Filming for the fifth season of The Crown is underway, and viewers are anticipating a glimpse into what Charles and Diana's dysfunctional marriage was like in the years leading up to the beloved Princess' death.
With a problematic relationship that appeared to be full of trials and tribulations, it should not really come as a shock that Charles and Diana's relationship began in a, some may argue, far from conventional way.
In 1970, when he was around 22 years of age, the young prince met Camilla Parker-Bowles (then Shand) at a polo match at Windsor Castle, and the couple became an item.
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But things fizzled out in 1972 when Charles was deployed in the Royal Navy, and Camilla's engagement to Andrew Parker-Bowles was announced in The Times the following year.
Charles meets Lady Sarah Spencer
In a desperate attempt to get over Camilla, who married Andrew in the 'society wedding of the year' in July 1973, Charles became something of a serial dater, with his lengthy list of girlfriends being dubbed 'Charlie's Angels'.
His love interests after Camilla included: Davina Sheffield, Lady Amanda Knatchbull, Lady Jane Wellesley, Sabrina Guinness, Anna Wallace, Caroline Longman, and Lady Sarah Spencer.
Prince Charles began dating 22-year-old Lady Sarah Spencer - now known as Lady Sarah McCorquodale - in 1977, after they met at the annual Royal Ascot house party at Windsor.
Lady Sarah received a stream of invitations from the Prince, inviting her to Windsor and Balmoral, meaning it may have been possible that she was being seriously considered as a potential bride for Charles. In return, she invited him to come shooting at her family home at Althorp.
An encounter with Diana
When Charles, 29, arrived at the sprawling grounds in November 1977, he met his girlfriend's 16-year-old sister, Diana. It is thought that the pair may have met previously, when Diana was much younger.
According to Tina Brown, author of The Diana Chronicles: "She registered on Charles' radar only as a 'jolly' and 'bouncy' younger sister of Sarah."
But for Diana, the meeting was groundbreaking, according to Tina, who then went on to add: "Seeing Prince Charles for the first time since her childhood was a 'whoomph' moment of her own. Once she had caught sight of the number-one royal bachelor striding with his Labrador through a ploughed field with guns and beaters and dogs, there was no other rival for her heart."
Succumbing to the unbearable pressure from his family to find a future queen, Charles relationship with Lady Sarah fizzled out in early 1978. The couple had indulged on a Swiss ski trip to Klosters, and were followed by journalists, who had caught wind that the pair were holidaying there.
Sarah and Charles meet their end
Lady Sarah, much to the horror of Prince Charles, ended up befriending two journalists, and dined with them once they got back to London.
All turned sour when Lady Sarah made the foolish decision to confide in the pair whilst eating with them, telling them about her struggles with anorexia, her unruly school days which led to her expulsion, and the fact she used to drink underage.
According to Tina Brown, Sarah realised how thoughtless she had been, and blamed the journalists she divulged to, accusing them of taking the quotes via unsavoury means.
But this accusation backfired, and Whitaker, one of the journalists Sarah had revealed all to, published more damaging information under a false name, including the following very damaging quote: "There is no chance of my [sic] marrying Prince Charles. He is a fabulous person but I am not in love with him, and I wouldn't marry anyone I didn't love, whether he were the dustman or the King of England. If he asked me I would turn him down.
"Prince Charles is a romantic who falls in love easily. But I can assure you that if there were to be any engagement between Prince Charles and me it would have happened by now. I am a whirlwind sort of lady, not a person who goes in for a long, slow courtship.
"Our relationship is totally platonic."
Sarah had prior knowledge that this quote was due to be published in 'Woman's Own', and warned Prince Charles of what was to come, to which the Prince responded, according to Brown: "You've just done something extremely stupid".
This, of course, signalled the end of a short relationship, and the heir to the throne was once again on the hunt for a bride.
Diana and Charles reunite
In July 1980, Charles and Diana crossed paths again, and the younger Spencer sister became the subject of much media attention after rumours that she and the Prince of Wales were engaged began to swirl.
In February 1981, the pair announced their engagement - Charles was 32 at the time, whilst Diana was just 19.
Diana became Princess of Wales on July 29, 1981 when she and Charles wed in a televised wedding ceremony, which was watched by around 750million people around the world, according to the BBC.
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