Happy Birthday, Princess Diana: 50 Rare Images of an Icon

A Romantic Break
Diana cuddles with Charles as he takes a pause from a polo match in 1981.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Diana Spencer's birth, LIFE has assembled a celebratory chronicle of her too short yet vibrant time in the public eye. You can get a copy of LIFE's Diana at 50 here.

• Why Princess Diana Mattered