorders of anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Diana's oldest sister, Sarah, also suffered the same eating disorders. These diseases are linked to mother and daughter relationships, anxiety and a malfunctioning family. Diana's parents would fight endlessly and the children would overhear their fights. The four children were cared for primarily by nannies. They went through many nannies in their childhood. This led to a cool relationship with both parents and affection from them was non-existent. The children even ate their meals with their nannies. Holiday's were spent shuffled between the two parents. Diana's father buried himself in his work while her mother was only allowed to see them on the weekends. In all, the Spencer children had a very unstable and loveless ch...