London flat where Princess Diana lived receives blue plaque

Sept. 29 (UPI) -- The former London flat where Princess Diana lived before her marriage to Prince Charles in 1981 received an English Heritage blue plaque on Wednesday.

The future princess lived at 60 Coleherne Court from 1979 to 1981. The location was nominated by the London Assembly after a campaign was started to discover women worthy of the recognition.

"Our latest blue plaque is to Diana, Princess of Wales. One of the most iconic figures in recent British history, Lady Diana Spencer later the Princess of Wales, was described by her flatmate Clarke as 'so much to so many,'" English Heritage said in a Twitter post Wednesday.

Her brother Charles Spencer praised English Heritage when the honor was first announced in April.

"Thank you English Heritage for commemorating such a very happy place for Diana in this way," he said then.

The recognition comes in a year where she would have celebrated her 60th birthday. Princess Diana died in an auto accident in London in 1997.

"Diana was one of the world's most famous women and she used her fame and influence to raise awareness of issues such as homelessness and landmines," said Anna Eavis, English Heritage curatorial director, according to the Evening Standard. "She played a critically important role in helping to destigmatize illnesses such as HIV, leprosy and depression.

Eavis said the princess was living at the location when she first started her relationship with Prince Charles.

"It is fitting that our blue plaque remembers her at this place where her life in the public eye first began," Eavis said.